How to get an accurate moving quote – Step One: Taking Inventory

Although the internet has made instant gratification more the norm than the exception, there are still some things that require a little work to be done away from the computer in order to come to fruition.  Getting a moving quote is one of them.

For a moving company to provide you with even a ballpark figure of how much it will cost you, they need to know what they’ll be moving and how far. Telling them where you’re moving is easy, but telling them what they’ll be moving requires a little more work.

In most cases the moving company will require that they come to your home to take an inventory of the items to be moved.  In the industry this is widely referred to as a Survey.  A Survey is when an individual from the moving company (typically called an estimator) comes to your home to determine what the move will involve.  This service should be offered free of charge and if the moving company you’ve contacted states otherwise its probably best to call another.

The estimator creates a comprehensive record of the items to be moved including all furniture, appliances and estimated number of boxes.  They also make notes of any other issues that may affect the time it takes to load the truck such as what floor the residence is on, whether there are multiple floors within the residence or if a “long carry” is involved meaning that access to the moving truck from the house is further than a certain distance.

The inventory that is created from the Survey is then used to determine the weight of your belongings using a cube sheet.  A cube sheet is a fairly standardized sheet which assigns a number of cubic feet to each item to be moved  (cubic feet assigned to boxes are the the actual number of cubic feet of the box).  The final number of cubic feet is then multiplied by seven (accepted industry-wide as the average weight of a cubic foot of household goods) to establish a weight of your belongings.

The total weight is then used to determine your estimated cost.  Since the method of calculation and actual type of final estimate given varies depending of whether the move is interstate or intrastate and what state it takes place in the details of this final step are best left to a separate blog entry coming soon.

There are some important things to know about taking an accurate inventory of your household goods which will, in turn, help you get an accurate quote.

• Make sure that everything that needs to be moved is included in the inventory.  Don’t forget about closets, garages, basements, attics, outdoor storage sheds and the like.  Don’t try to hide anything because it will get you in the end.
• If you must take your own inventory or if you just want to so that you can get a ballpark quote online, don’t forget about your boxes.  Typically boxes account for 1/4 to 1/3 of the total weight of all your belongings.
• If you do take your own inventory it is easier if you use a sample cube sheet which can be found very easily online.

How to Downsize/De-clutter and Sell Items Online

You’re moving, what next? Let’s face it, we all have things we could do without. Whether you’re downsizing, trying to reduce your overall moving costs or simply de-cluttering the big question is, “where to start?”

Start by accessing your bigger furniture items first. What will you need for your new home? Then more on to those smaller items you’ve been collecting for years. Does it have sentimental value? Can you live without? Do you really need the entire subscription of Home and Gardens dating back to 1999? It’s time to let go.

To begin, start going through your home room by room. Gather all those items you think you can do without and place them in one room. Start separating items into designated groups: donate, junk and sell for cash.
Once you’ve established your groups, break it down one step further by separating each group into categories, such as books, clothing, furniture, kitchen ware, toys, etc.
For those items you deemed trash, take advantage of 1-800-GOT-JUNK. For those items you wish to donate start calling your local donation agencies to find out if they will send a truck for pick-up at your home or if you need to make trips to your local agency. And don’t forget to keep a receipt of items donated for a tax write-off.
All that’s left are those items you want to sell for cash. You can hold a garage sale or sell your items online using craigslist of eBay. If you’re not versed in the art of online selling you’re probably wondering where to go from here.
The good news is the hard part is done! Now use these tips to be as descriptive as possible when listing your items for sale:
- Take a picture of the item and include the sale tag if the item is hasn’t been used
- Disclose the purchase date and condition of the item
- Include brand names, if applicable, i.e., designer/artist
- Be descriptive when describing the item for sale. Does it have a history that makes it interesting?
- Decide on a minimum purchase price you are willing to accept and how long you’re willing to leave it listed (You can also consider the option of allowing someone to purchase it on the spot for a set price)
- Depending on the site you choose you’ll need to determine the shipping arrangements. I.e., if you’re selling through eBay you may request the buyer pays for shipping and insurance. If you choose craigslist for local buyers you can request they arrange for pickup.
- If the sale is final make sure you clarify there is no return policy
- And finally, keep all documentation of correspondence with the buyer
Last, but certainly not least, make sure you really want to part with the item you’re selling. Once it’s gone, it’s gone for good!