Relocation Information
Self Storage with Home Pickup
1. Tell you immediately if they service your area.
2. Assist you in estimating how many containers you’ll need (containers often vary in size between companies).
3. Arrange for a time for the containers to be delivered.
4. Discuss packing supplies (assuming that they deliver them) and any related fees for their purchase and delivery.
After you’ve covered the basics, it’s time to get to work. You can either load your containers on your own or arrange for professional loaders (for an additional fee). If loading them on your own, take a glance at our quick tips on how to properly pack your belongings. If, upon inspecting your belongings, you suddenly realize that you’ve been a closet pack rat for the past several years, take a moment to consider the benefits of a garage sale before storing your stuff.
Once you’re all packed, make sure to lock the containers with your own padlock (for extra security), call back your storage company and they will pick up the containers and take them away. When you want them back, simply call or email the company and arrange for the time and place. If you anticipate an ongoing – or even infrequent – need to access your belongings during the period when you’ll be storing them, make sure to check in advance with the storage company. Access times vary from company to company and some facilities may charge for any related labor needed to retrieve your goods.
CHOOSING A COMPANY THAT OFFERS SELF-STORAGE WITH HOME PICK-UP
It’s best to select a company that guarantees your satisfaction in writing. The storage company with home delivery & pick up is handling many of the logistics of your storage and/or moving process. You’ll want to make sure they will stand behind their work. And ask for actual studies of customer feedback on their service. Don’t settle for “our customers really like us.” When considering schedules, ask for a guaranteed delivery time frame on your selected delivery date.
DELIVERY AREAS
Usually, a fifty-mile radius in a city is a minimum. But if you’re moving within a similar radius, make certain that you ask your storage company if they can redeliver to your new address. Since many storage users don’t know their new address when placing items into storage, the broader the redelivery area, the better. Also, check to see if they’ll ship your goods – in your current containers – to another city or state.
PRICING STRUCTURES
Most storage companies offering Home Pick-Up charge two basic fees.
1. Delivery and pick up of the containers.
2. Daily or monthly storage of the containers.
Extras such as insurance, moving blankets, professional packing labor and packing supplies are an additional charge. Depending on where you live, the service may actually be less expensive than renting a truck and doing it all yourself!
A Primer on How to Transfer Utilities
When you transfer utilities, disconnecting services in one location and resuming them in another, there are a few simple rules to follow. While gas, electric, phone and cable companies each have their own lead-time for disconnect/connect notification, a good rule of thumb is to contact their customer service departments at least two weeks prior to the move.
On your day of departure, be sure to keep those lights burning, the heat going and the phone working until you’ve waved the movers goodbye and locked the front door. Arrange to have those same utility services up and running at your new residence at least a day before you move in. A few more points to keep in mind when vacating the premises:
Moving Utilities Tip: Final Reading
Have your utility companies and/or town do a final reading of the gas, electric and water meters. Make sure to get and keep a copy of your bill or report.
Moving Utilities Tip: Forward Your New Address
Supply companies with a forwarding address where they can send final invoices. If you don’t, you could be surprised down the road with unnecessary late fees and unfortunate credit circumstances.Moving Utilities Tip: Pay the Piper and Get Your Money BackPay any overdue bills, but also collect any refunds or utility deposits. Many people forget that they may have served up a substantial chunk of change months and sometimes years back – depending on how long they’ve lived at their most recent address.
Moving Utilities Tip: Bring Important Numbers and Addresses With You
Take along your local phone directories, in case you need to make contact again with your old neighborhood.
To transfer utility service to a new location is usually a quick and painless procedure. . You can transfer utilities or connect new services right now in the Moving.com moving Utilities Center.
Finally, water and sewer service can be arranged directly through the appropriate town or city department. The same holds true for garbage pickup and recycling, the cost of which is usually rolled into the property tax bill
Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move
Although movers are not required to give estimates, most movers do provide estimates when requested. There are two types of estimates, binding and non-binding.
Binding Estimates of Total Cost.
The mover may charge you for providing a binding estimate, which must clearly describe the shipment and all services provided.
When you receive a binding estimate, you cannot be required to pay any more than that amount. However, if you have requested the mover to provide more services than those included in the estimate, such as destination charges (i.e., long carry charges, shuttle charges, extra stair carry charges, or elevator charges) often not known at origin, the mover may demand full payment for those added services at time of delivery.
To be effective, a binding estimate must be in writing and a copy must be made available to you before your move.
If you agree to a binding estimate, you are responsible for paying the charges due by cash, certified check, traveler’s check, or bank check (one drawn by a bank on itself and signed by an officer of the bank) at time of delivery unless the mover agrees before you move to extend credit or to accept payment by charge card. If you are unable to pay at the time the shipment is delivered, the mover may place your shipment in storage at your expense until the charges are paid.
NON-BINDING ESTIMATES OF APPROXIMATE COST.
The mover is not permitted to charge for giving a non-binding estimate.A non-binding estimate is not a bid or contract. A non-binding estimate is provided by the mover to give you a general idea of the cost of the move. It does not bind the mover to the estimated cost. Furthermore, it is not a guarantee that the final cost will not be more than the estimate.
The actual cost will be in accordance with the mover’s published tariffs. All movers are legally obligated to collect no more and no less than the charges shown in their tariffs regardless of prior rate quotations contained in non-binding estimates.
The charges contained in the tariffs are essentially the same for the same weight shipment moving the same distance. If you obtain differing (non-binding) estimates from different movers, you will be obligated to pay only the amount specified in the tariff. Therefore, a non-binding estimate may have no effect on the amount you will have to pay.
Non-binding estimates must be in writing and clearly describe the shipment and all services provided. Any time a mover provides such an estimate the amount of the charges estimated must be on the order for service and bill of lading relating to your shipment. If you are given a non-binding estimate, do not sign or accept the order for service or bill of lading unless the amount estimated is entered on each form when prepared by the mover.
If you are given a non-binding estimate, the mover cannot require you to pay more than the amount of the original estimate, plus 10 percent, at time of delivery. You will then have at least 30 days after delivery to pay any remaining charges.
IF YOU REQUEST THE MOVER TO PROVIDE MORE SERVICES THAN THOSE INCLUDED IN THE ESTIMATE, THE MOVER MAY DEMAND FULL PAYMENT FOR THOSE ADDED SERVICES AT TIME OF DELIVERY.