Have you found a perfect moving company for you, but you’re not sure whether you should sign a contract? Whatever the reputation of your movers, you should check moving company contracts even if you have found the best movers Brooklyn has to offer. The little details, even if typed by mistake, can be a liability and cause problems in your relocation. As you know, relocation is a complicated endeavor and it needs to be planned carefully. That’s why we turn to professional movers – but a contract is what defines the relocation and the way it will develop, the services that you’ll have, and most importantly, the price that you’ll pay. That’s why you should approach moving company contracts with knowledge and information. Dive in to find out what you’ll need to know!
Why get educated about moving company contracts
As you know, moving company contracts, just as any other ones, are legally binding. Once you sign it, there’s no coming back. That’s why you should get educated about everything in the moving company contracts and not skip the dreadful job that is reading it and deciphering any parts if you don’t understand them. If you’re hiring professional movers, your job will already be easier. Take the time to find out as much as you can about the company contracts so you don’t regret it later. Take the copy of a contract, bring it home or have it sent to your email so you make sure that you’ll have enough time to get to it.
Specific terms in moving company contracts
Let’s dive into the basics of moving company contracts, starting with some of the terms that might appear but that you might’ve not heard until now:
- Binding estimate – This is the exact amount you’ll need to pay for the moving services. This is the amount that was estimated, and binding estimate means that you’ll agree to pay the estimated price. This can be good because the cost is fixed and you won’t have to pay more or less than what you signed for, but you should check carefully what services you’re signing for exactly. For example, when you get the estimate from office movers New York for your business relocation, and you sign the binding estimate, this means that there won’t be any additional charges.
- Non-binding estimate – As its name says it, it’s the estimate that you’ll get, but the charges may change (usually increase). Regardless, keep in mind that the final price can’t be bigger than the 110% of the price that was initially estimated.
- Bill of landing – This might be the term that you see if you’re moving internationally or long distance. Shipping companies usually use it, and it’s used by the company to acknowledge that they received the items for shipping. In moving company terms, a bill of landing is simply a copy of a moving contract.
Insurance in moving company contracts
When you first start planning your relocation, you will probably want to insure your items, especially if you’re relocating art, sculptures, antiques and similar valuables. If you’re moving far away, look for some of the long distance movers New York offers. They will gladly explain the paperwork that you need to get done, and they’ll likely advise you to get full value replacement insurance. Before you accept, get acquainted with the terms:
- Full value replacement – If you have an item, and it gets damaged, this means that the moving company will have to pay the exact amount of the items worth, so that you would be able to replace it.
- Release value replacement – In this case, you’ll get around 60 cents for per pound in case your items get damaged.
As you can see, it’s very important that you correctly estimate which type of insurance you’ll get. You’re not obligated to get the insurance from the moving company that will move your items. Check out different companies and send free estimates. If you have a friend or acquaintance who has moved recently, talk to them about the insurance.
Read the contracts carefully
The rule number one when you’re reading moving company contracts is to read them very thoroughly. This means that you should read everything from the beginning to the end. This includes absolutely everything, regardless of the font and colors. If there are some words or expressions that you don’t understand, don’t overlook it. Seek the help of someone who is from a legal profession, but first try to call the moving company and have them clarify it. They should be ready to gladly respond and tell you everything about it, and if they don’t, definitely don’t just overlook it. Give the contract to the lawyer and highlight everything that you’re having problems with. No one knows everything, and turning to professionals is responsible action to take for your wallet.
Check out the description of services
Make a list of all the moving services that you’ll need. When you’re reading the contract, check if it has all of the services that you need listed. As you find it in the contract, cross it out on your list. This will help you keep track of all the services. If any service is missing, call the movers as soon as you can and talk to them about it.
Double check the payment section
The payment section will tell you in which way you should pay. It will also state when you should do it, as well as the amount that you’ll need to pay. Regardless, check the contract further for the hidden costs. This is especially important if the company that will move you isn’t the one that you can easily check out. When relocating, always base your actions on the “better safe than sorry” analogy, and try to do everything as soon as possible in case of unexpected delays. This also means that you should double check your movers in order to have a successful relocation!
