7 questions for a potential mover

Do you want to facilitate your relocation to the utmost? If yes, you have already thought about the relocation company you should turn to for the assistance. Naturally, there hundreds of different offers on the market and not all of them are liable partners.

If you want to come across a proper offer on the market, you need to keep in mind 7 questions to ask your potential movers. The issues cover the packing, delivery and payment details and can disclose the specific of the removal company and its customer policy.

Ask about the documents company has and the period they are in business.

There are different kinds of organizations, the membership in which shows that the company is trustful and can handle your property carefully. These organizations include American Mover and Storage Association (AMSA), Better Business Bureau (BBB) or US Department of Transportation (USDOT). The last one is considered the most significant. You only need to ask the company for its DOT number, and if the representative cannot provide one, it must be an illegal company, working from somebody’s garage.

Ask about the pre-estimation of the moving costs.

Most of the companies estimate the price of the moving before you place a firm order. If they don’t provide free estimation, it is a warning sign. But the possibility of free estimation isn’t everything. First, you need to get the estimation in a written form and then ask if it is binding or not. The non-binding estimation means that the final price quote can differ from the previous estimation. It is not always bad, just know that the price can change slightly.

Ask about extra service and their price.

You have to learn what the company consider an extra service as some of them charge for the extra stops, parking, fuel or have extra quote for oversized furniture handling. Also ask, if these movers take extra for the time they drive to and from your place.

Ask about the kind of their rate (is it hourly or flat-rate).

Most people like to move with the flat rate. In that case there are no surprises about the final quote. But most companies charge hourly. Learn exactly when the count of the time begins and when it ends, also, specify the information about the lunch break: is it included in the price or not. Try to know where you stand before the agreement is made and the relocation process begins.

Ask about the packing details.

Is the packing is entirely on you or are they going to pack everything? Are there any limitations on the type of packaging material, boxes and the size of bags? Ask whether the movers can provide you with packaging material and other necessary tools for the move. Also specify if you need to seal the boxes or the movers would like to check their contents.

Ask about the policy of broken or damaged items.

Ask the company what liabilities it assumes and how it handles the deal in case of broken or damaged items. Sometimes even the most liable company faces unlucky accidents. Most of cases the damage doesn’t depend on the movers, however, you need to know whether the company gives any compensation or it’s all on you.

Ask about the delivery schedule.

For most moving companies it is hard to deliver the items too soon. So don’t be surprised if they will ask for a week or two. And don’t trust the company that gives you more than attractive dates of the delivery.

If you want to move safely, move with California Movers Local & Long Distance Moving Company. We provide a full service, including packing and cargo handling. Just ask for a free estimation of the price and get one of the most affordable quotes in San Diego and other Bay cities. We deal with both local move and long-distance relocation and charge no hidden fees.

WHY DOWNSIZING IS GOOD FOR YOU

If your kids have moved out and you no longer want or need a big house, chances are you’re going to downsize at some point in your life – maybe more than once. The good news is this: Going smaller is good for you! Here are five reasons bigger isn’t always better:

1. You’ll save money

This one’s obvious: In general, smaller spaces are less expensive. Downsizing to a smaller house or apartment is good for your wallet:

• Cheaper monthly payments for mortgage or rent
• Lower heating and cooling costs
• Less space to fill means less money spent on furniture and decorations
• Fewer things to fix around the home
• Lower property taxes (or none at all, if you rent)

Housing costs take up most of our income. Lowering your monthly expenses leaves you more money for saving, investing or spending on things you enjoy.

Lowering your overhead gives you more time for pleasure, plus downsizing can be very invigorating.

2. It’ll re-energize you

Downsizing forces you to start a new chapter in your life – one that’s simpler and less cluttered. You could think of yourself as a potted plant: If you leave it in the same pot for a long time, it becomes root-bound and stops growing. A smaller living space means a change in lifestyle, which keeps life from getting stagnant and reduces your stress level. And think of the peace of mind you’ll gain from not having to worry about monthly bills.

3. You’ll have more time for fun stuff

According to IKEA data, Americans spend an average of 55 minutes per day looking for things. If your home is smaller and less cluttered, imagine what you could do with all that extra time! Taking care of a big home occupies a big chunk of your life, but if you move to a smaller abode, all that time spent cleaning and fixing things can be spent on hobbies, spending time with loved ones, getting creative with DIY storage projects, or curling up with a good book.

Wondering what to do with a small closet? Check out our Pinterest board: Small Closet? No Problem

4. Purging unwanted stuff will remind you of what’s really important

It’s no secret that we spend a lot of our lives accumulating possessions. How many of these things do you really want or need anymore? It can be therapeutic to go through your mountains of things – it’ll remind you of where you’ve been and where you want to go from here. And once you get rid of the things that aren’t useful or sentimental to you, you’ll feel as though a giant weight has been lifted off your shoulders.

Wondering what kind of housewarming present a small-space friend would enjoy? We’ve got 10 ideashere.

5. It’s better for the environment

Smaller homes require fewer materials to build and less energy to heat and cool, which puts less stress on our planet. So chalk up some karma points for yourself on that front.

Have you downsized recently? How did it improve your life? Share in the comments below.