4 Tips to Help you Survive a Move--with your Psyche and Wallet in Tact

Summarized by buzzbuzzhomes.com


1. Choose your Movers like you Choose your Lawyer—Carefully 
There are many tactics that movers use to squeeze more money out of their customers, including holding your items ransom until you pay, or creating extra fees and then justifying them. Beware of these tactics from moving companies. The best way to avoid being put in this situation is to find a trustworthy moving company. Ask your friends for referrals of movers that did a good job in the past; if none of your friends can recommend one then search for mover reviews on the internet. Back in 2009 Toronto rated the city's best moving companies, you can check out their advice here. Also the Ontario Ministry of Consumer Services has a consumers beware list—a list of companies and any and all complaints that have been levied against them. Through their website, here, you can do a search on “moving companies” or by the name of the company you are considering. 
 
2. Get It in Writing 
John Levi, of the Canadian Moving Association believes firmly that when you are contracting a moving company you need to get everything in writing, immediately—and before they put any of your things into their vans. This quote in writing needs to list the total cost of the move, not hourly rates—as this is the easiest way to get ripped off. When you create a flat rate for the move, ensure that everything is included or the agreement will be null and void. Should this happen you need to stop the work immediately and create a new agreement. To avoid this situation ask the movers to physically come over and assess the situation before creating their quote. 

“If you get something in writing, then the contractual obligations are set out, and if they aren’t met, it gives you a much easier time in court,” says John Gerretsen, a former small claims court judge and currently Ontario’s consumer services minister. “If it’s in writing, then it isn’t one of those he-said, she-said situations.” 
 
3. Ensure that you Insure Yourself 
Ensure that you insure against damage—and get that in writing too. You should be asking for “replacement value protection” which will cover the entire value of the broken or lost items. If you do not setup insurance but they pack your boxes, then they are still legally liable for $.60 per pound ($60 per 100-pound package). If your mover is not responsible because you did not include insurance in the quote, and you packed your own boxes then your home owners insurance may cover damages or lost items. 
 
4. Packing Boxes Sucks? 
If you choose to have the company pack your boxes for you it will cost roughly $15 a box for non-fragile items and $30 per box for fragile items like dishes, glass, etc.