Month: April 2023

Don’t Delay — Book Your Move Early

Our agents are working hard to meet your needs during this year’s peak moving season. We also want to help you navigate the process so it’s easy and stress-free.  

Have extra time or flexibility? Book early — as far in advance as possible is best. Not an option? Read on for expert tips and advice from our pros.  Get a Quote

• How Early Should I Book My Move? Booking your move well in advance lets us more efficiently plan and manage everything around your relocation and helps us put time on your side. Learn more about booking your specific move type. When To Book Movers Guideline
• What If My Preferred Move Date is Not Available?During this year’s summer moving season, booking early is recommended. If that’s simply not an option and you know you want a full-service move, consider this advice from our experts. Read More

Real Movers Versus Fake Movers: How to Spot the Difference

Regardless of who you move with, we want to help ensure you’re not the victim of a moving scam. Get tips on what to look for. Spot Rogue Movers

The Ultimate Moving Checklist

We can help you get organized for your move eight weeks in advance. Check out our comprehensive checklist to streamline and simplify the tasks at hand.Stay Organized with Our Moving Checklists

How to Pack Your Car and What to Put in It When You Move

So much more than a road trip, packing your car for a cross-country move can be daunting. Get advice and how to pack it and what goes inside. Pack Your Car Tips

What to Do While Waiting for Your Belongings to Arrive

Sometimes there will still be a lag between when your valuables are scheduled to arrive and when you cross the threshold of your new front door. We have some tips for you to make the most out of this waiting time.Get Tips

7 Ways to Manage Moving Stress

Moving isn’t easy. Read about ways to manage the process while maintaining your well-being — even in the midst of challenging times. Manage Moving Stress

Fly-by-night operations and tricky bait and switch tactics scam consumers out of thousands of dollars every day and are an unfortunate part of the moving industry. So how do you know your moving company is the real deal? Being a well-informed, educated consumer is key, so it’s important to do some detective work before you commit. 

Watch Out for These Common Moving Scams 

Hidden Moving Fees 

Rogue movers are notorious for tacking on unplanned and/or undisclosed fees for packing, climbing stairs, heavy moving, or additional weight at the last minute. You should insist on signing a completed moving contract before you let movers take possession of your belongings.  

Deposits for Moving Services 

A reputable moving company will never ask for a deposit to hold your move date. Generally, a credit card is requested closer to your load date. At Mayflower, we don’t require an upfront down payment or deposit to book a move. 

Suspicious Moving Quotes 

The Low-Ball Bid. A suspiciously low bid is likely missing some crucial details – and unexpected costs start adding up once the company has your belongings. Be sure to go over the full scope of your final costs before choosing a low-cost moving agreement. 

The One-Price-Fits-All Bid. Offering one price for every move is a huge red flag! A reputable mover will calculate your estimate not only by ZIP Code and number of rooms, but also weight of goods and the amount of space required on a truck to move your things.  

The In-and-Out Bid. This type of bid does not gather enough information to accurately cost-out a long-distance move. Rogue movers will try and hurry the conversation past pricing and neglect to discuss the complete terms of service until your entire household is packed onto their truck. Reputable estimators will inspect every room in your home (including closets) and ask important questions about your moving plans. 

The Volume-Based Bid. Be cautious of movers who quote your long-distance move by cubic footage of truck space. Interstate moves based on volume are illegal without a weight conversion factor and should be reported to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) . 

Protect Yourself from Moving Scams

With a little due diligence, you can avoid moving scams and stop fake movers in their tracks. 

Ask Friends and Family. They can recommend a moving company they have recently used and provide you with reviews based on their real-life experiences. 

Check with ATA. The American Trucking Associations Moving and Storage Conference keep an up-to-date list of Pro-Mover certified local and long-distance movers on file. Check with them to find a moving service or to screen a company you’ve already contacted. 

Research Companies Thoroughly. Check online for reviews with the BBB and Google to be sure that they have a history of customer service success.  

Document Everything. After delivery, you have nine months to report any problems to the moving company and file a written claim for loss or damage to your belongings. Note any problems on the mover’s copy of the inventory before signing it. Your mover has 30 days to acknowledge receipt of your claim. Within 120 days of receiving it, they must make an offer to pay or deny your claim. It’s a lot easier for them to deny it if you don’t have before-and-after proof or if they don’t see the damage before leaving your home. 

Know Your Moving Rights and Responsibilities. Federal law requires that every licensed mover provide consumers with an informational packet titled, “Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move” during the planning stage of your move. Most legitimate moving companies will direct you online to their website to access this information or possibly provide you with a 25-page booklet on fair practices, industry regulations and consumer rights. 

With nearly 100 years as a trusted moving company, coupled with modern technology designed to deliver you a smooth, worry-free experience, you can count on Mayflower. Start a free online moving quote today. 

The summer months are always a busy time for Americans on the move. The guidelines below offer ways we can work together and get you where you want to move to. 

How Far in Advance Should I Hire Movers? 

The availability of professional movers depends on many factors, including market availability; where you are moving from and to; and the time of the year you move. 

Especially during the summer moving season — May through September — we suggest booking as far in advance as possible.  

Why is It Important to Book Movers Early? 

Both you and your mover need time to carefully plan and carry out your move, so everything goes smoothly. As soon as you can, begin researching different moving companies and the types of services that best fit your needs. The more time and preparation you can give yourself, your loved ones and the moving companies, the less stress you’ll experience throughout the entire moving journey.  

Flexibility is important, especially during summer season. If you can’t get your preferred move date, check out these tips. 

When Should I Book My Mover? 

This depends a lot upon where you’re planning to move. Some areas of the country are not affected by capacity and logistical challenges at all, while others are. Our best advice?  Book your move date in advance. Have flexibility? Please book early anyway. This will ensure we deliver the level of service you’ve come to expect. 

That said, here are some general guidelines based on the various move types: 

Interstate Moves 

If you’re moving to a different state or cross-country during the summer season, you’ll want to book well in advance of your move date. Even during less busy times of year, booking your move date in advance is always a good idea.

Spend some time doing research online to find a trusted and experienced interstate mover.  Local moving companies can’t always perform interstate moves. This is because any move that involves crossing a state line must follow the U.S. federal laws and regulations — including licensing requirements — to help protect consumers before, during and after their relocations. 

Intrastate Moves 

If you’re moving to a different city within your state, book well ahead of time during the summer season. As with other types of moves, securing a move date with a prospective intrastate mover as far ahead of time as possible is best. 

Local Moves 

Moving a short distance and within the same state still needs a good amount of advance planning. Ideally — and especially in the summer season — we recommend contacting prospective local movers well in advance.  

International Moves 

Moving abroad can be a challenging and complex process involving special documentation, shipping logistics, the continued back-up of ocean freight, customs paperwork and clearances. If your move is job-related, talk to your employer, as they may have relocation specialists on staff. If it is a self-move, you’ll want to find a qualified, trusted international moving company as far in advance as you can.

We hope you find these guidelines to be useful as we navigate the peak moving season together. We will provide updates about conditions and timelines as they evolve. In the meantime, our blog is filled with helpful moving checklists and advice to streamline and de-stress the moving experience. 

Whether local or long-distance, moving can be complex. You may decide to do the move yourself; however, hiring a professional moving company like Mayflower will help alleviate much of the stress of moving and let you focus on your personal and professional needs throughout the moving process.

Knowing how a moving cost estimate is put together reduces stress because it helps you gauge the actual financial impact of relocating. A moving cost estimate also gives you valuable insights into how the potential moving company conducts business and potentially identifies any obstacles associated with completing your move. 

When estimating your moving costs, be sure to get a quote from more than one moving company. This will allow you to see the average price range for the specifics of your move including the size and distance, and whether hiring a professional makes sense.

Important Questions to Ask Yourself When Moving

How do you decide whether to hire a professional moving company or do it yourself? Start with these questions:

• When do I want to move?
• What large or bulky items need to be moved?
• Am I physically able to move myself?
• How far will I be moving?
• What type(s) of vehicle will I use for the move?
• How many trips will it take to move my belongings to my new home?
• What’s my timeline for the move?
• What’s my budget?

A DIY move can be difficult, especially if you have a large number of belongings or an inflexible timeframe. Hiring a professional moving company takes more planning upfront but can simplify your move later on. 

How are Moving Costs Calculated?

When determining the cost of a move, every moving company has its own way of calculating the costs of a move. 

Typically, local movers or labor-only movers will create estimates based on an hourly rate, which considers how much time the move will take to complete. 

Long-distance moving companies consider factors such as the amount and weight of your belongings and the distance to be covered. To get an idea of the number of belongings that need to be transported, they may also ask you questions about the size of your current home and the size of your new home. 

Your move-out and move-in dates often impact the cost of the move. Most moving companies experience their busy season during the summer months and prices will often be higher. 

The cost of your move is also dependent on whether you want other moving services such as packing, unpacking, storage and custom crafting.

Always be sure to request information about how your costs are determined and what type of moving estimates you receive before picking which moving company to hire. 

A full-service moving quote from Mayflower gives you a detailed view of your moving costs with and without added services. We take our cost estimating process seriously so that we can give every family our assurance that experienced and caring professionals are handling their move.

Why are Moving Cost Estimates Important?

A moving cost estimate provides more than just an idea of what you can expect to pay. It also allows you to compare hiring professional movers to DIY move options, such as renting a moving truck. 

You can use the estimate process to evaluate other aspects of the moving company such as the level of customer service and cost transparency that they offer.

When trying to decide on a moving company, it’s a good idea to get more than one moving cost estimate. This will help you understand each of your options and make the right decision for your move.

Choose Mayflower for Your Move

Over nearly 100 years, Mayflower has encountered moves of all shapes and sizes. We know that the moving process can seem overwhelming, and we’re here to help. That’s why we strive to provide a seamless moving experience for each move, guiding you Every Step of the Way(R) to your new home. 

Mayflower has many other valuable moving resources available to assist with your move. Whether you need packing tips or moving checklists, you can find them on the Mayflower Moving blog.

Learn more about your move and request a free online quote today.