Frequently Asked Questions About Moving

Six to Eight Weeks Before Moving Day

Call your Affordable Moving Services agent and specify the articles to be moved - be as accurate as possible, which will allow you to select the best option for your needs.

If your company is paying for the move, contact the individual responsible for your company´s moving policy to determine the services the mover will be authorized to perform. The total charge will depend on the number of hours for the move, the cost of the rented truck, plus the cost of any extra packing services performed by the Affordable Moving Services agent.

Do you want to do any of the packing -- or will you have it done by our experienced personnel? Our agent will be pleased to discuss packing services with you.

Tell the agent everything that is going to be moved. Specify articles that are to be packed so the estimate will include these charges and be as accurate as possible.

Keep handy the telephone number and name of a contact person at Affordable Moving Services.

Four to Six Weeks Before Moving Day

Let the post office know when you´ll be moving and what your new address will be; a temporary forwarding address may be necessary if you do not have a permanent one before the time you move. As an alternative, the post office will hold your mail and forward it upon written instructions from you. Prepare a list of friends, relatives, business firms and others who should be notified of your move. The following checklist will be helpful:

Consider having a "garage sale" to dispose of unwanted items. If you donate clothing or household goods to charitable organizations, obtain receipts showing the items´ approximate value for possible tax deductions.

Begin to use up supplies of canned goods, frozen foods and other household items. Buy only what will be used before moving. If moving long distance, consider making shipping arrangements for frozen foods with the local frozen food locker plant.

Two to Three Weeks Before Moving Day

Notify your Affordable Moving Services agent if you add or subtract items from your planned household goods shipment or if there are any changes in dates of the move. Be sure to also supply the destination location, contact address and phone numbers where you can be reached.

Confirm with your agent any extra stops required to pick up or deliver goods to a location other than the main pickup or delivery points.

Take the family for a farewell visit to some of the places that hold happy memories.

Have a going-away party for the children and their friends. This gives the youngsters a chance to tell all about the "wonderful new city we´re moving to" and to invite their friends for a visit later.

Have some fun for yourself...an open house or an informal dinner or barbecue. Keep it simple, without elaborate preparations. It´s the quests who are important.

Make family travel plans. Reserve hotel or motel rooms as needed. You may wish to guarantee them on a major credit card in case of late arrival.

Have your car prepared for the trip. Check tires, brakes and windshield wipers. If needed, have the car serviced.

Set a date for having utilities disconnected. If possible, plan to keep utilities in service through moving day.

Do not clean your upholstered furniture before moving. Moisture could cause mold if furniture must be placed in storage.

Good packing is essential to a good move. Unless your belongings are properly prepared before they are loaded on the truck, the risk of damage is greatly increased. Our packers do a professional job of getting your household goods ready for moving. They have the know-how, experience, equipment and materials needed for maximum protection.

One to Two Weeks Before Moving Day

Pets and Plants:
Decide what to do with house plants. Affordable Moving Services cannot accept responsibility for safely moving your plants because they may suffer from lack of water and light as well as probable temperature changes while in the truck. You may prefer to transport your house plants in the family car or ship them by plane. Other alternatives: Give them to friends or relatives, donate them to a hospital or other organization, or include them in a garage sale. Some states permit the entry of all house plants; others admit them in accordance with specific rules and regulations.

If moving out of state, take the pets to the veterinarian. Most states require health certificates and rabies inoculations. See that identification and rabies tags are securely attached to the pet´s collar.

Other Important Details:

Collect any merchandise in layaway at local stores.

Collect all items that are being cleaned, stored or repaired (clothing, furs, shoes, watches, etc.). Empty you locker at the club, bowling alley or gym.

Return library books and anything borrowed from friends or neighbors, and collect things you may have loaned.

Day Before Moving Day

Point out to the packers any extra-fragile items needing special attention. Mark appropriately any items you do not want packed or moved, as well as cartons you will want first when the truck arrives at destination.

If you are doing your own packing, make sure everything is ready to go before moving day. Upon arrival, the truck operator will check to see if boxes have been properly packed.

Collect things you definitely want packed together, such as children´s toys, and place in separate groups.

Last Minute Details:

Check closets, cabinets, and storage lockers for any articles overlooked.

Be on hand when the service representative arrives to prepare your appliances for shipment.

Moving Day

It is your responsibility to see that all of your goods are loaded, so remain on the premises until loading is completed. After making a final tour of the house to be sure no items have been overlooked.

Be sure about where and how you can be reached, including telephone numbers, pending the arrival of your household goods. Try to do this as soon as possible, and indicate where and how you can be reached while your shipment is in transit. Give the agent the phone number and make arrangements to accept delivery of your household goods. If you are not sure of your contact information, you can provide us a name of a third party individual who you intend to communicate with while you are in transit.

Last-Minute Details:

Even if you own the telephone in your home, please leave it connected throughout moving day. After the truck leaves and you finish last-minute calls, be sure to pack the phone in one of your suitcases.

Take a last look around:

• Water shut off?
• Furnace shut off?
• Light switches turned off?
• All utilities arranged for disconnection?
• Windows shut and locked?
• Old house keys surrendered?
• Have you left anything?

Delivery Day

On the day of delivery, the truck operator will attempt to contact you by phone and/or will make an appearance at residence if he is unable to reach you. If you are unable to be contacted by phone, leave a note on your residence door indicating where you can be reached.

When unloading, each piece of furniture will be placed as you direct, including the laying of rugs and setting up of box springs, mattresses and bed frames.

You may want to place a floor plan of your new home by the entrance which the movers will use. Show on it where each piece of furniture should go.

Keep all documents pertaining to your move in a safe place. You will need them for verification of moving expenses when you file your federal income tax returns.

One Week After Move

Check with the post office for any mail being held, and ask for delivery to start.

Check state (and local) requirements for auto registration and an operator´s license.

Once you´ve selected a family physician and dentist, you´ll need to have records transferred. Usually, dental records can be sent to your new dentist by simply making a phone call. Transferring medical records from your previous physician normally requires a written request and your signature. If you want to obtain any previous hospital records on your health history, write the medical records department at the hospital where you were a patient. You´ll need to include your precious physician´s name and the name of your new doctor.

You may want to select an attorney to discuss laws that pertain to your destination state, county, and/or city. Be sure to cover such matters as wills, transfers of property and investments, insurance regulations, inheritance laws, taxes, etc. Most laws affect a family as soon as residence in the new state and city is established.

If you need information about your move -- the type and quality of services performed, charges for these services or interpretations of Affordable Moving Services policies and procedures -- please call Customer Service at Affordable Moving Services toll-free 1-877-689-2020. We will thoroughly research your question and furnish a comprehensive answer as quickly as possible.

Call Affordable Moving Services in Eugene, Oregon at 541-689-2020 or toll free from out of state 1-877-689-2020.