Posts Tagged ‘Moving Guide’

Safety Hazards When Moving

Wednesday, November 30th, 2011

Most jobs done during a move are completely harmless, but occasionally you will have to take on a job that will require heavy lifting or moving that can cause injury if not done correctly. There’s nothing that says you have to take on a job like this, as you can consult with a relocation service to set up movers for you, but if you do decide to take on the job yourself, it’s important to properly observe all safety cautions so that you reduce and chance of getting injured. Moving is already stressful enough as it is. There’s no reason to make it unsafe as well.

Proper lifting techniques start and end with the legs. It’s important to remember that when you bend lift things you should be bending at the knees instead of at the waist. This will ensure that the energy in your body used for lifting comes from the big muscles in your legs instead of the much weaker muscles in the lower back. This technique will provide for much greater lifting power and less risk for injury. You may also want to consider using a lifting belt to help ensure proper technique.

Keeping safe during moving also involves using all the tools available to help make the job easier. These items include, but are certainly not limited to dollies, carts, rubber stoppers and jacks. It also requires the use of assistance from friends or neighbors for heavy items that have the potential to cause serious injury. One of the best ways to eliminate the chance of injury is to leave the work to the professionals. A global relocation service can set it up so that movers can take care of the relocation of your household good all the way from origin to destination.

How to Avoid Moving Scams

Monday, November 28th, 2011

Moving, no matter how far it is, can be a stressful experience for all parties involved. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people in the moving business who take advantage of this and try to scam innocent movers out of lots of money.  The following are some tips on how to avoid scammers and save yourself tons of money and hassle in the long run.

-every legitimate moving company is licensed but not every licensed company is legitimate. You should look beyond just a license to find a good company to trust with your move.

-beware of a company that asks for an initial security deposit. A legitimate moving company will never ask for money upfront.

-always get all of your agreements in writing. Verbal guarantees are useless and will never stand up in court should you encounter a problem.

-an indicator of a potential scam is if the moving company tells you that they don’t need to visit your home to get an accurate estimate. Expect costs to be significantly greater than quoted from these places.

-don’t trust a moving company that doesn’t have an office. Visit the offices and take a look at their trucks. How well everything is maintained will be an indicator of how well your stuff is treated during the move.

-research potential moving companies with the Better Business Bureau. It’s not a guarantee for a reliable company, but it’s a good place to gain more information.

-never do business with a company that accepts only cash, postal/money orders or certified bank checks. It’s a sign that you may be working with a rogue mover.

A Guide to Hiring Movers

Wednesday, November 16th, 2011

Hiring movers may seem like a somewhat trivial task, but it’s important to hire people who you can trust to handle your most important valuables and get them where you need them to go. Evaluating whether or not a mover is trustworthy may not be readily apparent, but can be accomplished through several different methods. This involves doing research online, asking around, checking certifications and getting a general feel for how the company operates. However you decide to make the final decision on a mover, make sure you have as much information as possible

One of the most reliable ways to hiring a good moving company is to get recommendations from friends. This will provide you with a detailed experience of how the company operates and whether or not they can fit to your needs. Make sure to ask any friend that gives you a recommendation plenty of questions about what the company is willing and not willing to do and how well they do it. It’s a good idea to supplement any recommendation you get with outsider reviews and evaluation.

Always have more than one option available before making your final decision. This will allow you to compare and contrast movers based on a variety of factors: price estimates, online reviews, services offered, reputation, BBB status and any other factors that you might feel are important. It’s a good idea to narrow down your choices to between 3 and 4 companies before going through with the final decision. Relocation services will typically offer a much wider variety of services than a typical moving company, including vehicle transportation and international moving services.