Dear Uncle Wiggly,
There are several steps you can take to decrease the chance of falling
prey to thieves. The first thing you should do, is try to find out
which companies offer the service you're looking for and make a price
comparison between them.
A Canadian site recommends the following as your first questions:
" - Is the company insured? Ask them to provide you with the insurance
company's name and policy number.
- Does the company have their own equipment, or will a sub-contractor
or another company be providing the service? Which company? What is
their record like? Get references.
- Who will be providing services at the end of the move, such as
unpacking, claims settlement, and storage? Is it the same as the
original company, an affiliated van line, or someone else?
- If your belongings will be left overnight in a moving van, will the
van be kept in a secure facility? Be sure to use a company that uses
vehicles designed for household goods moving and storage.
- Whose storage facilities will be used ? the company's or a third
party's? It's a good idea to visit and check out the company's
offices, storage facilities and vehicles before you move.
- Does the mover have a Workers' Compensation Board certificate? If
not, you may end up paying for any employee injuries during the move."
(SOURCE: "The Consumer Checklist for Choosing a Moving Company",
<http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/internet/inoca-bc.nsf/en/ca02029e.html>).
They have other advices regarding the estimates/quotes that you should get:
"For a long distance move, a reputable mover will want to inspect your
belongings to help prepare a comprehensive quote. If a company says
the inspection isn't necessary or wants to provide a quote over the
telephone, you're probably better off dealing with someone else. Make
sure that everything that needs to be moved is shown to the movers
during the estimate, and find out how much it will cost if you need to
add any items on the day of the move."
"It is helpful to make an inventory of everything you want moved, from
the basement to the attic, and ensure that special arrangements are
made for goods requiring special attention (e.g. electronics,
appliances, pianos)."
"Be sure to get estimates and all other assurances in writing,
including the delivery date, as well as the full name of the person
you spoke with."
"The estimate should be on company letterhead and state the name,
telephone number and address of the company, as well as a full
estimate of the number of boxes to be moved, the size and value of
items, the cost per hour or flat rate and terms of payment, and timing
of services to be provided. If items are being moved out of the
country, be sure to obtain the name and address of the moving agents
who will be handling your move at the destination."
- "It is helpful to make an inventory of everything you want moved,
from the basement to the attic, and ensure that special arrangements
are made for goods requiring special attention (e.g. electronics,
appliances, pianos).
Be sure to get estimates and all other assurances in writing,
including the delivery date, as well as the full name of the person
you spoke with.
The estimate should be on company letterhead and state the name,
telephone number and address of the company, as well as a full
estimate of the number of boxes to be moved, the size and value of
items, the cost per hour or flat rate and terms of payment, and timing
of services to be provided. If items are being moved out of the
country, be sure to obtain the name and address of the moving agents
who will be handling your move at the destination."
(SOURCE: ibid, <http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/internet/inoca-bc.nsf/en/ca02029e.html>).
Reagrding the quotes, a person who had moved from Canada to the US recommends:
"Getting these quotes normally requires about a one week wait. I can
not emphasize enough about getting the multiple quotes. [...] Now,
here's the tricky part. Not all quotes are equal. [...] Many times,
throughout the fine print, the quotation is only valid if the contents
weight of your move is within 10% of their estimate. Well, just
imagine if they guess 5,000 lbs, and your move comes in at 8,000 lbs.
Basically, they are going to really hit you with the excess lbs. Let
the mover know that you would like a guaranteed FIRM estimate. "
(SOURCE: Neil Marriott/Bernda Marriott, "Choosing Your Moving
Company", Canada-to-Twincities,
<http://www.canadatotwincities.com/choose_moving.html>).
You should also ask:
" - Who is responsible for packing? Ask about liability if you pack
the items yourself.
- Can boxes from other places like a grocery store be used?
- Should all owner-packed boxes be sealed and labelled?
- Are any licences or customs documents required, e.g., at border
crossings? Who will prepare them?
- Are there special seasonal rates or any other factors that may
affect the cost of the move? It can be less expensive to move between
October and June, or at mid-month.
- If a deposit is required, will the money be put in trust, as is
required in some provinces and territories? Is it refundable? Clarify
methods of payment at the outset.
- What are the terms and conditions of protecting your goods under the
mover's Replacement Value Protection policy, including coverage for
those goods you packed yourself? Is there a deductible, and if so, how
much is it?"
And then:
"What is replacement value protection?
Even with the best mover, you need to know how you can protect yourself:
First check with your insurance agent/broker to find out if your
existing household policy provides coverage during the move, and if
so, what is the deductible. Make sure that your policy provides you
with no less than "All Risks" coverage, because any less coverage
leaves you exposed.
Then check with the moving company for the cost of Replacement Value
Protection. This means that the moving company agrees to be legally
liable up to an amount that represents your estimate of the value of
your property being moved. Often that amount is arrived at by
multiplying each pound of weight of your shipment by $10.00 ? but that
is just a rule of thumb. Make sure that the total amount of declared
valuation is enough to replace all of your furniture and personal
effects. Make sure that you get Replacement Value Protection and NOT
depreciated value only.
- Ask the moving company for written material that explains how the
Replacement Value Protection works.
- Ask the moving company for information on how to make a claim, and
what the time limit is for making a claim.
- Identify the difference of liability between owner-packed versus
mover-packed cartons and special care items (i.e. glass, marble, and
other "at owner's risk" items that are not packed professionally).
- If you don't buy Replacement Value Protection, the moving company is
usually liable only up to 60 cents per pound of any article that may
be destroyed or lost. (For a typical television set, that's about
$30.)
- Be sure you have adequate protection either through your own
insurance policy or through the moving company's Replacement Value
Protection."
(SOURCE: "The Consumer Checklist for Choosing a Moving Company",
<http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/internet/inoca-bc.nsf/en/ca02029e.html>).
After making your short list of companies, check about them.
First, contact the Better Business Bureau:
<http://www.thebbb.org/> - they can tell you if there are any pending
complaints against this company.
Also try people who live in Venezuela and have used long-distance
moving companies:
Expat Exhange - Venezuela Forum
<http://www.expatexchange.com/net.cfm?networkid=118>
Sterling International Movers have several advices:
"Always choose a specialist international moving company, not one who
tries to do everything (i.e. local, commercial, etc.)."
"Don't be tempted to opt for the lowest price mover. Like everything
else you get what you pay for. There are many different services
available so there will be price differences."
"Check that the mover is a member of either F.I.D.I. or OMNI which are
the world's leading organisations in international moving. Their
members (who are in most countries worldwide) have to meet certain
minimum standards on quality and financial stability, which will
protect you and your effects."
(SOURCE: Sterling International Movers, Choosing a Mover
<http://www.sterlingmovers.com/movers/choosemove.cfm?site=movers>).
F.I.D.I
International Federation of International Furniture Removers
Fédération Internationale des Déménageurs Internationaux
Planning to Move?
<http://www.fidi.com/public/planning/index.asp>
Find a FAIM member
<http://www.fidi-faim.com/companyprofile/search.asp>
"FIDI have an accreditation specifically for the moving industry
called FAIM (FIDI Accredited International Mover) and the very top
FAIM companies have FAIM ISO. This is independently audited by Ernst &
Young, and has to be confirmed every two years. "
OMNI - The Overseas Moving Network International
Locate an OMNI member
<http://www.omnimoving.com/omnilocate_main.asp>
Another organisation, though not dealing with international moving,
that could help, is AMSA (American Moving and Storage Association).
Their members participate in a "Dispute Settlement Program", which
means that at least you have somewhere to put forward your grievances.
AMSA
<http://www.moving.org/>
Team Relocation's Website adds the following advice, or international
organisation, with whom your mover should be registered:
" A company should also be a member of the association in your
destination area: eg the Household Goods Forwarders Association of
America (HHGFAA), the Australian International Movers Association
(AIMA), the Professional Movers Association of South Africa Overseas
(PMAO) and the Latin American and Caribbean Movers Association
(LACMA)" (SOURCE: Team Relocations, Choosing a Moving Company
<http://www.teamrelocations.com/movepage.php?articleID=60&menuID=5&type=article>).
LAMCA's Website:
<http://www.lacmassoc.org/home.htm>
Back to Sterling's list:
"Check the quotations carefully.
i) Are they door-to-door (or just to the port of arrival)
ii) What is the transit time (this will vary on the service offered)
iii) Are there any special services offered (such as internal wooden
crates for antiques or delicate items)?
iv) Most of all compare "like" with "like". Because you showed three
movers the same items does not mean they will all quote on the same
volume or weight. In virtually all cases a mover will charge on what
they actually move not on what they surveyed. So the mover with the
highest weight/volume (and therefore cost) may not prove to be the
most expensive!"
"Do not be taken in by companies offering a so-called "global" service
with owned facilities worldwide. It is extremely hard for a mover to
offer the same quality of service in multiple locations. Generally an
independent mover will be a better choice, as they will select a
destination agent that best reflects their own quality."
"If you can only find one mover that you trust, ask them for
competitors that they respect. Believe it or not professional pride
will ensure that they will give you comparable companies."
(SOURCE: Sterling International Movers, Choosing a Mover
<http://www.sterlingmovers.com/movers/choosemove.cfm?site=movers>).
Excess International Removals also have a couple of good advices in
checking the company:
"Do they use their own packing crews, or sub-contractors? Many
companies - even large ones - use sub-contracted labour. It is
impossible for such companies to adequately ensure the packing quality
standards offered by sub-contractors - it will be you, the client that
suffers in the long run.
Have they been in business for more than 10 years? This is a good
yardstick to use - it takes this long to foster and develop
relationships with overseas agents."
(SOURCE: Excess International Removals, "Choosing A Removals Company",
<http://www.excess-baggage.com/rem_choose.php>).
General Information
-------------------
Escape Artist - About moving to Venezuela
<http://www.escapeartist.com/venezuela6/search.htm>
Including a list of international movers.
Venezuela Headlines - Forums
<http://www.vheadline.com/forum/default.asp> - Discuss the life in
Venezuela with other English speakers.
Sterling International Movers - Moving Checklist
<http://www.sterlingmovers.com/movers/checklist.cfm?lang=en&site=movers&s=4>
- they also have a checklist for people who plan to move overseas.
By the way, the site "Moving Relocation.com" mentions only one company
that operates from Washington:
<http://www.movingrelocation.com/results2.cfm/State_ID/WA/ServiceTypeID/5/RequestTimeout/500>
I hope this answers your question. Please contact me if you need any
further clarifications on this answer before you rate it. |
