Moving to a new home can either be the most liberating thing you will do or the most stressful event you will encounter in your life. Fortunately, moving won’t be a stressful affair, especially if you’ve crafted a foolproof plan beforehand. Of course, you can always trust a moving firm to lend you a hand in transporting all your belongings to your new home.
As you begin coordinating with a moving company in Philly, they are required by the Federal Highway Administration to inform you of your rights and responsibilities as an individual shipper of household goods. Planning a smooth move also entails a thorough understanding of all your rights and responsibilities when seeking professional services from movers.
Movers must provide you with estimates.
Always ask for written estimates from your movers, so you can have an idea of how their services will fit into your budget. There are two kinds of estimates that a moving company can provide you with, namely binding and non-binding estimates. Binding estimates guarantee the total cost of your move, while non-binding estimates aren’t always accurate. Should you agree to accept a non-binding estimate, you are expected to confirm with your mover–in writing–your preferred method of payment.
Verify documents first before signing.
Make sure to read through the document provided by your mover as carefully as possible, and ensure that it contains all the relevant shipping information you will need to know. If you are presented with a partially complete document awaiting your signature, always verify if the document is as complete as possible before signing.
Watch over your shipment.
Take advantage of your right to be present when your shipment is weighed, and request a re-weighing if you want to be absolutely sure. Before entrusting all your belongings to your mover, you must completely understand their responsibility for loss or damage. You can talk to your mover to learn more about their duties to your belongings.
Make sure your things are moved in a timely manner.
During your moving day, movers are expected to transport all your household goods in a timely manner, a responsibility also known as “reasonable dispatch service”. To ensure that your mover will fulfill their duty, ask for guaranteed pickup and delivery dates beforehand.
Make sure to practice your rights and fulfill your responsibilities as you go through the process of moving. Of course, should you want to go through the finer details, you can always talk with a moving company, like Stellar Movers, who will be more than willing to help you out.
Sources:
Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move, FMCSA.dot.gov
Moving: Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move, Moving.com