A Moving Connections agent will make a pre-move survey
of your household goods to be transported.
A pre-move survey is needed to determine the approximate cost of a move and the
amount of van space your goods will occupy. Your Moving Connections
agent will compute the approximate cost and give you a written Estimate/Order for
Service. An accurate estimate cannot be calculated without a visual survey of the
goods to be moved. There is no charge for the estimate.
Keep in mind that estimates (household goods surveys) are only guidelines. On interstate
shipments, you must pay the total charges as determined by the actual weight of
your shipment, the distance it travels, and the services that you authorize or which
become necessary to handle your shipment.
Charges for local shipments are generally calculated on an hourly basis. There may
be a minimum number of hours required. These shipments are handled by the local
moving company.
A binding estimate or binding cost of service specifies in advance the precise cost
of the move based on the services requested or deemed necessary at the time of the
estimate. If additional services are requested or required at either origin or destination
(such as a "shuttle" to or from a location to which a full-size van cannot operate
directly), the total cost will increase. Binding estimates are valid for the time
period specified, up to 60 days.
If you add items to be moved or require additional services, such as packing, between
the time of the estimate and the time of your move, there will be additional charges.
An addendum specifying these additional charges will be prepared for your signature.
If you are interested in obtaining a binding estimate, please discuss it with your
Moving Connections agent. Estimates obtained by our
automatic online system are NOT binding estimates.
If there is a choice, most moving companies suggest you select a time other than
summer, the end of the month or the end-of-year holidays. The heaviest demands are
placed on vans, equipment and personnel during these periods.
However, Moving Connections believes you should move
when it is most convenient for you. Factors involved in the decision may include:
- whether the move must be made immediately
- moving children during the school term
- separation of the family while the move is under way
If the move can be scheduled for a time when vans and trained personnel are more
readily available, we will be better able to meet your preferred delivery schedule.
This depends on many factors, such as the time of year, weather conditions, size
of your shipment, time required to load and unload, and the direction and distance
your shipment is traveling.
Because the furnishings of the average household will not fill a van, it is often
necessary for two or more shipments to be loaded on the same van. Each shipment
is carefully sectioned off from the others.
Pickup and delivery dates are scheduled according to the origins and destinations
of individual shipments on the van, as well as shipment weight.
It would be more accurate to say that a moving company is "registered." For example,
Moving Connections has been issued a certificate of
authority by the federal government to move household goods among any of the 50
states. Moving Connections, a DBA of
Shipping Connection was incorporated in 1988 and has been registered
with the FMCSA ever since.
Unless you have been given a binding estimate, the exact cost of your move cannot
be determined until after your shipment has been loaded on the van and weighed.
If additional services are requested or become necessary after loading and weighing,
additional charges will be incurred. Basic transportation charges depend on the
actual weight of your goods and the distance they will travel. The total cost will
include these transportation costs, any charges for Full-Value Coverage or Depreciated
Coverage, plus charges for any "accessorial" services (such as packing and unpacking)
performed by the Moving Connections agent at your request.
These charges are based on "tariff" rate schedules.
This is the list of rules, regulations, available services and resulting charges
used by all motor carriers which provide interstate transportation of household
goods. The tariffs are published by each household goods motor carrier and include
its various services. The tariffs are available for your inspection upon request.
Tariff provisions require that all charges be paid before your shipment is unloaded
at destination unless prior arrangements have been made for later billing).
Payment for your Moving Connections shipment can be
made by one of the following methods: cash, traveler's check, money order or cashier's
check. In addition, the American Express® Card,
Visa® or MasterCard® can
be used to pay for interstate moves only, with advance approval required prior to
loading (unless other billing arrangements have been made). Personal checks are
not accepted.
All payment forms apply to both binding and non-binding estimates.
If you have received a non-binding estimate and your actual moving costs exceed
the estimate, you will be required to pay no more than 110% of the estimated cost
at delivery. Should your actual costs exceed the estimate by more than 10%, you
will be given 30 days after delivery to pay the amount over 110%.
Payment of estimated charges plus 10% does not apply, if goods are delivered into
storage. If storage at destination (storage-in-transit) is necessary, all transportation
charges must be paid at time of delivery of the shipment to the warehouse. You will
then be assessed storage charges based on the applicable rates set forth in our
tariff.
Most people prefer to have their household possessions, especially fragile items,
professionally packed by a moving company. However, if you decide to pack these
items yourself, remember that the basic principles of good packing include wrapping
the items individually, providing plenty of cushioning and making sure of a firm
pack.
Be sure to select a sturdy container with a lid. Place a two- or three-inch layer
of crushed paper on the bottom of the carton as a cushion. Wrap each item individually
with a soft material to provide a safe, protective, "padded nest." Pack the heaviest
items on the bottom and the lighter ones next, filling in empty spaces with crushed
paper. Place plates on edge and glassware on rims for maximum protection. Mark the
carton "Fragile," and list the contents on the outside. Be sure to seal the carton
with tape.
Cartons, paper and tape may be purchased from Moving Connections
agent for a small fee.
Moving Connections cannot accept responsibility for
safely moving your plants, because they may suffer from a lack of water and light
as well as probable temperature changes while in the van. You may prefer to transport
your house plants in the family car or ship them by plane.
Some states prohibit the entry of all plants, while other states will admit plants
under certain conditions; still others have no plant regulations. Be sure to check
the regulations of the state to which you are moving.
Pets cannot be carried on the moving van. Dogs, cats, canaries and parakeets can
usually be transported in the family car. If this isn't convenient, your
Moving Connections gent will be glad to suggest alternate ways to ship
your pets safely.
YES. We are prohibited from moving flammable and combustible items, such as, propane,
butane, gasoline and your ammunition. In addition, we cannot transport open household
cleaning supplies or toxic/caustic materials.