Paperwork Soup: Know What You're Signing When You Move
By Relocation.com Staff
You might feel like you’re drowning in paperwork during your move, but each piece serves its purpose. Here’s the paperwork you will encounter during your move, and when you will encounter it.
- After you meet with the moving company, you will receive a copy of the estimate of your move.
- After you agree to an estimate and have chosen a mover, you will get an order for service -- this is the contract between you and the moving company, and is essentially authorization that the moving company can move goods for you. You will be asked to sign it.
- On moving day, a mover will do an inventory of your goods and then load them, and present you with the Bill of Lading – this is a document that every shipper in the U.S. must have to move goods, whether it’s your stuff or grocery produce. (‘Lading’ is a verb meaning to load cargo.) The Bill of Lading includes all information about your move, including pricing and delivery dates. Go over it line by line and ask any questions about it before signing. You’re releasing your goods to the shipper, so take the time to go through it carefully, and keep it with you – don’t pack it!
- Attached to the Bill of Lading will be your original estimate, your order for service, and the mover’s inventory. Make sure to check this inventory closely -- it represents the mover’s opinion of the condition of your furniture. If you do not agree with the mover’s inventory, you must dispute it before signing.
- When you reach your destination, use the driver’s inventory to check off items as they’re unloaded. When the move-in is complete, you will need to acknowledge receipt by signing the inventory sheet and the Bill of Lading.
- If there are high-value goods, you will fill out a high-value inventory sheet. If you’re packing yourself, leave the boxes open so that the moving company can inspect the box to insure they were packed properly. You sign the sheet at origin and when boxes are unloaded to verify they were received in proper order.
And now you’re done!
Should your final charges exceed the estimated cost of services, the mover can only bill you for those charges 30 days after your delivery date. You then have an additional 30 days in which to pay the bill for the additional charges. If you have a Guaranteed Price or “Not-To-Exceed” Price, that's the maximum amount you are required to pay the mover at time of delivery (before the driver unloads your shipment).
The amount due for a Guaranteed Price or “Not-To-Exceed” Price should also be on the order for service. In the case of a “Not-To-Exceed” Price, the shipment will be weighed and the final charges based on the actual weight and services performed by the mover or the “Not-To-Exceed” Price, whichever is lower.
If you are paying by credit card, many movers might process the credit card payment before loading. By doing it that way, the mover can verify your “credit worthiness” and avoid costly delays at delivery.
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