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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.

Categories
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!

Categories
Storage

4 Reasons You Should Consider a Storage Solution for Your Next Move

4 Reasons You Should Consider a Storage Solution for Your Next Move

Regardless of the size of your house, if you have lived there for several years you have accumulated a lot of stuff. Most people don’t realize how much they have until they need to move, that’s why downsizing is such a huge part of the moving process. However, it’s not always easy to let go of items you’ve had for a long time. Doubly so if you’re moving to a much smaller space or just don’t have the time to go through everything you own. You don’t want to accidentally throw out your late grandmother’s quilt!

While you can find your own storage units, many moving companies (like Great Movers) provide storage options for customers. The best part is that the movers will help bring your belongings to your storage unit and then to your new home once you’re ready, saving you a lot of time. There are many reasons a storage unit can be beneficial to the moving process so it might be worth it to consider it for the future.

Declutter Your House

Once you’ve decided to move out of your house, you will want to attract as many buyers as possible. For best results, you should declutter your house as much as possible as a tidy home will showcase the space in the best possible light. Even if your house is large, a cluttered garage, full closet, or large stack of boxes strewn about the house can turn off potential buyers.

While it might be easier to start packing up when you know your closing date, it’s not always possible. In many cases, even if you do know the closing date, your move-out and move-in dates might not overlap.

Whatever the case is, the idea is to get as much non-essential stuff out of your house and somewhere else. If you’re not able to move into your new place yet, you will have to put your boxes into storage for a few months. Luckily, most reputable movers offer safe and secure short-term storage solutions. Plus, they don’t necessarily need to have exact dates. When you’re ready to move your boxes into your new place, all you need to do is give them a call and let them know your plans. They’ll deliver the items to you with zero hassle.

Plus, putting your stuff in storage early on allows you to also take a second look at what you own. With so much going on from finding a new house, closing on the new house, finding a buyer, packing, and all the dozens of other tasks you’ll probably be overwhelmed. Chances are you might throw out something accidentally and/or bring too many items to your new place that you don’t need. You might even bring bulky items like furniture that won’t even fit in your new place!

With everything in storage, you can spend a bit more time sorting through your belongings. If you can, wait to declutter the storage unit until after you’ve moved in. There’s nothing quite like living in a new place to give you a clearer picture of where you want to put things and whether your old aesthetic matches your new house. Plus, you’ll have a clean, empty space when you move so you can easily paint the walls without worrying about dirtying up your stuff.

Reduce Moving Costs

It might sound counterintuitive, but renting a storage unit could save you moving costs. The smaller units can often cost as little as $100 and many places offer a discount on the first month. Many CT moving companies might even offer discounts on your move if you also use their storage solutions. Of course, you shouldn’t assume that you’ll get these discounts so make sure that you ask about any promotions when you talk to the movers over the phone.

Even if you don’t get a discount, moving might still be cheaper if you put some things in storage. With less stuff to load and unload, the movers will take less time, which means a lower price tag. Of course, it also means you will need to move your own boxes into and out of storage yourself for maximum cost savings.

Alleviate Stress

While you can reduce stress by planning ahead, sometimes you’ll still run into some hiccups. Maybe your new house isn’t ready in time or maybe the people who want to purchase your home need to move in faster than expected. There are so many things that can happen that it can be overwhelming. The last thing you need is not having a safe place to store your belongings.

Even if everything goes according to plan, it can still be tricky to try and pack and move everything in a short amount of time. Thai is especially true if you’re making a long-distance move. That’s why renting a storage unit can be a great option. You can start packing even before you put your house on the market and store your stuff as early as possible. Plus, you can keep adding to the unit as the selling and buying process gets underway.

Find the Right Buyer for Items

Yard sales might be great for selling the basic knick knacks you don’t want to bring with you, but they might not be the best for more valuable items. Of course, anything could be considered ‘valuable’ so it really comes down to your knowledge of what you own and how well you know the pricing. Things that can sell for a lot include:

  • Collectible toys
  • Comic books
  • Trading cards
  • Camera lenses
  • Vintage clothes
  • Designer purses and shoes
  • Scientific equipment

Of course, to make money on things like collectibles, they need to be in almost pristine condition. For toys, most are only worth money if they are still in the box so make sure to do some research and price accordingly. There are a lot of places online where you can list your items for sale, but the most popular remains eBay. Depending on the quality and rarity of the item you’re selling, you might even be able to sell it at a profit. In order to do this, you can’t have a deadline where you need to get rid of your items. That’s why a storage unit is so useful. You can simply pack them away and spend some time doing your research and finding the right buyer.

Consider Storage Solutions for Your Next Move

Moving is both an exciting and stressful endeavor, but you can lighten the burden by adding on either long or short term storage options. That way, you will have most of your things packed already weeks before your move. And if worse comes to worst and you have to move out before you can move into your new place, you will already have your belongings in storage. It’s a win win.

If you are interested in storage solutions, make sure to ask the professional movers what they offer.

Categories
General

Useful Strategies for Packing Your Home Library for Your Next Move

Useful Strategies for Packing Your Home Library for Your Next Move

Moving books might seem simple, after all you just toss them into a box, right? You’re not completely wrong, but there are exceptions to the rule. More importantly, if you pack your books incorrectly it could lead to broken boxes, damaged books, and injured backs. Even if you hire professional movers to haul the boxes for you, you’ll still need to do the packing, which isn’t quite as simple as you might think. For best results, read the strategies below on how to pack and move your home library.

Declutter Your Library

If you’re a bibliophile, the thought of getting rid of some of your precious books can be a heart wrenching. However, it’s in your best interest to lighten the load. After all, the less stuff you have, the cheaper the move will be whether you’re making a local or cross-country move. And who doesn’t want saving money?

Don’t rush this process. Try to start at least a month before your move. That way you will have the time to consider each book carefully. Instead of throwing your books in the trash, consider the following options:

  • Donate to charity – most charities will gladly accept your books so long as they are in good condition. You can also donate directly to libraries, schools, orphanages, etc.
  • Sell them – there’s a fairly large second-hard market for books, so why not make a little extra cash from them? Offer your books at yard sales or sell them online through Amazon or through various online booksellers.
  • Pass them along to friends and/or family members – Ask people you know if they want to take some books off your hands. Chances are there are probably a few you’re getting rid of that someone would be interested in.
  • Recycle – if your books are heavily damaged, your only option would be to recycle it. Avoid throwing your books in the trash if possible! Your old books can enjoy a new life as wrapping paper or paper bags if you recycle.

Organize Your Books the Proper Way

Once you’ve narrowed down your books, it’s time to organize them. Before you move anything though, make sure to take a picture of your current library setup so you can replicate it in your new home. Of course, you might decide you want to try a different organization method later on!

Separate your books into hardcover and paperbacks. If you don’t, the hardcover books could damage your paperbacks. From there, group the books up by size. That way, you can maximize the amount of space the books take in the box. You can go further with your organization and organize your book by genre, author, etc. Whatever is easiest for you to remember and unpack when you get to your new place. After all, there’s nothing quite like relaxing with your favorite book after a stressful moving day!

Choosing the Right Packing Materials

It might be tempting to put all of your books into one or two large boxes, but that’s ultimately an injury waiting to happen. Books are heavy. You might not think about the weight often in your day-to-day life. After all, you’re likely only holding one book at a time. An average hardcover weighs between 1 to 3 pounds while a paperback can weigh between 0.5 to 1 pound. Even if you’re hiring professional NJ movers to help with moving, you still want to keep your boxes to a max of 30 pounds since you might still need to move the boxes yourself from one room to another. More importantly, if you back your box full of heavy books, it can compromise the structural integrity of the box. This could lead to broken boxes and, at worse, a serious injury.

Your best bet is to choose smaller boxes. Sure, it might be tedious to pack dozens of smaller boxes, but it will ultimately be easier to move several small boxes versus one heavy box. Plus, smaller boxes mean better organization so you’re not putting your mystery novels with your romance.

Besides the box, you want to make sure you have other packing materials such as tape, packing paper, and permanent markers. Make sure to label the packed books as heavy so the movers know what to expect.

Need to Pack Your Books Properly

Sure, you can just dump your books into boxes willy-nilly, but it will be easier for you and the movers if you are intentional with your packing. Besides organizing and getting the right materials for the job, the actual packing part can ensure your books arrive in good condition. Before you start packing, line the boxes you plan on using with packing paper. If you have delicate and/or rare books, consider packing these separately or placing cardboard sheets between the books to prevent damage.

When stacking your books, pack your books with the spine down. If you’re stacking the books, pack the lighter books on top of the heavier ones. Try not to squeeze too much into the box. You don’t want the sides or top bulging! Leave a little space on the sides and top and stuff the empty space with packing paper to prevent any shifting during the move. You might also want to get some desiccant to keep your books nice and dry. After all, moisture can ruin books and warp the book shape. Not to mention it can lead to mold and rot.

Ship Your Books Using Media Mail

If you decide to go the DIY route, you might want to consider shipping your books via media mail. That way, you don’t have to worry about lugging the heavy boxes on and off a truck! Even if you’re using professional movers, shipping the books might end up being cheaper, especially if you’re making a long distance move. You can ship giant boxes of books for around $0.45 a pound! You can even schedule a pickup with the USPS so you don’t have to lug the boxes down to the post office.

So, what’s the catch? The USPS reserves the right to open and search the packages to ensure the contents adhere to the service’s standards. That means you can’t sneak in other items into these boxes. You will need to check the media mail website to see what does count. Be forewarned that media mail packages cannot contain advertising and things like comic books do not count. While the USPS won’t check every box, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Move Your Home Library Safely

If you want to make sure you have your favorite books on hand when you move into your new place, then hire professional movers to relocate your home library. Reputable NJ movers have years of experience and have moved pretty much everything you can imagine. And if you need, they can put any extra boxes in storage for you. Just make sure they know you will need a storage solution ahead of time!