Your Ultimate Guide to Moving Companies: Top 7 Basic FAQs Answered

When you shift from one place to another in Kolkata, you might have numerous questions in mind or maybe you get confused about hiring the movers and packers in Kolkata or not. In such a case, you might get into big trouble that may lead you to an immense loss. So, if you are in doubt about hiring professionals, then keep on reading these subsequent vital questions to save you time.

Question 1: Is there any need to hire a professional mover?
The answer to this question depends on the amount of goods that you want to transit and the distance from your present location to your destination. If you don’t have much stuff and the distance is not that far from your place, then relocating on your own is the best thing to do. This will also help you save a lot of money. But, if you need to move a huge amount of goods and the distance is also quite far, then you must require professional assistance. Hiring a trusted mover always results in less stress. Relocation has a lot of work involved and your enthusiasm for shifting to a new place can vanish in seconds if you will have to do a lot of packing and shifting on your own. Also, packing needs skills, special equipment, and a lot of experience. Thus, hiring professionals is essential.

Question 2: Do I need to ask for an estimate beforehand?
Yes! If you are shifting and hiring a professional for the same, you must have a proper budget that you would like to maintain. In case, you do not want to end up paying for any additional or hidden charges, then it is always better to get an estimate earlier. If the company is offering a rough estimate over the call or by email, don’t accept the same as it can be a rogue company. Always emphasize an on-site evaluation of the goods that need to be shifted so that the representatives can give a clear estimate. Also, do ask for any sort of extra or hidden charges involved in the estimate so that your budget will not get hampered later on.

Question 3: How advance should I schedule my move?
You must hire the professional at least one month prior. The farther in advance scheduling, the better it will be. This is because there are peak times also when you will not get the availability of the best mover for your relocation purpose. Also, they might charge you a huge amount due to heavy dates and peak season. So, as a rule of thumb, it is better to book your relocation movers at least one month in advance or no later than two weeks in advance of your anticipated moving date. Last-minute booking will always land you in trouble.

Question 4: How movers will get to know what items to take and what not?
When you book the movers, you will be asked for an on-site evaluation of the goods for an exact estimate. When the team arrives at your place, they will do a walkthrough of your present home along with you. You can confirm with them what things you want to move along with you and let them know about the items that you want to leave behind. Also, the team will examine the weight of the heavy goods and the passage through which they can take the exit with such huge goods. If there will be any additional cost involved, then they will let you know beforehand. Also, it is better if you separate the goods before the visit of the movers to your home.

Question 5: Do they provide any liability coverage?
There are huge chances of getting your things damaged or lost during the transit. There is a need to raise the question of whether these companies will offer proper liability or risk coverage for your goods or not. When it comes to safeguarding your possessions, you need to know whether the moving company is offering you any sort of liability or risk coverage or not. In case your goods get damaged or lost during travel, then you can claim a certain amount as compensation. If the company doesn’t provide any such coverage, then take a third-party coverage but don’t risk your belongings.

Question 6: Guide the movers on packing your fragile items
Wrapping all the goods in a safe and durable packaging material as per the nature of the product is an essential task to do by the movers and packers. This is because every item needs a different type of packaging. Fragile items especially require good packing that does not let them break. Such things include mirrors, artwork, dishes, glassware, fragile furniture items, and more. Ensure that all these items should be carefully packed by using cutting-edge packing methods and materials by the movers.

Question 7: How will I keep track of the goods once it leaves my home?
This is a very valid question to ask your movers as you would like to know about the exact location of your belongings while they are in transit. So, a lot of good moving companies offer you the facility of tracking your shipment. This will help you in tracking the exact location of the vehicle in which your goods are transported. In this way, you will also remain relaxed about the safety of your belongings. Thus, tracking goods is the best option and you should ask your company about the same before hiring them.

Conclusion

All of your doubts about hiring professional packers and movers in Kolkata must be solved here. Make sure to hire them after a thorough judgement.

5 Items You Should Never Pack Yourself When Moving

When you are moving from one location to another within Chennai, you need to keep in mind a lot of things. It is important to do proper planning and arrange all the resources for a successful move. Moreover, there are a few things that you must keep in mind while relocating. For instance, you should know what are the things that you should not pack on your own for your move.

Also, you must be aware of the things that need special packaging like fragile items and if you do not pack them in the right way using the appropriate material, then there are high chances of them getting damaged during the move. This is why you need to hire professional packers and movers in Chennai. Here is the list of things that would be better not packed by you for moving.

1. Antique Items
   Packing antique items or family heirlooms is a very crucial task, which is typically conducted by specialty movers, who have experience in handling such items. These expensive and extremely valuable items are required to be moved very cautiously. These items have sentimental value attached to them and this is the reason why, they should be packed very carefully. Take the help of specialty movers to relocate all these antique items carefully. Also, you can enhance the safety of these items by assuring them.
2. Fragile items
   All those fragile items that you have with you are extremely vulnerable to damage during the move. This includes furniture items with glass, crystal bowls, kitchenware, glassware, chandeliers, and similar others. Packing these items is extremely challenging and requires a lot of packing supplies including bubble wrap, crates, padding materials, etc., to pack them most robustly so that they don’t get damaged during the move. To pack each type of fragile item, movers will have to come prepared along with the essential materials. This can be a costly task for you. So, it would be better to take only a professional’s help to pack these items safely.
3. Heavy and irregular items
   Your home must have a lot of heavy, bulky, and irregular items, which need careful handling or disassembly. A list of such items includes a piano, pool table, grandfather clock, dining table, cabinet, and similar others. Packing and moving these items is quite a risky deal. These items have to be carefully covered with a moving blanket and packed as per the requirements. It would be better if these items were dismantled properly and then each part was packed separately. This will make the move of such items more convenient for transportation. The trick of transporting these heavy items lies in disassembling them, which needs a professional hand only. If you have hired the right relocation company in Chennai, then you do not have to worry about these items. They will take the entire responsibility.
4. Electronic Items
   Electronic items are highly vulnerable to damage and this is why they need proper packing. Items like LCD or LED TVs with the most fragile screens need to be packed carefully in their required boxes. Similarly, monitors, stereo, and other electronic items must be packed safely using cardboard boxes having multiple protective layers of Styrofoam or any other protective materials to safeguard them from any type of sudden shock or vibrations during the transit. Movers know how to take care of the electronic items during the move. So, you just need to sit back and relax.
5. Artwork and Collectables
   If you have numerous amazing artworks, sculptures, and collectibles that are valuable and hold great sentimental value too, then they are required to be packed carefully using high-grade packing materials and by using the proper packing techniques. You would like to get these items shifted carefully to your new home. For this, you should hire professional movers and packers in Chennai. They have the experience of relocating such items and thus, they make sure that your items will be delivered to your destination without any slightest damage. You can also ask your service providers to offer you risk coverage against the items you are shifting. If they are not offering anything to you, then you can also take third-party insurance to secure your items from damage or misplacement.

To Conclude

There are numerous items at your home that you can’t risk by packing on your own. For those items, you must contact an expert. These experienced movers are known for handling even the trickiest of tasks with expediency. Also, they help you save a lot of time and ensure that you take less stress about your possessions. So, check out different online websites and hire the best relocation company that is expert in handling such difficult items well.

Top Tips to Prepare Your Car for a Move

Relocating to a different place not only involves the movement of people and things but also vehicles. And, taking care of your car during the shifting process becomes extremely challenging as you need to prepare it for another location. For instance, if you are residing in Mumbai and want to relocate to a location that has a different climatic condition like severe cold, blistering heat, high altitudes, or high humidity, then you have to prepare your vehicle accordingly. Now, how can you do that? First, hire professional packers and movers in Mumbai, who can easily handle your car transportation task. Next, read the post for the best tips.

How to Prepare Your Car for New Weather?

First, you need to comprehend the type of climate that your vehicle will be facing after the relocation. Whether it will be cold, hot, or more humid, after getting these details only you will be able to make necessary adjustments to your vehicle.
Protect your car in a cold climate

1. Antifreeze: Make sure that your car has suitable antifreeze as this is the pre-requisite for preventing the engine from freezing in the chilling weather.
2. Engine and battery: Due to cold temperatures, the engine and batteries get affected as the motor oil thickens and the batteries drain faster. Make use of engine oil that is suitable for low-temperature conditions and keep your battery fully charged.
3. Windshield Wipers and Fluid: Snowy conditions hamper your visibility and this is not good for driving. Thus, you must replace the wiper blades and fill the windshield washer reservoir with a winter washing liquid that won’t freeze.
4. Exterior and Interior Protection: To protect the exterior of your car, make sure to save the paint using a good-quality wax. For interiors, you must make sure that your heater is working right and that you have good quality and durable floormats to safeguard you against salt and moisture. Also, keep an emergency kit with having flashlight, blanket, and some snacks in the car.
5. Tires and Brakes: Usually, the cold weather affects the tire pressures and the icy roads need better traction so that it won’t slip. Thus, you must invest in winter tires and keep a check on the tire pressure throughout the season. Do check that your breaks are responsive and use brake fluid meant for lower temperatures.

Protect your car in a Hot Climate

1. Air conditioning: In hot climate, it is a must to check that your air conditioner is in working condition. Make sure to get it checked before you leave.
2. Cooling system: It is important to ensure that the cooling system of your car is functioning well to prevent the engine from overheating. Keep a regular check on the coolant levels and use a coolant meant for a high boiling point.
3. Sun Protection: An extended exposure to the sun results in the fading of the car paint and interior. Make sure to use sunshades for the windshield and a car cover.
4. Tires: Hot asphalt can be hard on tires and thus, you must use tires that are specially designed to withstand high temperatures and keep checking the tire pressure regularly.

Protect your car in humid and rainy Climate

1. Rust protection: Moisture leads to rust and thus, it becomes important to keep your car clean and dry all the time. Also, consider rust-proofing your car.
2. Headlights and Tail Lights: Make sure that your lights are functioning properly including headlights, tail lights, and turn signals. Proper lighting is essential for clear visibility during heavy rainfall.
3. Wipers and lights: Do check that the windshield wipers are in perfect shape. Ensure the exterior lights are working correctly for gloomy rainy days.
4. Tires: Tires are extremely important to be in good shape and with a good grip as they glide on wet roads. Ensure that your tire has sufficient tread depth.

Increase performance on high altitudes

1. Cooling system: At high altitudes, the engine turns to get hotter and thus, you need to check the temperature gauge especially when driving uphill.
2. Engine tuning: Air becomes thinner at high altitudes. Thus, you might need to adjust the air or fuel mixture in your engine.
3. Battery check: In high altitudes, it is possible that batteries might not perform well and this is why, you must ensure that the battery’s health is up to the mark and it is fully charged.
4. Tires and brakes: Make sure to adjust the tire pressure as per the recommendation of the manufacturer. Also, keep the brakes well-maintained as mountain driving can be challenging.

Conclusion

Regular maintenance and monitoring of your vehicle are mandatory regardless of the climatic conditions. Make sure to follow the above-mentioned tips and keep a check on the fluids, brakes, tires, and batteries. If you stay proactive about maintenance, then you will be able to easily prevent the expensive repair and breakdown costs. Stay vigilant for weather-related signs of wear & tear and schedule timely maintenance of the vehicle to prevent any future mishap. Get professional assistance for relocating your vehicle by hiring the best movers and packers in Mumbai.

Mastering the Art of Negotiating Rates with Moving Companies

If you have decided to relocate to a new place within Pune, then you must be looking for professional packers and movers in Pune to handle your shifting task. But, hiring an expert is not as easy as you think. They are experienced and capable of handling everything well but they charge a good amount for their service. And, if you are on a tight budget, this will be a problem for you. So, what can you do in this case? The best advice would be to negotiate with them over the prices. Sounds simple? But, do you know the exact tactics to do it? If your answer is no, then you must read this post carefully to learn the tips for negotiating the prices with the movers.

Tip 1: Gather quotes from different companies

The first step is to choose the moving company that suits you well. Never stick to only one, make sure to check at least three companies and ask for estimates from them. It is extremely important to get multiple quotes so that you can compare the prices and services that you are getting from them. Make sure that the movers provide the estimate after inspecting the premises. This will help you in getting a clear understanding of the exact ongoing market rates and you will get to the competitive pricing.

Tip 2: Make sure to understand the service and fees well

Thoroughly review each quote and understand the services and charges included. This will let you analyze what things you are paying and identify any potential areas where you will be able to negotiate with the movers. For instance, after checking the different quotations, you will be able to find out that maybe one company is charging extra for packing materials while the other one is not. These differences will help you in deciding on choosing the best moving company for you at a price that you can afford.

Tip 3: Acquaint yourself with industry standards and practices

It is essential to acquaint yourself with the basic industry standards and common practices that the relocation industry is following. By this, you will be able to better assess the quotations that you get and determine if the company you choose is offering you a fair deal or not. Research the average moving costs, typical services involved in the package, and common price structure to aid in your negotiations.

Tip 4: Know what you need

It is important to identify your priorities and preferences before entering into any sort of negotiation. You might have a special service preference, special packing requirement, or specific date to shift, etc., all of these need extra charges and on these grounds, you will never be able to negotiate properly. You need to determine the services that you require the most, keeping those areas aside, you can further negotiate on the other areas.

Tip 5: Analyze which services are important for you and which are optional

Not every service that your moving company is offering to you is required by you. Identify them and ask the moving team to remove them so that your relocation charges can be minimized.

Tip 6: Timing of the move

If you need to save a few bucks on your move, it is important to choose the right timing. Make sure to ditch the peak season and pick the off seasons for your relocation process. This also helps in saving a good amount of money on your move.

Tip 7: Be flexible with the moving dates

If you want to increase your bargaining power, then you have to be flexible with your moving dates. You must choose dates that do not fall under the category of heavy and rush dates of the month. Avoid moving during the weekends. In this way, you will be able to grab good discounts and offers.

Tip 8: Leverage competing quotations

Make use of the quotes that you get from other companies to your advantage. When negotiating on the charges, you can use the competing quotes and ask them to negotiate as you are getting better offers from other companies.

Tip 9: Be honest about your budget

Make sure to let your moving company know about your relocation budget. It is important to remain transparent with your movers about your budget.

Tip 10: Ask for discounts and offers

A lot of moving companies offer additional discounts and amazing offers. So, don’t hesitate to ask them about the same. Many offer special discounts to students, military personnel, senior citizens, etc. You can also check out the seasonal promotions and special offers.

Tip 11: Request for additional services at no extra cost

You can also consider asking for additional services or upgrades at no additional price. If there is any chance, then the moving company might think about accommodating your request. You can ask for reduced charges for some of the services.

Tip 12: Handle some services on your own

You can also handle some of the services on your own like packing your belongings. This will help in cutting down the overall cost of the move.

Conclusion

Negotiating with the movers can offer advantages like saving on cost, customization on services, quality of service, transparency, and more. By following the above-mentioned tips, you will be able to hire the best movers and packers in Pune at a cost that suits your pocket.