All you should know about moving contracts

If you decide to use a moving company for your upcoming relocation, you will need to enter into a contract. Moving contracts can be beneficial for you and your movers to avoid problems when moving. This ensures that both parties agree on what needs to be moved, and are on the same page as to what happens if something is damaged during transit.

It is important to understand the general moving terms that can appear in your contract. While moving companies work with contracts every day, it is understandable if you don’t currently understand something.

If you do not have a basic knowledge of moving language, you can enter into a contract that does not meet your needs or that costs more than you expect. For example, if your goods are damaged, your contract may contain a refund that is less than you expect. You might also miss to inform the moving company about your properties of exceptional value.

What do you need to understand in moving contracts?

Below is a list of common terms that you can find in your moving contracts and some examples of their use.

Rule 110 percent

This refers to a rule established in 2003 by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, which states that carriers may charge 110 percent of an optional assessment on the delivery of household goods. This means that your final cost should not exceed 110 percent of the initial non-binding quotation. The only way that a carrier can charge you more than 110 percent is if the total weight of the goods moved exceeds the amount indicated in the estimated cost.

Cost Estimates are costs included in the cost estimate to determine how much you will need to pay per turn. Some of the most common assessment costs include surcharges, advanced charges, replacement coverage, and line charges.

Additional fees cover the services provided by a moving company, beyond the limits of loading, transporting and unloading your belongings. These additional services may include packing household items, preparing large items for delivery. As well as home delivery on roads that do not allow access to big cars.

Agents

You can work with different agents during your move. Agents are usually representatives of other companies or organizations that help you or a moving company. Some agents represent local moving companies that perform services on behalf of large companies, and booking agents plan your move. Destination agents work in the area you are moving to and provide you with information about your new location. There are also agents of origin; they assist you in preparing for your move. For example, by packing cardboard boxes or answering questions about an upcoming move.

Bill of lading

Bill of lading is a receipt that a moving company, such as Moving Kings NC, has taken possession of your household goods. It also contains your moving contracts and determines where and how the moving company will transport your goods. Be sure to hold on to it until it is complete, and that you have checked all your belongings.

You should read and study a contract carefully before signing to make sure it is correct.

Claims

If something goes wrong during your move and items are damaged, you need to file a claim to a moving company. It is important that you understand the claims process of your carrier so that you properly compensate for the losses. In addition, you must file a claim within a certain period of time. If you do not make the file in accordance with the time you set, you can inadvertently waive your rights to compensation.

Door-to-door service and door-to-port service

Most moves are door-to-door service moves, which means that your household items are removed from one house and transported to a new house. Door-to-port services are typical for overseas travel. Movers take goods from your home and send them to the port in the region to which you are moving. As a rule, there is an extra charge for shipping your household items to your new home from the port.

Estimates

There are two types of estimates that you can receive from a moving company: binding and non-binding. With a binding estimate, you will not need to pay anything higher than the valuation, assuming that the weights are accurate. Non-binding estimate is a reasonable approximation of your moving costs, including additional costs. And you do not have to pay more than 110 percent of the assessed value.

Full-service mover

If you want to hire movers that can help you move your household, you will need a full range of services. Full-service movers can also unpack and store your belongings in your new home. And they can also dispose of packing materials and collect some household items for you.

Inventory sheets

When the moving day arrives, your moving company will provide you with inventory sheets that list all carriers are transporting. Most movers tag elements when they are packed and loaded, and then write the tag numbers on the inventory sheet. You can use inventory sheets to determine if everything you have is loaded and make sure everything arrives at your new home. If you have valuable items in your home, you may get a separate high-value inventory list.

It is a good idea to check that any valuable items you own are on that list. Or you will not be able to receive appropriate compensation if they were damaged during the transfer.

Storage in transit, or SIT

If items in your home need to be in a separate place from your new home until their final delivery, you will probably pay for storage in transit. For example, there may be a gap in rent for your old and new houses, so you need to stay in a hotel for a week before the start of the working day.

Valuation

When moving, valuation is the limit of what the mover is responsible for, if something is damaged or lost along the way. Valuation is the value of which household goods cost in total, and the shipper is not responsible for more.

Weight ticket

Once your items are in a moving van, they will weigh the van. They will give you a weight ticket, which shows the total weight of the van before and after loading it. This is the final weight of your household products which will be in your moving contracts.