Moving Tips - Home

Moving companies have exceptionally busy "peak" consumer moving demands. The peak season for moving is June through August. In addition, the most popular dates on which to move are the first or last few days of the month. US-1 Van Lines recommends moving during off-peak times for cheaper rates and readily available dates.

If you are moving across the country, moving in "peak" season can mean your shipment may take longer to arrive in your new city. Because the factors controlling the schedules of shipments can change beyond the control of the company, even in off-peak season, you should always carry with you essential items you need until your delivery arrives.

To make the transition into your new home worry-free we recommend you have the following available: proper payment for the move, a telephone, bank records, medicine, prescriptions, school transcripts, basic tools such as a screwdriver and hammer, work clothes or uniforms, address book, eye glasses, alarm clock, and first aid kit.

For limited or no liability from US-1 Van Lines: cash, jewelry, coins, bank notes, stocks, wills, keys, photos, precious stones, silver, crystal, computer disks and programs, compact disks, furs, manuscripts, and safe box contents.

Items the movers are prevented from transporting: firearms, ammunition, hazardous materials, chemicals, illegal substances, liquids, cleaners, paints, aerosol cans, propane gas tanks, and live plants.

Cross country moving has many factors that can affect the delivery schedules such as:

• How much in advance did you make your reservation?
• How many stops are there before your destination? The public demand will set the schedule; you may be the first or the tenth stop.
• Did you add any items to your inventory that were not reserved? Changing space reservation can mean your schedule is altered by as much as two weeks, depending on the area to which you are moving.
• Do you have access for a 53' tractor-trailer? Sometimes the driver needs to find alternate means to deliver to a home when there is no access for the tractor-trailer. The driver will either need to "shuttle" the goods, or provide a "long carry" service. Both of these services will not only add to the driver's arrival schedule and to the rest of the customers on the trailer, but will result in an extra charge for service to the customer without proper access. A "shuttle" is when the driver rents a small local truck and transfers the load to the smaller vehicle to gain access to the house. A "long carry" is when there is more than 75 feet to your doorstep. Prior to your shipment's arrival, please advise the long distance manager to make necessary adjustments if the situation is applicable.
• Do you have the proper term of payment, in full, ready for your driver? The only forms of payment we accept are cash, cashier's check, or certified check. No other forms of check, money order, or credit cards are accepted. By regulation, you must pay the full charges at time of arrival, prior to any goods being unloaded. If you are not prepared to pay the driver you may incur a "waiting time" charge. This charge is based on the time the driver waits at your home for you to arrive with proper payment. We highly recommend being prepared in advance to avoid this charge.

Please read the following checklist for ideas of typical items and situations that should be addressed before your actual moving date. If you have any special needs that you do not see mentioned, please ask our experienced sales staff for assistance and guidance.

• Get the details for your move organized. By what date will you need to move out? What is the earliest date that you will have access to your new home? Do you need storage before your new home is ready?
• Confirm your reservation details with US-1 Van Lines along with any restrictions you may have. Does your new residence have limited access hours; are you able to deliver on weekends or after 5pm?
• Inform the post office and all of the companies (utilities, credit cards, magazine subscriptions) and friends of your new address.
• Contact your insurance company to transfer any policies to your new home. Some homeowner or renter policies provide protection for your belongings while being moved. Knowing this can save you the expense of purchasing additional coverage from the mover.
• Create a floor plan for your new home and start planning the location of your furniture. This will greatly reduce any confusion and stress when the delivery crew is unloading the items at the final destination.
• Take a good look at what you want to move and what can be left behind. Moving is a perfect time to clear out items that you don't use or don't need anymore. Have a garage sale or donate these items to your favorite charity. If you ship extra items, you will pay for extra transportation.
• Make a note of the food products you have in the home several weeks before your move. Plan meals that will use the food in your freezer. You can transport canned and boxed goods if you wish, but again, this additional transportation cost may not be worth the value of the food. Arrange to eat or donate the food products before your move out date. If you are taking your appliances, they should be emptied, cleaned, and have at least 24 hours to dry unplugged before shipping to prevent any mildew from forming during shipping time.
• Keep a written checklist of the items you to take with you so you don't accidentally pack them. Don't forget your pet's needs, prescription refills, dry cleaners, and dealing with live plants.
• If your company is paying for your relocation, have the proper employee at your company contact our accounting department at least two weeks prior to your pick up date to set up the third party payment.
• If you can't be at the house at the time of pick-up or delivery, you must have an adult act as your agent for purposes of signing the contract document, which are legally binding. You must notify the long distance manager to fill out an agent designation form before your move, providing all pertinent phone numbers, names, etc., to ensure there are no delays with your schedules. Any lawn equipment that uses gas must be fully emptied before transport. Propane tanks for barbecues may NOT be transported by the mover. You may need to service appliances such as satellite dishes, hot tubs, etc., before they are moved. You are responsible for any electrical and/or plumbing disconnections and reconnections at both locations.

Full packing services are available from US-1 Van Lines. However, if you wish to pack part or all of your goods, don't underestimate the amount of time it requires. Be sure to use strong moving boxes for your packing needs. Use plenty of paper or bubble wrap to ensure proper padding of your delicate items. Pack heavy items in smaller boxes while utilizing larger boxes for packing blankets, pillow, lamp shades and other light bulky items.

Be sure to check all your drawers and the tops of all shelves. You will want to empty all drawers for the best transport of your furniture and property. Large items such as dressers are blanket wrapped by the moving crew the day of pick up. The item will be flipped onto its side or even upside down during the loading and unloading process. Any loose items in drawers may either fall out or jam your drawers.

File cabinets should be emptied for transport as well. Most modern cabinets are made of very thin metal and will dent once items are stacked on top of them. In addition, many modern file cabinets do not have a "bottom", but simply an empty shell opening, which means your important papers could fall out the bottom while in transport. Be on the safe side and pack your file cabinet contents.

Clearly label your box for the room in which it belongs. Please write your last name and contract number on each box for easier identification. Set boxes aside in a special area of your home that you wish to transport yourself, so that they don't get loaded to the moving van. Go over any special needs with your moving foreman when he arrives in the home.

The day before your move out date, you will be contacted by the local dispatch office to confirm that you are ready for pick up. Please be sure to provide any phone numbers for yourself or your agent such as cellular phone, work phone, beepers, etc., when making your reservation.

When the moving crew arrives, the team leader known as the "foreman" will go over details of your contract, have you sign the proper documents, and walk through the home with you to discuss any special items or circumstances you may have.

At the start of the move you will be asked to choose a level of "valuation", which is the mover's maximum liability for any loss or damage on your entire shipment. The options available will be discussed with you. Remember, if you have an insurance policy on your home, your goods may already be covered. Be sure to call your broker before the movers arrive.

You will also sign the "Bill of Landing" and "Order for Service", which are the contract documents listing your moving addresses, phone numbers, dates available for delivery, liability limits, among other items. If you don't have your new phone numbers or address yet, please provide a friend's or relative's address and phone number through whom we may keep contact until your goods arrive.

Color coded inventory tag stickers will be used to identify your goods. The foreman will place an inventory sticker on each and every single item. A "household goods descriptive inventory" will be filled out by the foreman listing each item, tag number, and condition at origin. You will need to sign the inventory forms when the pick up is complete to verify the condition of all items being loaded.

It is your responsibility to see that all of the items to be shipped are loaded onto the truck. Therefore you must remain on the premises until the loading is complete. You will be given a carbon copy of the paperwork for your shipment which you will need to keep at a handy location as you will need to refer to them at the later time of delivery.

Prior to our arrival you will be called by the long distance dispatchers and the driver to indicate the correct time of day to expect the arrival of your shipment. Be sure to have a phone available to assist the driver in locating your new home and confirming you are there. Be sure to have cash, certified check or cashier check for the full balance of your contract charges. You will need to pay the driver upon arrival, before any goods are unloaded.

As the crew unloads the items into your new home, you should check off your inventory list indicating their arrival. You must direct the crew as to the final location of your furniture and boxes. Have your floor plan ready if you made one in advance.

The delivery crew will unwrap any blanketed furniture items and reassemble furniture and bed frames.

If you would like unpacking assistance, limited labor is available at a cost for unpacking service. In any case, you must provide a location for disposal of any packing materials used for your move. Appliance and electronics will not be reconnected by US-1 Van Lines. Any plumbing or electrical work must be done by yourself or a professional.

Note: It is recommended to not plug in nor use any electronic device for the first 24 hours the item is in the new home, so that they may become accustomed to room temperature.

Once the inventory is in the home, you will be asked to sign the destination acknowledgments of the inventory forms. Should you notice any change in the condition of your item caused during the move, you must note the change on the inventory form as well as notify our claims office directly, to process any customer claim.