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Moving Tips

7 Steps to Take Before Your NJ Movers Arrive

7 Steps to Take Before Your NJ Movers Arrive

When it comes to moving, you’ve probably heard more stressful stories than trouble-free ones. It always seems inevitable for there to be last minute hiccups or issues that seem completely unpreventable. But is that truly the case? You might not be able to plan for every contingency, but there are some predictable issues that can crop up during a move like misplaced boxes, damaged belongings, narrow doors and halls, and so on. By planning ahead, you can speed up the entire moving process and minimize potential risks.

Not sure where to start? Below are some useful steps to take before the movers arrive on your doorstep.

Declutter Your Home

Your very first step is to organize and declutter all of your belongings. Yes, even tiny items like hair ties, pens, and so on. The less stuff you bring with you, the less you’ll need to pack and unpack. Take a hard look at everything you own and separate it into three piles – keep, sell/donate, and trash. If you want some extra cash for your moving budget, consider holding a yard or garage sale to get rid of unwanted items and then donate whatever is left over. Depending on how much you’re getting rid of, you could make a couple hundred dollars.

Make an Inventory

While you’re decluttering, it’s a good idea to organize all of the items you plan on bringing with you. Your first order of business is to create a detailed inventory. Take pictures of everything as this will serve as proof of the contents and condition of your belongings. For electronics and appliances, list the serial number, brand, and type. Store the inventory and pictures in the cloud but also make sure to have a hard copy on hand during the move. That way if anything goes missing, you’ll have physical evidence.

Once your inventory is complete, share it with the NJ moving company and anyone else involved in the move. Make sure to send out an updated version if you add or remove anything.

Get Organized

Making an inventory is great, but you still need to organize and pack everything so that they are protected and easy to find. It might seem tedious, but you should set some time to:

  • Pre-pack small items in a sealable bag. This is great for items like desk organizers, jewelry, small decorations, etc.
  • Label your boxes – use color-codes or simply write what items are in the box. Make sure to write Fragile on boxes you want handled with extra care.
  • Separate items – there are some items you want to have access to immediately and/or definitely don’t want lost like personal documents, valuables, your essentials like clothes, toiletries, medication, pet food, and small electronic devices. Keep these away from the other boxes so the movers don’t get confused

You should also measure all doors and hallways to make sure the boxes and furniture you have will fit comfortably through any and all entryways. You don’t want to back a big box and not be able to get it through the front door of your new home, do you?

Get Insurance

When you hire professional movers your belongings are automatically covered by the basic valuation coverage which covers you for $0.60 per pound per item. While this might be fine for basic things like your clothes, it doesn’t really provide much help for items that are expensive, but light like cameras, TVs, jewelry, etc. If you own a lot of high value items, consider springing for the full valuation from your NJ moving company. You will need to alert the movers of anything that is valued at over $100/pound, otherwise they cannot be held liable if it is damaged but not claimed.

You can also spring for third-party moving insurance. Your premium is based on the value and weight of the total items you want to insure, so it’s in your best interest to only cover the very expensive or irreplaceable items. Be forewarned that if you pack the items yourself and it gets damaged during the move, the moving company and/or insurance won’t pay out unless there’s obvious evidence of improper handling during the move.

Plan for Your Pets and Kids

Depending on how old your child is, it might be beneficial to have a friend or relative watch them during the moving process. You want them to stay away from all the commotion and tension that comes with moving day so that you and the NJ moving crew can focus on the task at hand. If you can’t find someone to help out, look for a babysitter or see if you might be able to have them wait in a separate room. 

For your pets, put them in a kennel or cage away from all the noise. Many people lose their pets during a move since dogs and cats are prone to running away from unfamiliar people and loud noises. Keep them safe by putting them somewhere they can’t escape. Include their favorite toy or cushion as something familiar can help soothe their anxiety. And don’t forget to pack some weewee pads in case they end up urinating or defecating in their cage.

Prepare Your House for Movers

Sure, most moving companies will put down some supplies to prevent damage to your house, but it’s up to you to make sure your old and new house are clean and undamaged. This is especially true if you are moving between NJ apartments since you’ll have to worry about getting back your security deposit. Some small steps you can take include:

  • Putting down doormats and plastic coverings over floors and carpets to prevent dirt buildup
  • Wrapping banisters and corners with some bubble wrap or blankets. 
  • Cover stairs with anti-slip coating
  • Protect door frames with foam pad dings or remove doors from hinges if necessary. Don’t forget to put the doors back up!
  • Remove paintings, mirrors, and clocks from walls

 Don’t forget to take pictures of your old place before the movers arrive. You want proof of the condition your apartment or home was in during move out so in case something gets damaged, you can show that you were not responsible. Don’t forget to do this when you move into your new place, too!

Think of the Moving Crew

Not all moves are strenuous, but if your move is expected to take more than four hours and/or you have a lot of bulky and heavy items to move, consider getting some snacks and water to replenish the movers’ energy levels. This is especially important if you’re moving during the summer! You should also make sure to leave some soap and disposable hand towels in your old and new home just in case someone needs to use it.

And don’t forget to take out some cash for tips. While tipping isn’t required, it’s always a good idea to show appreciation for a job well done, especially for something like moving. Add some extra dollars if the crew had to move very heavy items, walk up stairs, or navigate tight corridors.

Have a Stress-Free Moving Experience

While no move is easy, you can reduce potential issues by preparing in advance. Once you’re ready to move, make sure to give NJ Great Movers a call. We can help walk you through the process and provide a customized moving plan that fits your needs and budget.

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Moving Tips

What Is Moving Insurance and Is It Important for Your NJ Move?

What is Moving Insurance and Do You Need It for my NJ move

Moving your belongings from your old home to your new one is a difficult process. You can only hope that everything arrives in one piece. While you’ll have better chances of a damage-free move when using professional NJ movers, there’s always the possibility that something could break. For a more stress-free move, you might consider purchasing moving insurance

What is Moving Insurance?

In simple terms, moving insurance is a protection plan for your belongings during a move. You generally have three available options:

  • Released value protection – the most basic coverage protection. 
  • Full value protection – coverage for the full replacement of items
  • Third party insurance – more comprehensive coverage for a variety of potential issues

All moving companies are required by federal law to have released and full value protection. These aren’t technically ‘insurance’ (as moving companies cannot sell insurance) and instead are simply an amount of liability the will pay if they damage an item during the move and thus don’t cover every potential problem overs m that might arise. Actual moving insurance is only available through third parties.

Which is Better: Valuation vs. Insurance

There is a fundamental difference between valuation and insurance and that’s typically how much coverage it provides. Unless you’re getting the cheapest moving insurance on the market, third party options tend to provide coverage for a wider variety of scenarios than valuation. More importantly, you can only get the valuations from the moving company that you hire. Different companies offer different types of valuations, so make sure to ask about their options before hiring them. With that said, the most common options are:

Released value protection

Covers $0.60 per pound per item for damaged goods. Best for short distance/local moves with only a few high value items. This valuation comes at no cost to you so it’s a good way to save money if you’re on a tight budget. However, if something of high value does get damaged, you likely will only get a small pittance in return. As well, the coverage might be avoid if you pack your own things.

Full Value Protection

As the name suggests, full value protection provides more coverage than released value. While this will cost extra money, it offers a lot more coverage for your belongings. A common valuation for this option is $6 per pound per item. The movers will provide one of three options for damaged items:

  • Repair it
  • Replace it with something of equal current market value
  • Cash settlement for current market value of damaged item

While it can cover higher value items that are worth $100 per pound or more, think fine china or electronics, you will need to inform the movers of each of these items in writing to receive coverage. If you don’t, then they can limit how much liability they take. Plan on using short term storage? Use the one provided by the moving company. Your items will still be protected by the mover’s valuation as well as their own storage insurance. If you use a third-party storage solution and something gets damaged while in storage, the moving company will not be liable.

How much the coverage costs is dependent on the total market value of all your items. Most companies charge around 1% of the total value. This is perfect if you have a lot of expensive items you need to move and/or if you are moving long distance.

As good as full value protection might be, it still doesn’t cover everything, most notably things that are out of the movers control. This includes damages from natural disasters, fires, pests, mildew, mold, and more. And much like released value protection, if you pack the boxes, the movers won’t be held liable for any damage as the damages could have been caused by your improper packing skills. That’s why you should request the movers to pack all your fragile items so if it does get damaged during the move, you are not to blame!

Third Party Insurance

Unlike valuations, third party insurance tends to provide greater coverage. Of course, you’ll need to shop around to find a policy that provides the coverage you want. For the most part though you’ll want something that covers damage from:

  • Natural disasters
  • Mechanical and electrical accidents
  • Fires
  • Mold and mildew
  • Insects and pests

Your moving insurance coverage lasts up to 90 days if you need to store your stuff in your movers’ storage option. You can even extend it if necessary. However, if you plan on using self-storage ask the company if they offer coverage as many do not. Some policies you might want to consider include:

  • Liability – compensates you for the your loss on top released value protection
  • Floater – applies to specific items like jewelry or fine china
  • Special perils contents – applies to damage to specific items sans breakables
  • Trip transit – threats to your items while movers are in transit, mainly accidents caused by other people, automobile/personnel failure, or natural disasters

Insurance prices vary across the board and are based on the value of all your items, level of deductible you choose, and the destination. With that said, you can expect to pay at least $200. If this seems too expensive, consider the cost of having to replace your electronics or artwork. 

Do You Need Moving Insurance?

Ultimately, the decision requires you to take stock of your items and figure out the value of everything. While professional movers do their best to get everything to your new place without a scratch, there’s always the possibility something might get damaged. If you’re not moving very far or very much, you can probably get away with the released value protection and save yourself a few hundred dollars. However, investing in full valuation protection and/or third party moving insurance might be the better option if you have a lot of valuable items. And while it might add to your moving budget, it could save you a lot of money should something happen. Of course, the hope is that everything arrives intact at your new home, but you can at least have peace of mind when you purchase insurance that you’ll be able to receive some help.

If you’re ready to make your NJ move, make sure to work with professional NJ movers as they can provide you with information on their valuations and even recommendations for moving insurance.

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How To

How to Find a Reliable Moving Company: 4 Questions to Ask

How to Find a Reliable Moving Company 4 Questions to Ask

The Better Business Bureau receives an average of 13,000 complaints and negative reviews on movers every year,  and moving scams themselves have cost Americans a total of around $2.1 million a year. Not surprisingly, the amount of moving scams increased during the lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic. While the amount of scams have decreased since then, you still need to stay on your toes when dealing with movers. 

While most moving companies are reliable and reputable, it’s still important to do your research. That includes asking questions when you speak to each moving company. The below questions will help you avoid scam companies and find a professional moving company that meets your requirements.

Question 1: What is your company’s experience with moving?

When it comes to moving, it’s essential to hire a professional moving company with years of experience. Moving can be a complex process that involves various tasks, such as packing, loading, and transporting your belongings to a new location. An experienced moving company can handle these tasks with ease and efficiency, ensuring that your move is as stress-free as possible. They have the knowledge and expertise to handle any challenges that may arise during the moving process, such as navigating narrow hallways or dealing with fragile items. 

On top of that, moving companies that have been around for several years have likely moved pretty much everything including items like pianos, pool tables, hot tubs, antiques, and more so if you plan on moving any of these items, you know you’ll get a better moving experience when you hire reliable movers.

Finally, movers with years of experience have the necessary equipment and tools to handle your items with care and can provide additional services such as packing and unpacking, which can save you time and effort. Additionally, experienced movers are familiar with the local area and can easily navigate through notoriously tricky city and back streets without any issues. Hiring an experienced moving company is a wise investment that can save you time, money, and stress.

Question 2: Are you licensed and insured?

One of the biggest red flags for a moving company is if they are not licensed or insured. All professional moving companies have to register with the US Department of Transportation. Some states, such as New Jersey and New York, also require movers to register with the state’s Department of Transportation. All registered businesses receive a unique USDOT number (and state DOT number) that can be used to look up the company’s safety information, which includes crash investigations, inspections, and more. Licensed moving companies generally list their USDOT number on their website or provide it upon request. You can then use the number to look up information on the company including registration status, fleet size, and compliance information. Make sure the company is also “Authorized for HHG” (Household Goods), as that will confirm they are licensed for residential moves.

In addition to being licensed, you want to make sure you’re hiring insured movers. In order to receive their USDOT number, moving companies must provide proof of insurance. The most common policies include:

  • General liability – protects the company from third-party claims of bodily injury, property damage, and personal injury
  • Workers Compensation – provide benefits and/or medical care to moving crew in case they are injured on the job
  • Commercial Auto Insurance – protects commercial fleet in case of accidents

Some movers go a step further and add on Umbrella Liability. This supplemental policy offers protection for settlements, legal costs, and judgements. Many apartment buildings require movers to have Umbrella Insurance, so it’s not necessarily a red flag if you hire movers who don’t have it. Just asking if the company has insurance isn’t necessarily enough. You should ask them for a certificate of insurance, a form that lists all of the insurance policies they have, to make sure they have everything. Make sure to check the name and address listed on the form matches what listed on their website.

Finally, all moving companies must provide some form of cargo insurance in the form of released value protection and full value protection. The released value protection is completely free, but will only provide $0.60 per pound per each item that is damaged or lost in transit. Full value protection will provide one of the three options:

  1. Repair your damaged item
  2. Replace it with an item of equal current market value
  3. Provide a cash payout based on the market value of the item

You can also purchase moving insurance from a third-party if you happen to own a lot of valuable items.

Question 3: What services do you offer?

Hiring professionals for your move isn’t cheap, so it’s important to choose one that can meet all your needs. Outside of shipping your belongings, the best companies offer a variety of moving services. In some cases, some of these services might even be included in your basic moving such as disassembling and reassembling basic furniture, uninstalling window AC units, dismounting TVs, and more.

So what additional services can you ask for? The most common include:

  • Packing and unpacking – you can choose to hire movers to pack up certain rooms or areas or hire them for your entire house. For an additional fee, the crew can unpack your boxes and place everything in closets and cabinets the way you want.
  • Storage solutions – if you’re not planning to move into your new home immediately after your move then you can ask the movers to store your stuff for you. Most companies have storage units available for short and long term rentals.
  • Packing materials – while you can certainly find free boxes for your move, the materials you purchase from a moving company are the same ones that they use professionally when they pack and seal up your boxes. That means you can rest easy knowing the boxes won’t fall apart in the middle of transit.

There are other services you can request such as managing bulky or specialty items like pianos and asking for additional stops in case you have some things in storage. Some movers might also be able to help you with cleaning. In either case, you should be clear on your needs and then ask the movers if they are able to meet them before deciding who to hire. And remember, all of these services will cost you extra money so be sure you have room in your budget for them.

Question 4: How much will a move cost?

Cost is usually the first thing that comes to mind when considering a move. While affordable movers do exist, even on the lower end you can expect to pay at least a couple hundred dollars for a small one-bedroom apartment. As the size of your house increases, so too does the cost.

The most important thing to notice when you ask this question is whether there is transparent pricing or not. Are you getting the runaround? Do the prices seem too low in comparison to other movers you have called? Both cases are red flags that the movers are trying to scam you. Reputable movers will provide an itemized bill that lists all charges including ‘hidden’ charges such as:

  • Transportation cost
  • Stair fees
  • Materials
  • Gas

And of course the actual moving fee. Local moves tend to charge an hourly rate for moves. In comparison, long-distance moves will charge by volume and/or weight. So long as you are upfront about what you need and any services you want to include, the final bill shouldn’t be a surprise.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions

Trustworthy movers are more than happy to field any questions you have and will provide detailed and informative answers. Be wary of anyone who tries to argue with you or pressure you into hiring them. Their prices might seem like a steal, but that’s because they’re planning to scam you out of more money. If you encounter an aggressive customer service agent, simply end the conversation and move onto the next company on your list. Hiring bad movers could lead to huge issues such as damaged or lost/stolen goods and potentially losing thousands of dollars.

If you’re ready to make your next move, make sure to hire NJ Great Movers! We provide local and long-distance moves and can provide you with all the necessary paperwork and information to put your mind at ease.

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DIY Moving Projects How To

How to Hire the Right Movers for Your NJ Move

How to Hire The Right Movers for Your NJ Move

Doing a DIY move when you’re young isn’t so bad. You’re still in decent shape and you likely have some nearby friends and family who are available to help out. However, as you get older moving everything yourself can put a serious toll on your mind and body. Not to mention most of your friends and family are probably too busy with their own life to help out (and maybe they also just don’t want to get hurt helping you move).

Whatever the case, you now need to hire right movers. Even if you’ve gone through the process in the past, it can still be a daunting task. After all, there are so many companies to choose from and not all of them will fit your needs. In order to find the right one moving company for you, you’ll need to do some planning. Luckily, the following guide will help walk you through the process.

Need to Calculate Your Moving Cost

Before hiring NJ professional movers onboard, you first need to figure out if you even have enough money. In order to do that, you need to figure out how much they cost. While there aren’t any universal rates, most movers tend to offer similar prices. If you don’t want to guess how much movers will cost, you can simply reach out to a few that offer the service you need and get a quote. So long as you provide accurate information and include any additional services you might want to include, the quote should be fairly accurate.

Your best bet is to reach out to a minimum of three NJ moving companies, ideally more. You should be suspicious if an estimate is significantly lower than the others as it might be a sign of a scam. And while it used to be a red flag if movers don’t do an in-home visit, thanks to COVID-19, many can provide estimates if you send them pictures and/or video.

Check All the Important Documents

Whether you’re making a local move or long distance move it’s important that you make sure the company you hire is licensed and insured. The US Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) requires all professional moving companies to have a U.S. DOT number. In order to receive this number, the movers must enroll in an 18-month education program to learn about carrier safety and hazardous material regulations. During this time, the company must maintain safe operations and pass a safety audit. To maintain their number, movers must comply with all Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) safety regulations.

Some states, like New Jersey, also require registration with the state’s Department of Transportation for additional security. Moving companies are required to post both their state and federal DOT numbers in an easy to find location on their website. You can then check the moving company’s numbers on the FMCSA website to ensure their numbers are still valid.

In addition to having the appropriate registration with the state and federal DOT, you also want to make sure the moving company is properly insured. You can ask for a certificate of insurance (COI), which is a form that shows all of the necessary insurance the movers have including umbrella, general liability, automotive, worker’s compensation, and more. When you look over the document, pay close attention to the expiration dates for the insurance as well as the name and address listed for the business. You want to make sure the insurance is still valid up to the date of your move and that the name and address matches what is listed on the company website.

Read Reviews Online

Thanks to the beauty of the internet, you can now easily find reviews on almost everything, including NJ moving companies. Don’t let this resource go to waste! Simply search the name of the company and you’ll be able to pull up reviews from multiple sources including Yelp and Google. You can always arrange reviews by the most recent and even drill down to see specific ratings like one-star reviews. From there, you can determine whether the negative and/or positive reviews are a good representative sample.

In addition to customer reviews, you should also check out the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see if the company has a report. You can check out the letter grade the BBB has assigned to the mover and read any complaints, reviews, and government actions. Besides the BBB, you can also review the company’s complaint history on the DOT website.

You shouldn’t always trust online reviews though as some companies will pay people to post positive reviews. If you know people who have used a moving company you are considering, ask them questions on the cost, professionalism, etc. See if they have any complaints and see if it matches up with the online reviews.

Ask Questions About What You Want to Know

Once you’ve narrowed down your NJ moving company search, you should take some time to ask them questions. You don’t want to go in there without any preparation, so make a list of questions beforehand. Below are some questions you should ask:

  • Can you provide a certificate of insurance? You want to make sure the movers the insurance is up-to-date and that they have enough coverage. Usually, insurance should go be at least $2-5 million
  • Are you a broker or carrier? Brokers outsource their services to other companies while carriers handle all moving services in house
  • What coverage option do you offer? All moving companies must offer partial liability coverage for free. This only insures your items for $0.60 per pound per item. Professional moving companies are required to have full value protection, but you will need to pay extra for this
  • What services do you offer? Not all movers are created equal. If you need additional services like packing and unpacking or storage, make sure you ask if they offer these options.
  • How do you calculate prices? Most companies charge customers on several factors including weight, distance, season, and hourly rates. If you’re moving locally, most movers stick with a flat hourly rate, but that’s not always the case so it’s important to ask.
  • What about cancellation fees? There are plenty of reasons why you might need to cancel or reschedule your move. Some companies will let you cancel free of charge so long as you do it far enough in advance. Others might charge you a fee on top of your deposit so make sure you ask!

Hire Right Movers NJ

Once you’ve done your research and found the right movers for you, make sure you book them! Ideally, you’ll want to reserve your movers at least a month beforehand, but you might be able to get in a last-minute move if you’re lucky. Still, the more lead time you have, the better as you’ll be able to start the moving process in advance.

Looking for some movers in NJ, then reach out to NJ Great Movers for a quote!