When choosing between moving companies, be selective. These are the people who will be packing, moving, shipping, transporting and possibly providing storage for all of your belongings.

Whether you are about to endeavor on a local move, interstate move or international move, you need to be very confident in who you hire.
 
Many moving companies rent trucks and do minimal interviewing when it comes to the actual movers and drivers.

There are many things you can do to be sure your mover is reliable and reputable. You should certainly talk to several moving companies, and  interview many of them.

Get recommendations – everyone knows someone who has moved.

Go online and do a reference and background check – there are review and referrals for almost anything online, it just takes a minute to look.

Better Business Bureau – The BBB ranks businesses, if the moving company is a member that is a good sign.

Call or e-mail the American Moving and Storage Association, moving.org.

Be sure to check the consumer-advocacy sites like movingscam.com.

You should end up with at least three or four movers to call for an in-home estimate. If it is an interstate move, ask if the moving company to give you a written binding estimate or a binding not-to-exceed estimate. Both types of estimates put a guaranteed cap on what you will pay for your move.

For information or estimate, contact Marathon Moving.

Whether you are moving due to your job, or simply because you want to, it would be wise to consider hiring a moving company to ensure that all goes well and your possessions arrive safely.   However, there are some details that only you can address. Here are some helpful tips on how to manage the details while you getting ready to move.

Start by making a list of everything that has to be done, and keep it handy for instant reference. Be sure the moving company knows the dates involved so that they can schedule their trucks and employees for loading up and transporting your household goods.

If you have more than one vehicle, ask about auto transport services, because this could save you money on gasoline depending on how far the move is.

If you have dogs or cats, plan ahead for how your pets will be transported. They could simply ride in the car, but if your company is flying you and your family to your new home, then you will need to make arrangements for your pets. Airlines have requirements on what type of crates are approved, so contact them and find out what you need before the move.

Decide if you want to pack boxes yourself, having the movers simply load the boxes onto the truck.  If you want the movers to do all of the packing, be sure to specify this before getting a estimate. Call the moving company to get quotes.

Don't forget to notify all of the utility companies of the date you need them to turn off services. Also, be sure the address change forms have been filed out and given to the post office an the trash pick-up has been cancelled. Moving companies are not responsible for addressing these issues.

If you owe property taxes, you will need to notify the tax assessor’s office that you are moving and make and address change with them. Even if your house is still on the market, it is up to you to make sure all government agencies are away of your new address. When your house goes through closing, you will be released from the involved tax burdens, but until then you are still liable for paying property taxes, even if you are moving.

If there is a chance that you will need storage for some of your possessions, be sure to ask the moving company if they have long or short term storage. You should get estimates on these facilities at the same time that you set up arrangements with your mover, so you have a budget firmly in place with no last minute surprises.  

Moving Companies in Boston

People make mistakes, and everyone will make some mistakes in the act of moving their household goods. It is our professional goal to help you limit mistakes so that your move is as smooth and seamless as possible. We’ve been moving Boston for over ten years and just when we’ve seen it all, someone will challenge us with something new. So consider these five simple tips to protect you from surprises down the road.

1. Do Not Over-Pack. Some individuals lack the ability to de-clutter their life, and they hang onto belongings they no longer need. People move goods that are still in the same box from the previous move. Parents keep toys - even though their kids moved out years ago. Now really, are you ever going to wear any of that 70’s wardrobe that is still hanging around? Getting rid of stuff is a cleansing experience and helps make better use of limited space in the home.

2. If you are moving interstate/international or into storage, then you need to Get a Receipt for your goods! It is vital that you receive an official inventory describing the details of all your property before shipping. Once you get your copy of the inventory, keep it in a safe place and have it handy for delivery day. Your mover should again provide you a copy on delivery, but if not you will have yours and be able to be certain all your goods arrive. Also having your original copy from loading day will prevent any alterations to item conditions after your items were loaded to hide mover damage.

3. Read the Moving Contract Carefully. As with any contact you sign make sure you read it carefully. If you have questions, you should ask. Your crew leader should be able to answer any questions regarding your bill of lading. Unscrupulous movers hope you WILL NOT read their contract because it’s written to protect THEM. We write ours to protect YOU. Are you protected from an Act of God? Our contract does while most of our competitors contracts do not. Are antiques and fine art excluded from protection? Not on our bill of lading but they are on most of our competitors. Why is this? Many of our competitors try to minimize exposure to reduce insurance costs. Our company on the other hand has a low incident rate with our carrier and is able to turn the savings into extra protection for you.

4. Get educated on moving insurance. Of course we are fully insured, but there are moving insurance options and this is a subject you need to have addressed by an informed person so you can understand your coverage and risks.

5. Do not procrastinate. Waiting until the last minute to prepare for your move will cost you money and grief. It is as simple as that. Call us Toll Free at (877) 424-1976 as soon as you know a move is definitely part of your future. We guarantee to save you time and money by doing that. It’s what professional movers do.