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Taking it off the truck - Advice from an expert =================================================== August is moving month for a lot of families, so we thought now would be a good time to examine one of the less talked about aspects of moving: what to do when your possessions arrive on the other end. For expert advice, we spoke with Dennis Garvey of Cor-o-Van Moving & Storage in San Francisco, CA (www.corovan.com). Dennis has over 40 years of experience in the moving industry, and provides some really useful tips for moving-in day. > Stay in Touch As moving-in day draws nearer, make sure the movers have a way of contacting you in case there are any problems or delays. Likewise, you should notify the moving company immediately if you have a conflict with the scheduled arrival. According to Dennis, being late might result in additional charges, and not showing up at all can be a very costly mistake. "You want to make sure to be there when the goods arrive," he says. "Otherwise they may be placed in temporary storage, which can add up to 50% to the cost of the move." > Getting it through the Door Dennis also states that any good moving company should prepare a house before they even begin taking boxes off the truck - especially during inclement weather when mud might be tracked in the house. This includes putting down rug-runners and having the proper equipment on hand. "It's a matter of practice," he says. "Ninety-nine percent of all moving equipment has rubber wheels to prevent damage. If you have movers who are sliding furniture around, they're not professional." > Having your List and Checking it Twice As your belongings are brought into the house, Dennis advises checking each item number carefully before crossing it off the inventory list, "because box #16 might look a lot like box #91 if it's turned upside down," he says. And if you're by yourself and having trouble keeping track of where everything is going, Dennis provides another useful tip: "If you're moving alone, label the rooms with numbers," he recommends. "That way, you can stand by the door and check off the items, while still telling the movers to 'put that in room #1 or room #3.' If you have several people, each person should be assigned a specific role." > Dealing with Damages Checking the condition of boxes and furniture is an important part of the inventory check-off. "The inventory is a very important document in terms of damage to your belongings," says Dennis. You don't have to open every box, but make sure to mark on the inventory if that box is crushed or damaged." But what happens when you discover a scratch in your favorite coffee table? Dennis says most moving companies have professionals who specialize in repair and restoration. "They're magicians," Dennis says of the repairmen. "I've seen them use filler and match the color like you wouldn't believe. When they're finished, you can't find where the damage was." Dennis further reminds us that getting additional liability coverage for all your belongings will help reduce headaches if there are damages. "Most movers have a standard liability of 60 cents per pound per item. Supplemental coverage is highly recommended." > Stacking and Unpacking "It's a good idea to have an 'unpack first' box" advises Dennis. "You want to have easy access to basic things to get through your first day or evening." Dennis also recommends using a spare room or designated spot as a staging area, where you can unpack boxes at your own pace. He says that paying someone to unpack your belongings sometimes creates more problems than it solves. "Having everything unpacked is kind of unrealistic," believes Dennis. "If I put everything up in your cupboards, you're not going to be able to find your stuff. If anything, you should probably get your wardrobes unpacked, and get the mattress and box springs set up." Dennis adds, "If something like a mirror is crated, though, you probably want to have it uncrated and the crate taken away. Unpacking service is truly a misnomer," he quipped, "what it should be called is debris removal service." > On Tipping "It's completely up to the individual," says Dennis, "it's not like a restaurant where a certain amount is expected. If you get good service from a crew, then maybe you'll tip them $10 or $20 each. But there aren't any rules." > And if you Think You've Got Troubles... It's easy to be overwhelmed when your belongings are stacked all over your new house. But Dennis says that compared to some of the moves he's worked on, most people have it pretty easy. "We've had to use cranes to cut roofs out of building so we could put in safes or other heavy objects," he recalled. "And one time we drove a Volkswagon Beetle to the airport, drained the fuel lines, and pushed it into the cargo area of a 747 bound for Hawaii." Says Dennis, "There're very few limits to what we'll move." ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Top 10 Ways to Smooth Your Move-In =============================================== 1. Stay in contact with your moving company. 2. If possible, clean your new home before the furniture arrives. 3. Plan where you want your belongings to go in advance - especially large items like sofas and beds. 4. Assign roles: somebody to check the inventory; another to oversee where the furniture is placed. 5. Check item numbers carefully before marking them off the inventory. 6. Have boxes stacked so you can easily read the contents labels on the outside. 7. Have a "first day" box with essentials you'll need right away (e.g. cleaning supplies, toiletries, standard tools). 8. Set up a staging area for your unpacking. 9. Document any apparent damages as you unpack, and contact your moving company promptly to submit your claim. 10. To get rid of used boxes, consider calling a local moving and storage company. They may buy them, or cart them away for free.

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