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The Moving Industry’s Busiest Season: Summer

May 21, 2021 | Agents

Summertime has traditionally been the busiest moving season.  Longer daylight times and summer breaks for children make it a prime time for people to move. It is also a prime time for scam artists to prey on unsuspecting consumers.

The California Moving & Storage Association (CMSA) wants to make sure that consumers know how to avoid being a victim of a moving scam.

Here are some helpful tips:

  1. Don’t book your move on-line or over the phone without verifying that the mover has a location in your area.  Drive by the location.  Go in and meet the company’s personnel.  Use your instincts to discern if the company’s personnel appear to be professional and trustworthy.  Let your common sense guide you…  but don’t stop there!
  2. Verify the company’s license.  All movers are required by law to demonstrate their legitimacy on all their documentation.
  3. Verify the license number with the California Moving & Storage Association (CMSA) or the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).
  4. Obtain written estimates for moves of three or more rooms.  Legitimate movers are price competitive.  Make sure the estimates are based on the same factors (i.e. move and pack; move only, etc.)  If a company provides an unusually low bid… beware!  The company could be illegal, or they may have made an error while estimating the move.  If the latter is the case, the price will likely escalate on moving day.
  5. Illegal movers may charge by the cubic foot.  Legal movers charge by the hour (local moves), and by weight/mileage (distance moves).
  6. Bandits “rip off” innocent consumers by charging exorbitant fees for extensive and unnecessary packing on items that should be pad wrapped.  Furnishings should be wrapped with shrink wrap or protected with special moving blankets.
  7. Bandits will intimidate consumers to tip the crew.  Tipping is not customary but it is accepted when the customer has received exceptional service.

*The CMSA is a nonprofit trade association representing almost 400 licensed and insured movers operating in California.

Moving into a New Home

May 7, 2021 | Agents, Residential

Moving into a new house can be an exciting time. We have some expert unpacking and moving tips that will help you get settled quickly.

Call your new utility companies to set up services the day before you expect to move in. The first few days in your new home will be much more comfortable if you have electricity, water and heating or air conditioning!

Develop a plan for where you would like to have your furniture placed in the home, even if it’s a simple drawing. This will save you the trouble of moving furniture by yourself after your movers depart.

Start with a fresh palette by cleaning your new home before the movers arrive.

Be prepared to pay your driver for the moving services. Depending on the company you hire, accepted forms of payment could include cash, traveler’s check, money order, cashier’s check or even pre-payment via credit card.

If you can, have two people in the new home on move-in day. One person can make sure everything from your inventory list is unloaded and the other can tell the movers where you would like the items placed.

Check items off the inventory list as they are unloaded from the truck. If you discover that anything is missing, contact a customer service representative at the moving company right away.

Consider hiring a babysitter if you have small children in the house and put pets somewhere where they will be safe and out of the way.

(source: United Van Lines)