Dallas Movers, Fort Worth Movers, Houston Movers Locator!: Find a Local Mover
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After Marriage and the death of a loved one moving is the most 3rd most stressful event in anyone’s life. This website was created for people such as yourself, to make moving easier. However remember organization is the key step to an easier move. Tray and plan your move at least 8 weeks before the time. This gives you enough time to find a reputable mover and organize your packing and moving. It also gives you enough time to find a new apartment or house. When you have more than enough time you can always avoid any moving or mover scams that you might otherwise have overlooked.
How to find a moving company:
Finding a mover is not always that easy, however with modern technology it can be less stressful. Always try and find a mover in your area. So if you live in say, Texas, try and find a mover in Texas, even better yet a mover in your town, say Houston, Austin or even Cedarville, Texas.
(a) The company name, address, and phone numbers should match what you already have;
(b) On the top right of the form, there is a field titled 'Status'. This must read 'Active'.
(c) The two fields labeled 'Power Units', and 'Drivers'. This should give you a good indication of the size of the company. Here's a thought... if your company told you that they do a hundred moves a month but they only have two trucks, how likely do you think that is?
(d) Another field labeled 'MCS-150 Form Date' may contain the date that the license was applied for.
(e) Next, under Operation Classification, there should be an X next to 'Auth for Hire'.
(f) Under Carrier Operation, if you are moving out of state there should be an X next to 'Interstate'.
(g) Under Cargo Carried, there should be at least an X next to Household Goods.
(h) You should also check their inspection record. This lists their inspection record as well as the national average. If your company's average is much higher than the national average, or if they have been in business for three years, but don't have any inspections, then something is wrong.
(i) Further down the page, it will also tell you if they are Interstate or Intrastate and what type of goods they move. It will also give you an update on their accident reports.
Right down at the bottom of the page, there is an insurance link which is important. Click on it and it will take you to a new page. Check the following about the mover:
There are 3 columns: (Authority) Common, Contract and Broker
There are also: (Insurance Type) BIPD, Cargo and Bond.
(a) The mover must have at least Common Active being a common carrier;
(b) Insurance type, there MUST be BIPD. This must meet or exceed the minimum required. BIPD means bodily injury and property damage coverage. If it has none. DON’T use them!
Those moving agents or movers that are left on your list, those are the ones to call. Try to narrow your moving companies down to 3 or 4 for quotes. If they are in driving distance from you go and look at the location of the mover and see how professional they are. First impressions of your mover counts!
If you are in a small town such as Haltom City, Roanoke, or even Grand Prairie, there will be a mover in the town or close to the town.
(a) This is a local move;
(b) This is an interstate move;
(c) This is an office move;
(d) This is an apartment move; or
(e) This is a large house move.
This is a local move, (e.g.: From Austin Texas to Dallas Texas):
There are options to moving if it is a local move. Local moves are reasonably easy. You just want to move things maybe a few boxes from Austin to Dallas. It is not really an apartment move; it is just a small move that does not require a lot of labor. Smaller moves and small movers normally work on the amount of boxes you have, their weight and the distance between the locations. If it is a Houston or even an Austin to Dallas move they will calculate the distance of the move, and charge you based on that and add on charges for labor. There is normally a minimal fee, based on weight which you need to check with by the mover. Also many movers will charge extra if your move is on or during a public holiday or over the week-end. So check with the mover on these charges.
Many movers will have minimal insurance, however many movers will be able to store your goods for you if your new location is not ready. Check with the mover; say in Dallas, if you are moving it to say Huston, what storage charges there would be if you have a delay and where it would be stored, in Dallas or Huston. This is important as it will give you an idea as to how fast they could move your goods in when you are ready. If it is already in Huston, then you could get it that day. However if the mover stored your goods in Dallas, then you might only get it the following day. So ask the mover before hand.
Small moves are normally Piano Movers, Motorcycle movers or even corporate relocation experts. They are not the Van Lines size movers but much smaller more specific movers.
This is an Interstate move, (e.g.: From New York to Dallas Texas):
If this is an interstate move, check to see if your mover is registered to do any interstate moves. Check out the Safe and Records system. See if the mover is listed as an Interstate mover.
An Office move: (e.g. Copeville to Carrollton or Cedar Hill)
An office move is more complicated. You need to be available all the time. Check with your potential mover if they are experienced in this field. The problem with such a move is, is that you need to maintain a running office while the furniture gets moved, and to cause a smaller disruption to your business as possible. Office moving is normally a “staged” move. Non essential items first followed by essential goods. The idea being to take the furniture first, set it in place on the other end, then when its in place to move all your electronic goods over as quickly as possible.
Apartment of Household move: (e.g. Forney to Weatherford or McKinney, Texas)
Check with the mover if they offer any sort of storage and what level of insurance do they offer with your quote. (We cover in more detail under Insurance)
(a) Most movers will not transport animals or frozen goods. If you are moving interstate, say you are moving to Austin Texas or to Dallas Texas, look for an animal carrier who will move your animals by air cargo. Also check out the local state advisories in the state you are moving to, in reference to the animals you are moving. Check out as an example the Texas Department of Health Service website. You will note that if you are moving any animals in Texas lets say Dallas, there are entry requirements:
(i) Although not required by Texas law, most airlines require a health certificate issued by a veterinarian within seven to ten days prior to travel.
(ii) Check with your airline for their exact requirements. To enter Texas and be in accordance with its state law, all dogs and cats three months of age or older must be vaccinated against rabies and be accompanied by a rabies vaccination certificate dated and signed by the veterinarian who administered the immunizations.
(iii) If the animal is a dog that is arriving from another country and is less than three months of age, the U.S. Public Health Service requires that it be confined at home until it reaches three months of age, at which time the animal must be vaccinated against rabies and confined for an additional 30 days.
Also check out The Animal Transport Association based in Houston Texas. They might be able to provide you with a better idea on moving your pets with a mover.
Understanding Quotes:
When you contact the movers on your list to get a quote, remember there are different types of quotes that you can receive. The three most common ones are:
Binding Not-To-Exceed:
This is the most favorable for consumers. It means that even if your actual weight is thousands of pounds more than the original written estimate, you still pay for only the amount of the estimate. But if your actual weight is less than the estimate, then you pay less than the amount of the estimate, according to your actual weight times the agreed upon price per pound. So a binding-not-to-exceed estimate can only get lower, not higher.
Fixed Price quote:
This means that you agree to pay the fixed amount of the binding written estimate. The actual weight is irrelevant. This is the most "fair" type of estimate IF everyone is honest. The risk to the consumer is that the estimator could highball the estimate to get extra money for pounds that don't exist. The risk to the moving company is that the consumer could sneak in lots of extra items that were not included on the original estimate. The risk to the mover is much less than the risk to the consumer, because the truck driver has the right to "challenge" the binding estimate on loading day, before actually loading, if he thinks that the estimate is too low.
Non-Binding estimate:
You basically agree to pay for the actual weight, based on a set price per pound. The final bill could be higher or lower than the original written estimate, depending on the actual weight. If the bill is higher than the estimate, the mover can collect up to ten percent extra on top of the amount specified in the non-binding estimate on the date of delivery. Then he is required by law to make full delivery of your goods. By law you must be given at least 30 days to come up with any balance over the original written estimate (this may change to 15 days in the coming months).
So if the estimate price was $1,500 but final bill was $2,000. The mover can only collect $1,500 plus 10%. (Movers are required by law to deliver your goods for no more than 10 percent above the price of a non-binding estimate.)
NOTE:
If you are going to use a COD service with a mover that is registered by the FMCSA, always remember that if this service is offered. The mover must according to regulations have a published, posted and filed tariffs list which contain the rates, charges and rules governing such a service by the mover; (377.103 Tariff requirements)
A binding estimate specifies in advance the precise cost of the move, based on the services requested. If additional services were required, such as additional packing or unpacking, or a “shuttle” to or from a location that could not be reached with a full-size van, those payments will be due 30 days after delivery.
None of these scenarios allow a moving company to refuse delivery until they are given full payment in cash.
Insurance:
This is an important issue that you need to check before your move. Some household insurance will cover your move as goods in transit, others will not. So you might want to check out:
There 3 types of insurance with moving:
1. Limited Liability - This especially pays by weight. 30c per pound or 60c per pound long haul. This is set to a maximum of US$ 2,500. So if the truck runs off never to be seen, you will be offered the payout of US$ 2,500.
2. Lump Sum Value – This is based on the value of your goods. This type of insurance is generally less than 1% of the value of the goods. So if your goods are worth more than $1.25 per pound, you will on average fork out $8 for every $1,000.
3. Full Value Insurance – This pays out the full replacement value of the article that is lost or damaged beyond repair.
Most movers offer insurance for your move so check with them before hand. Also try to remember that this will push up the initial quote given without insurance. So ask them for a quote to move, with and without insurance, and what their insurance covers.
IMPORTANT:
Always get written quotes, verbal quotes are pointless when a dispute might arise later during the move itself. A written quote with and without insurance. Don’t end up in a dispute over price, when the mover already has your goods!
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