Customizing Your Move with Professional Movers
Have the movers do it all, or tackle some of the chores yourself to save some cash. Amid all the excitement of buying a new home lays a decidedly less glamorous chore: moving there. It’s kind of like getting ready for a stroll down the red carpet at a Hollywood premiere and having to drive yourself there in a 15-year-old sedan.

You can make it easier on yourself by hiring professional movers. But you’ll still have some details to work out, including what level of moving services you want. To some extent, that will be determined by how much you want to pay.

When you hire professional movers, the base price usually includes just loading, transportation and unloading. You’ll have to pay extra to have the movers pack your possessions. The charge for the full packing and unpacking service generally is based on the weight of the load, according to the industry’s professional organization, the American Moving and Storage Association, and includes the cost of all but specialty cartons for things like mirrors and marble tabletops.

You can get custom packing services from professional movers if you pack some of the items yourself and unpack yourself, according to the industry group. In that case, the charge is based on the number of boxes or cartons used.

Even if you pack yourself, you’ll have to pay for boxes if you aren’t able to scrounge enough from the office and the grocery store. Consider at least buying wardrobe boxes – mini-closets with a metal bar where you can hang clothes on hangers – and dish packs for breakable kitchen items like plates and glasses.

You’ll also need to decide whether to buy additional protection in the event your goods are damaged by the professional movers. Under the basic protection included in the cost of your move, the movers are liable for only 60 cents per pound if something is damaged. In other words, you could end up with only $60 for your broken, 100-pound couch. Full replacement-value coverage costs more, but could be a good investment.

One advantage to hiring professional movers is they can store your goods if you need to move out of one house without moving immediately into another. The charge for storage is based on the weight of the load and how long your goods are in storage.

Another option to consider is something called self-service moving. You pack all your goods, load and unload the truck, but a professional driver transports it. The price is based on the number of miles traveled and how much space your load takes up on the truck. (Long-distance full-service moves are based on weight.) As you might guess, the price is less than for a full-service move.

You can hire professional movers for long-distance or local moves, but remember that pricing is different for short-haul local moves. In that case, you might be charged by the hour rather than by weight.

Either way, hiring professional movers can at least make you feel like you’re arriving at the fancy Hollywood premier in a limo instead of an old sedan.

Working with Professional Movers
Even if you are using professional movers, you are not off the hook in preparing for moving day. Using professional movers can seem like a dream come true. Movers come to your house, pack your belongings, and move them to your new home for you. What could be better? But a smooth move requires you to be prepared as well.

Here are some tips to help you get ready for the big day when dealing with professional movers.

Selecting the right professional movers
With so many options in moving companies, it can be very daunting when choosing with whom to work. Take your time with this important decision. Interview any potential professional movers; you probably want to interview a minimum of three. Be sure to find out the following.

• How long has the company been in business?

• Does the moving company have references? Follow up and actually call the references.

• Does the company have any complaints lodged against it?

• Are these professional movers able/willing to move everything? Will they move the piano and the pool table?

Check with your friends, neighbors, and even real estate agent for recommendations for professional movers.

How to prepare for the big day
If you want your move to go smoothly, there is a lot of prep that you need to do. Even if the professional movers are packing all of your belongings, you still need to prepare so that the move is fast and efficient. This can save you money.

• Know the price before hand. Get the cost of the move in writing before the moving begins. Stories of professional movers holding people’s possessions at ransom are frightening and true.

• Save money and time by packing as much as you can beforehand. While this may seem obvious, you can really waste time and money if the professional movers show up and you are still packing boxes. If the movers aren’t packing for you, have everything boxed, labeled and ready to go.

• If the professional movers are packing your belongings, remember to pack your valuables yourself. For example, don’t let the movers pack jewelry or a valuable coin collection. Be on the safe side and pack and transport these items yourself.

• Also, don’t leave valuables lying around. A camcorder, digital camera, or money can easily be pocketed. If you want to take pictures of the move or final pictures of your old house, keep the camera close to you.

• Have your appliances prepped. Professional movers typically are not allowed to unplug appliances. Unplug them, wrap up the cords and hoses, and have the refrigerator empty before the movers arrive.

• Keep like items near each other. If you want your son’s toys to arrive in the same box, make sure they are in one location and not spread throughout the house. Movers tend to pack by room, not by like items.

• If your movers are doing the packing, resist the temptation to start boxing. Very stringent methods of packing – you’re probably not going to be up to standards

• Clear doorways and paths to where truck will be loaded

• Get a list of items that cannot be shipped by your movers. Common non-allowables include hazardous materials (propane, aerosols, fertilizer for example) and perishables (frozen food, produce, plants).

• Be prepared to provide food and drink. Have lots of water bottles on hand for the movers, especially if the move is during the summer. Also, you’ll need to feed them, too. Pizza or fast food usually does the trick.

• Find out the tipping policy before moving day and have cash ready. Many professional moving companies expect you to tip the movers in addition to paying the moving fee. Plan on enough tip for all of the movers.

Plan ahead and you can help moving day to go more smoothly with your professional movers. Be sure to do the little things, like food and water, to keep the movers happy. You want to stay on good terms with them since they are moving everything you own.

Checklist: Picking the right moving company
Decided to hire professionals to move you? Recommendations from friends, relatives and neighbors are a good way to find the right moving company. Here are a few items to keep in mind when you interview prospective movers:

Only deal with licensed companies. Ask the representative to demonstrate that it carries worker’s compensation insurance to protect the company and its customers.

Ask about the firm’s experience and client list. Call a few clients to verify references.

Ask the movers if they are members of any local or national moving trade associations. If so, contact the associations for further information.

Check the companies out with the Better Business Bureau and the American Moving and Storage Association to see if they have information on them.

Get a written estimate, and determine whether it’s binding or non-binding. The most accurate way to estimate your moving costs is to get an in-home, visual assessment from the mover. Decide whether you want full service (they pack, unpack and move everything) or self-service (you pack and unpack everything and they move it).

When you’re ready to sign the contract, insist on a guaranteed price in writing that includes guaranteed pick-up and delivery dates. The contract should include a guarantee of how many hours the job will take, allowing an overrun of no more than 10 percent.