Monthly Archives: September 2016

When you plan for a move, you already feel a lot of stress and tension as you clean, downsize, organize, and pack up your home. In most cases, hiring a moving company can help you put aside those feelings of frustration.

Unfortunately, many moving companies can be dishonest when they interact with their customers. Their only goal is to make as much money as possible in the easiest way they can. As a result, many people going through a move have been the victims of moving scams that have left them with a drained bank account or missing belongings.

To help you make smart moving decisions, we’ve listed the five most common moving scams. We’ve also provided information on how to avoid these scams so you can go through your move with one less concern.

1. Inaccurate Estimates

When a moving company provides you with a moving estimate, that quote is what you plan on paying these professionals after the move. Some movers, though, will give you an over-the-phone estimate in an attempt to scam you. The final bill will be significantly higher than the original estimate because they just guessed at how big your belongings are and how much everything weighs.

Since moving costs are based on how much space your belongings use in the moving truck, how much everything weighs, and how far you have to travel, you need as precise an estimate as possible. Look for a mover who can perform an in-home inspection and provide you with a more accurate quote.

In addition to in-home estimates, look for a moving company that offers a “Guaranteed Not to Exceed” option for estimates. Essentially, this contract guarantees that your final bill is guaranteed not to exceed 10% of the original estimate, not including additional costs like unpacking fees.

If you sign a contract with this clause in it, carefully read the fine print of the document. The fine print can contain other clauses that say the guarantee doesn’t apply if the weight of your items is more than the original quote. Find a moving company that provides you with an accurate estimate without hidden caveats in the contract.

2. Requested Deposits

When you work with a reputable moving company, you will only be required to pay for the moving truck and services after your belongings have been delivered to your new home. If a mover tells you that you have to pay a large deposit or a cash deposit, don’t pay or sign for their services. These individuals could take the prepayment and never show up on your moving day.

Instead, work with a company that doesn’t require you to put down cash or a large amount of money to reserve their services. Also, check with the moving company at least once after you reserve the truck and book the services to ensure the movers will arrive at your home on time.

3. Multiple Names

Often when people have horrid experiences with certain companies or they are scammed, they report the moving company to the Better Business Bureau. This entity then gives the moving company poor ratings that affect its reputability.

Some sneaky moving companies change the names of their company to get around these poor ratings. When you do choose a moving company to work with, make sure they have a local address and are licensed and insured to do business.

When you call, they should answer their phones with the full name of the company, and they should be able to provide you with a few references if you ask for them. You can contact these consumers and ask them about their experiences with the moving company.

4. Hidden Fees

To make extra money, some companies will charge you additional fees you didn’t know you would encounter. When you receive the final bill, it should detail every individual charge that adds up to the total fee.

Examine the bill carefully, and keep an eye out for odd charges. For example, some scammers could charge you a fee if the moving van won’t fit on a narrow street. They’ll say they have to move your belongings to a smaller truck, and they’ll charge you for this transfer.

5. Blank Contracts

In addition to providing inaccurate estimates, some scammers will ask you to sign a blank contract, claiming that they’re busy now but that they’ll fill in the empty spaces later. They essentially ask you to take their word that they’ll fill in the contract with the correct information.

If you’re asked to sign a blank contract, refuse to endorse it, and find another moving company. When you do sign a filled-out contract, review it carefully. Make sure all the information matches what you and the movers have discussed. Once you sign the contract, it’s a legally binding document that will be hard to refute later on.

Turn to Wheaton, a Moving Company You Can Trust

Use the tips in this blog to recognize and avoid moving scams. When you’re ready to begin your next move, get in touch with Wheaton World Wide moving to request professional, reliable, and beneficial moving services.

We’ll be as accurate as possible if we provide you with an estimate, and we’ll keep you updated and informed about every aspect of your move including costs-every step of the way.

Tagged in: Moving company, moving scams, reputable moving company

As you pack your kitchen, you may carefully wrap each plate in tissue paper and cover each glass in bubble wrap. As you continue, you may throw out old, mismatched Tupperware containers or donate some of your worn hand towels. Next, you may pack a few of your small appliances in their original boxes and sort through the remaining items in your pantry.

Yet after you’ve finished packing the smaller items, what should you do about your larger ones?

Your refrigerator, your stove, and your dishwasher cost you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars when you first purchased them, and you absolutely adore their sleek stainless steel style or their colorful country charm. Naturally, you feel reluctant to part with them.

But before you unplug your refrigerator or slide your dishwasher away from the sink, take a few moments to consider the possibility of leaving them behind.  The following reasons could help you make a smart, economical moving decision.

1. Large Appliances Require Extra Care When Packing

Your stove, dishwasher, and refrigerator may seem strong enough to withstand the typical bumps associated with moving, but they actually rely on complex electronics that can easily suffer damage when you don’t exercise care:

• To properly move your dishwasher, you’ll need to disconnect all the hoses, drain them, and allow the dishwasher to dry fully; otherwise, you may see mold and mildew buildup when you arrive at your new home.
• To pack your gas stove, you need to hire a certified technician to disconnect it from the gas line and seal any openings, or you increase the risk of house fire.
• To ship your refrigerator or freezer, you have to remove any loose parts (such as drawers and shelves) and pack them separately. And like the dishwasher, your refrigerator needs to dry fully or you’ll see mold in the water reservoir.

These extra steps and precautions can be a hassle when you have to move in a hurry.

2. Large Appliances Cost More to Ship

Moving comes with a lot of expenses, from packing supplies to hiring a moving crew. Though you may carefully plan your budget and anticipate every expenditure, your bank account may struggle to accommodate the trip.

Large appliances take up a lot of space in your moving truck, and your refrigerator’s or stove’s weight makes loading and unloading difficult and stressful. Since many moving companies determine your bill based on weight and volume, those large appliances may take up a large portion of your moving budget.

When you compare the cost of unhooking, loading, shipping, and re-installing your appliances to the cost of new units, you may discover that purchasing a new dishwasher may cost you less than holding on to the old one.

3. Your Appliances May Land You a Better Sale

As a general rule, any part of your home that isn’t considered a fixture is usually considered a personal item you can take with you. Since the refrigerator, stove, and dishwasher are easy to remove and they are not permanently mounted to the walls, you have no obligation to leave them behind for the next homeowner.

However, first-time homebuyers tend to look for fully loaded homes, since they often don’t have their own appliances. When potential buyers view your home and see the latest appliances in great condition, they may be more willing to give your property a priority over similar homes for lower prices.

Consequently, you can use your beautiful stainless steel refrigerator or country-style gas stove as a bargaining chip when you create your listing. Your realtor can assess your home’s value based on the condition of your appliances, and with a little negotiation, you can earn a little more on the sale of your home.

Enjoy a Simpler Move Without Your Appliances

Although you may feel some attachment to your larger appliances, you may be better off leaving a few of them behind during your move. Without a heavy stove or dishwasher to load and unload, you can save time on moving, save money on transportation, and enjoy a greater return on your home investment.

Tagged in: Appliances, moving, packing, selling

Once the hustle and bustle of moving has settled, and you have unpacked all your belongings, you might find that you’re left with a bunch of empty boxes. For many people, the last step of moving is often clearing away these empty boxes. While you can always throw away the boxes in the garbage can, there are more environmentally friendly ways to use or dispose of your cardboard boxes.

Here are some ways you can dispose of-or use-your moving boxes.

Donate the Boxes to a Charity

Local libraries or schools may need heavy-duty boxes to store books. Call around your neighborhood to see if there are any organizations in need of some extra boxes. This may take some extra time to find an organization in need; however, if you find one, you can feel good about donating your boxes to a worthy cause.

Recycle the Boxes

If your moving boxes were damaged during the moving process, consider recycling them. You can recycle worn out and dirty boxes by breaking them down and taking them to a local recycling bin.

Some cities also pick up recyclable materials upon request. Check with your local recycling center to see if they provide similar services. Ask the recycling center about any stipulations they have about acceptable boxes for recycling. For instance, they may require that boxes be flattened or shaped into a certain size, or they may even require a certain number of boxes to qualify for pick-up services.

Use the Boxes at Home

You may want to use some of your sturdier boxes to store certain items in your home. You can organize items that are rarely used into boxes according to type or value.

Consider breaking down the cardboard boxes and storing them for future use. For instance, if you plan to move in a year, you may want to keep some of your moving boxes on hand. Boxes may also come in handy for wrapping presents during holidays or birthdays.

If you have small children, you may want to use the boxes for creative art projects down the road as well. For instance, you can make a playhouse or dollhouse from large boxes. You might also use the boxes to make creative Halloween costumes.

Sell the Boxes

Many cities have companies who buy and sell moving boxes. You can find such companies by doing a quick Google search of cardboard box companies in your area. Some moving companies may also know of cardboard box companies in your area. Once you have found a company, they will likely pick up the boxes from your home and pay you a small amount for each box.

You might also want to try selling your boxes on websites like BoxCycle.com or ContainerExchanger.com. These websites allow people to buy and sell used boxes for free. Most often, people can sell their used boxes for $.50 to $1.50 per box. You might also consider selling your boxes on a general classifieds website, such as Craigslist.com.

Give the Boxes Away

If you’re not interested in making a profit off of your moving boxes, you can give them away. Keep an eye out for someone in your neighborhood that might need the boxes. You can also post the free boxes on your local classifieds. Consider posting flyers around your neighborhood as well.

If you moved into an apartment complex, talk with the rental office to notify other tenants that may need moving boxes. Apartment managers may also know of tenants who are planning to move soon that could use your boxes.

Try these methods to get rid of your boxes after you move. If you plan to hire a moving company, ask them before the move if they provide box removal services.

Tagged in: Boxes, green, moving, packing, Recycle, reuse