7 Things You Hate About Movers

In the many aspects that movers have which relief your moving experience unfortunately along with moving scam come other circumstances that are not much in favor of you – their customer.

Sometimes moving companies act in a manner that is in your way of a smooth relocation. You cannot always expect these things to happen or know that they will. This is why this article collects several of the most common things that movers do which you may find annoying and – to make the information full – we have added up the possible solutions of the problems and tips through which you can avoid the things that you may find absolutely unpleasant. Ignoring the facts will not change them – facing them and being informed will!

7 Things You Absolutely Hate About Movers

1. If you have asked for a quote but don’t seem to understand it.
   Solution : Read everything you get from movers before signing it. At first it may seem pointless and you may think those are standard papers but in reality every move is unique and so is yours.
   Tip : Find out what are the types of moving estimates and quotes in advance.
2. The company acting unprofessional. What happens is you call a mover with the request of getting a quote and with questions you have. You should be getting straight and full direct answers to any question you have. Movers that are unprofessional will not tell you exactly what you need or will avoid giving you information. Instead, they will only try to talk you into hiring them and giving them their deposit.
   Solution: If the moving company you have contacted is vague, unclear or acts rude, just don’t use it. And definitely don’t hire a company if the rep hangs up the phone on you.
   Tip: Research well movers. Part of this research is reading reviews. Find movers in your area and read all about them before hiring them. This kind of behavior is a sign of scam and may make your relocation problematic rather then successful. 
   
   

   What if the movers are late? If you want to save time you can start packing and have someone help you.
3. When movers are late. Yes, it happens and you know about this. You have an agreement about a date and time with the moving experts and they seem to be running late. Sometimes unexpected circumstances appear and even if you are informed about the delay it is still unpleasant.
   Solution: Depending on what the movers will do – packing or loading only or both, you can try to find helpers quickly if you want to save time. Call neighbors and friends to come and help you with the packing. In this way you will compensate partially the delay. You can also stack all boxes by the front door to save time with loading when movers arrive after all.
   Tip: Try to find a reputable company. Usually movers that are reliable rarely come with a delay.
4. When movers don’t tell you everything and the final bill is higher than you have expected it seems like there is nothing you can do about it. Unfortunately, this may be true. If you read the contract you will understand that. Movers have the right to charge you additionally for a service you did not request if they need it in order to complete the relocation. This means for example that if you haven’t informed the company that you live on a street not accessible for a truck they will park as near as they can and take a smaller vehicle to reach your home. And you will pay extra for this service.
   Solution: Ask the movers what they charge you extra for. If it is unreasonable as a price don’t use them even if this is moving day. You don’t know how much the costs can go up once they already have your belongings so if you continue with them it may be risky.
   Tip: In this case in order to prevent unexpected costs plan a budget for moving higher than the one you suppose you will need and acquaint yourself with the hidden moving costs and fees.
5. The high costs. And some movers charge a lot.
   Solution: Once you get multiple quotes from movers compare the prices and ask what the price includes. Some companies will give you an estimate that includes only two men and a truck while others will also put packing, loading and even unpacking.
   Tip: In order to know what your estimate covers in terms of services always ask this question to the moving company. And you should know you don’t have to always go for the most pricey company. A lot of movers make discounts. You can find a cheap and qualified mover and get a lower price, too. 
   
   

   If you see that the final price of your move is going to be higher than the initially stated ask the movers why. If you find that you are going to be charged extra more than you should, change the moving company - you don't know how much more the price can go up until you finally get to have your belongings back.

   
   
6. When movers charge for time. A lot of movers that are paid for the time they work will take their time in order to be paid more.
   Solution : If you see that movers are rather taking their time help them. This is why it is always good to have an extra helping hand available on moving day.
   Tip : Find movers that will charge you a flat cost: i.e. you pay for the job to be done irrelevant of the time it will take. Then the moving labor will be quicker.
7. When things are missing or damaged.
   Solution : Try to discuss the situation with the company and reach on an understanding with them. If you can’t – file a claim against them. You can find a letter sample of such a complaint on this link.
   Tip : Working with a trustworthy mover should make things well for you. The valuation you get from the moving company is valid only if they do the packing for you. If you still want to do your own packing you can ask for extra insurance to actually cover possible losses or damages.

Are you moving soon or in the near future? Moving the traditional way puts an unbelievable amount of trash and other waste into our landfills which are harmful to the planet. Why waste time and money on cardboard boxes and tape that you’re just going throw away when you move into your new place? Instead, consider getting green plastic moving boxes from us at Rentabox. 

We’ll deliver them to you and pick them up from your new address so you don’t have to worry about it. With Rentabox, moving can be a streamlined, pleasant experience all the way around!

Moving a Household

Moving a household – what is it and what does it take to do it well and with quality? If you have any kind of experience with moving you will know the stress and difficulty of it. However, there are certain ways which if you follow will make your relocation process easier. One of these ways is knowing the potential costs you are going to experience and another one is be prepared with the plenty of little details to take care of when moving. The tips here should make things simpler for you.

Moving Household Goods Estimator

What is the cost of moving a household? There are several factors that define the expenses when moving household goods besides the weight of the transported items, their number and size. These are the distance of the shipment, packing/ unpacking, the number of moving labor you hire for your move which are amongst the main ones, and other factors that belong to the hidden costs and fees you may encounter during your relocation.  

Potential costs will vary – The custom calculations for you though begin by getting a quote. The cost of moving household goods will be clear for you if you try to get as many different quotes as you can. Some movers will contact you over phone to discuss with you what you have for moving. There are companies that provide an inventory list to fill in by e-mail and if your relocation is small this may be convenient to take as an option. In all other cases it is recommended to ask for a visual estimate. This is the best way in which your cost of moving a household will be completely clear as you may miss some things over the phone.

List with Tips on Moving Household Goods

Here are a few helpful tips on moving household goods:

• Begin decluttering as soon as you know you will be moving. Everything that is broken, useless or worn out can be thrown away or recycled. What is still new but you don’t want to take can be donated to charity organizations. The less you have for moving, the less you will pay for your relocation.
  
  
  

  As soon as you know you are relocating begin decluttering: the less you have for moving, the less your move will cost you.

  
  
• Once you get moving quotes don’t be mislead by the smallest price. Sometimes moving companies that give a lower moving estimate have more extra charges that they make while on the other hand companies that give you a higher cost usually include in it more services – sometimes even packing and unpacking.
• Far as the packing materials are concerned a lot of people use newspaper. It may be cheaper but it may also leave prints all over your items. If you want to avoid that you can visit the local newspaper and see if they have some blank (unused) newsprint that they won’t use because it is damaged, for example. Or you can just buy packing paper from movers.
• Consider how to supply yourself with boxes. There are ways in which you can get boxes for free or cheap like taking some from grocery stores. On the other hand, used boxes may not be that strong and may also be a little bit dusty or dirty. Even if you get new boxes it is advisable to tape them around – in this way they will be stronger. After you fill in the boxes tape them again to close them and seal them.
  
  

  You can use newspaper for packing but it may leave prints on your belongings. Instead, you can ask to have clear newsprint from the local newspaper or get packing paper from movers.
• If you decide to pack yourself the obligatory insurance that movers are obliged to provide to you is no longer valid. Another reason for getting a moving company to do the packing for you is to save time. As you can see above, having someone else to do the packing for you is a small price you’ll have to pay compared to the whole relocation and it gives you the convenience of spending your time in more important to you ways.
• Once your packing is complete you can make a list with your boxes and their content so that when the movers unload you can quickly check if all boxes are there besides examining their condition. Relocating household goods will be more organized in this way.
• Fill up the boxes completely. If there is no or little space left inside them it is less likely that there will be things rattling and thus broken inside. Also you will need less boxes to use in this way and pay less for packing.
• Prepare your money. In the beginning you will need to pay a deposit of the company and it shouldn’t exceed 10% of the final amount of your relocation. The rest of the amount is due before the movers unload your belongings.

Are you moving soon or in the near future? Moving the traditional way puts an unbelievable amount of trash and other waste into our landfills which are harmful to the planet. Why waste time and money on cardboard boxes and tape that you’re just going throw away when you move into your new place? Instead, consider getting green plastic moving boxes from us at Rentabox. 

We’ll deliver them to you and pick them up from your new address so you don’t have to worry about it. With Rentabox, moving can be a streamlined, pleasant experience all the way around!

How to Handle a Nosy Neighbor

If life was like a cartoon, you could stick a firecracker in the end of your neighbour’s binoculars and light it on fire. Unfortunately, this is just not acceptable behavior in the real world. So, what do you do with that neighbour who always seems to have one eye pinned to your yard? Well, you can always wait until nightfall, make a little noise and let them see you digging holes in the backyard.

Ignore Them

Like bees and other pests, sometimes, if you just ignore them, they will go away. While this does not work with all nosy neighbours, there are some that really are trying to push your buttons or get attention. Try pretending like they are not even there. This does not mean that you have to ignore them completely when they wave hello, but do not acknowledge that you know they are watching you.

Kill Them with Kindness

There is a good chance that this neighbour has been nosy and confronted before by someone else, at some time. Although the first reaction may be to be mean and lash out, sometimes the opposite approach is better. Try baking them something and when you see them peeking through their window, take a treat over to them. Make a point to let them know you “noticed” they were home in the window and you hope you aren’t intruding on their privacy to just stop over unexpected.  They may learn a little from your thoughtfulness.

Stay Out of the Gossip

Talking about the private affairs of others without their consent is really never a good idea. Gossip hurts and it causes a lot of problems. Sure, you probably gossip with your family and friends, and for the most part, a lot of this is innocent. However, when you start getting involved with gossip around the neighbourhood, it often backfires and makes you the target for attention. When people know you feed the fire, neighbours will start watching your every move to make you the topic of conversation. Just stay out of it!

Confront Them

Sometimes the only thing you can do is approach the situation head on. Remember, the way you begin the conversation is how they will respond. If you go over to their house banging on the door and screaming, they will be defensive and hostile as well. Try to tell them nicely that you respect their privacy and you would appreciate it if they would do the same. You can always tell them that you are extremely private or overly sensitive and that you have anxiety attacks when you know someone is watching you. It does not have to be true, it just has to work.

Barricade

If nothing else works, take your privacy back, whether they like it or not. A privacy fence is a good place to start. Keep in mind that you will likely need some type of building permit before you get started. You can also plant a nice line of small trees or tall shrubs to break up the property and offer privacy as well.

What to Do if Furniture Doesn’t Fit Through the Door

Moving in many cases is related to transferring not just your personal belongings but also some of your furniture. Unless of course you have sold it out in a sale you have organized or online before moving out. Sometimes the new home may be smaller or you may find it cheaper to leave the old furniture and sell it to the new owner instead of shipping it, especially if you are moving long distance. Whatever the reason, you see that you will need to buy new furniture. Usually modern buildings are made to fit the standard size furniture so whatever you decide to buy for your new home will most probably fit but this is not always the case.

Older buildings may need extra work to get your couch or table in. You may also have larger pieces of furniture like a king size mattress or a piano. And this is the key moment to note the that its size is very important. What every moving expert will recommend to you is to measure the furniture before buying it so that you make sure it will match the room it is meant for and fit through the door. Otherwise moving becomes a bit more complicated. Still, if furniture doesn’t fit through door there are ways out of it.

If you can prevent this situation from happening to you – this would be the best outcome. First of all, measure the size of your new home and the furniture that will go through it. This is how not only you will know if it will fit the room but also if it will go through the door. You also need to know the width of the hall and the staircase if the couch is going up stairs.

If you plan to purposely buy a larger piece of furniture then you can plan better how to deal with it and organize it in time. If this situation occurred to you without predicting it then take a look at these tips. What to do if furniture won’t fit through door?

What if the Furniture does not Fit the Door?

Here you will find a few possible solutions that you can use. Of course, every case is different so you need to decide which option is applicable for you. What is not advisable is trying to break or move walls – especially if you are renting the place. Some of the walls are made with a supportive function so breaking them or moving them can threaten the strength of the construction of the whole building especially if you don’t know which walls carry this function. However precious or expensive is your furniture getting it in must not be done in a dangerous way like this. The safe options that you have to choose from if your furniture doesn’t fit through door are listed below.

Measure the furniture when you by it and the door frame. This is how you can be sure that when your couch, table, etc. arrive, they can go through the door without a problem.

Before thinking of serious measures like hoisting or dissembling furniture try and see if it will go through the door anyway. Things like couches and sofas are soft and if you measure them according to their full length, width and height it may seem impossible to get them in. Anyway, try to get your sofa in vertically. Or think of different angles through which you can try to get it in and maneuver. If it doesn’t work, remember that a couple of inches from the soft area of the couch can be squeezed in through the door frame either way.

If furniture won’t fit through door you can take a large blanket and place your couch on it on its end. Wrap it up with the blanket and then carry it through the door. It will be easier to get it in like this. The blanket will also provide protection for the couch surface during carrying.

If you need just a little bit extra space see if you can take the door out of the hinges. Another potential problem solver is the door frame – it can add up another 1/2 inch, if necessary. It is fixed with nails – if you can get them out and get your furniture in, then you can place back the door frame and the door itself.

Perhaps this is the best option of all. First of all, you have experts who know how to move large furniture, dismantle it or assemble it – in general how to handle it safely. Since you are probably going to use a moving company for your moving anyway you can ask them to fix the problem. If this is a couch, cupboard or other stuff that can be taken into parts use the opportunity. 

Moving companies’ professionals do this all the time – they are used to the process so much that it is the most regular thing for them to do and while you worry how to handle the situation they’ll just come and do the job. In this case if your furniture won’t fit through door and you call a moving company you will have nothing to worry about.

In a case when your furniture won't fit the door you can count on movers - they have a routine in handling cases like this.

The movers can dissemble that and then assemble it back for you. Whether the movers take this approach or decide to get your furniture in through the window – they will advice you what to do. Save money on hiring movers for that, too. Asking the moving company to use more services from them is one of the ways in which you can ask them to give you a discount for you as well! 

Find movers in your state and contact them to see if they offer this service and at what cost it will be or just use the moving company that has organized your moving. If your furniture doesn’t fit through door your mover may be able to help you with it.

Think about calling back at the store from where you bought your new furniture or another furniture store in the area. Ask them if they can send someone out to dismantle it. They should point you towards such a person or be able to contact you with someone who can recommend such an expert to you.

A similar option is to remove just the legs of a table or chair to get it through if you can instead of taking the whole furniture apart.

Hoisting the furniture through the window or using a crane

This is the last option you can consider using when planning what to do if your furniture didn’t fit through the door – try with the window but measure it first of course. In this case you may have to hoist your furniture down from the roof or through the balcony. This is very dangerous to do if you do not have any experience in it so even though you can hire the equipment from such companies always call experts – use a moving company. They have the professionals and know the technology in which a furniture can be hauled up through the window if it won’t go through the door.

This approach is good but sometimes it can not be applied – the terrace of your neighbour is up stairs or for some other reason. In these situations you can also use a crane but again remember – for yours and your belongings’ safety only real professionals should do such work.

How a Nanny Can Help During Your Local Move

If you have a child, then the process of moving and storage is significantly more stressful. If you are single and living alone or married, you can get away with tossing everything in boxes, eating a bag of pretzels for breakfast and not worrying about a shower until you find the box with the bathroom stuff later that night. Children are sensitive to changes in their schedule. They need a healthy breakfast and bath time needs to happen as scheduled in the new house, whether you are ready or not. A nanny can help more than you can imagine.

Pack a Personal Box
Your nanny will likely have a good idea as to what your child’s favorite toy of the day is, so they can be very helpful in packing a personal box for your child. This box should include everything needed immediately at the new house so their daily routine is not interrupted. Pajamas, toothbrush, change of clothes, toys, and homework, if applicable, should go in this box. This way, you do not have to dig through piles of boxes at the new house just to find a few necessary odds and ends.

Outing During Moving Time
If moving and storage is being done locally, you can have the nanny take your child for a fun-filled excursion. This gets them out of the way of the movers and they do not have to feel unsettled by watching their belongings carried in and out. This will help make the move a positive experience too. They can go to the zoo, park, museum, movies or anywhere else that is fun in your local area.

Keep them Occupied
The last thing you want while you are trying to unpack is children running around or looking for your attention every few minutes. Your nanny can keep them occupied while you are busy. If they did not go somewhere fun during the move, you can try to get some unpacking done while they are still gone.
If the movers came bright and early before any places opened, then the nanny can always take the children somewhere fun once you have arrived at the new house, so you can have a few hours of unpacking time.

Maintain Structure
Your nanny plays a key role in your child’s life. Quite often, there are many days when they see your child more hours than you do. They provide a great deal of stability, which is why they are often so recommended during a divorce.

Contact with the nanny will be the constant that your child needs in their life to know that nothing has changed. Sure, they are in a new location, but everything else is the same.

Moving and storage is as stressful for children as it is for adults. They are not packing or paying expenses, but even watching their toys boxed up can be overwhelming. Your nanny will offer the reassurance they need to feel safe in a confusing situation.

Are you moving soon or in the near future? Moving the traditional way puts an unbelievable amount of trash and other waste into our landfills which are harmful to the planet. Why waste time and money on cardboard boxes and tape that you’re just going throw away when you move into your new place? Instead, consider getting green plastic moving boxes from us at Rentabox. 

We’ll deliver them to you and pick them up from your new address so you don’t have to worry about it. With Rentabox, moving can be a streamlined, pleasant experience all the way around!