6 Things To Check Out on Your Moving Contract

As you’re preparing to move to a new home, you’re probably shopping around for a La Palma moving company to take care of the heavy lifting. And once you’re done shopping, it’s time to check out the contract. The company that you settle on will give you a contract, often called a bill of lading, detailing the ins and outs of your move – including pricing and liability information.

If there’s ever a time to read through the entire contract, it’s now! The bill of lading will help you confirm that the mover is prepared to do everything you need done for your move – and will help ensure that you don’t pay for services that you don’t want or need. Also, in case something bad happens, a bill of lading will act as protection if you should have to file a lawsuit.

Most of the time, you won’t need the contract to protect you during a lawsuit. But you will certainly want to look over it to ensure that all the details of your move are correct. It’s the best way to protect yourself from the unexpected during the process of working with La Palma movers.

So don’t apply your signature to that contract until you check out these six aspects of your bill of lading:

1. 1.Names and addresses

Obviously, the moving contract needs to include your current address, as well as the address of the home or apartment you’re moving to. Seemingly minor mistakes on this part of the contract could lead to big complications on moving day! So check that these addresses are 100% correct.

Also, you’ll want to check for the moving company’s physical address – not a PO box. No physical address is a huge red flag that that company might be a scam. And, again, double check that the details are correct here.

1. 2.Service Times and Dates

The moving contract should list the dates and times that your move will be taking place. If you’re just hiring the moving company to get your stuff from point A to point B, then you’ll just need to know when the movers are showing up and when they’ll have your things at your new home. But if it’s more complicated – say if the movers are also packing some or all of your household goods – you’ll want to check when the packers are showing up, and how long they expect the moving process to take.

1. 3.Included Services

Be sure that the moving contract includes the full list of services that the La Palma movers will be giving you on your moving day. This could include things like custom crating, packing, unpacking, or other services provided by the mover. Ensure that you’re getting all the services you want, but not paying for any that you don’t actually need.

1. 4.Rates

For the most part, moving companies charge based on how much your stuff weighs, though this isn’t always the case. This is why it’s so important to get an in-person quote, by the way. Professionals are good at estimating the weight of your goods, so they can give you a solid estimate on the actual cost of your move. The rates list may also include additional charges, such as charges for extra large items, for going up and down stairs, or charges for fuel for the trucks. Check with the La Palma movers to ensure that the rate sheet includes everything, and that you won’t get any additional charges tacked on.

1. 5.Pricing

The pricing section of the contract will lay out how much the move will actually cost you. Sometimes, this will be a detailed list showing how much you’re paying for each service. Sometimes, it will be a lump-sum cost. If it’s the latter, get details about what all you’re paying for, and how the rates have been applied to your move. Again, you want to be sure that you’re paying only for services you actually need.

Also, check to see if the price listed on the contract is guaranteed. Some La Palma moving companies won’t offer a guaranteed rate – even on the contract. They’ll put in language that says the final price could change according to any number of factors. This is not good for you! Instead, look for a company that offers either a guaranteed rate, or one that offers a guarantee to within a certain percentage – often 5-10% of the original rate on the contract.

1. 7.Liability

Finally, be sure that the contract with your La Palma movers includes language regarding liability. Who is responsible for the well-being of the movers while they’re on your property? What happens if one of them slips on your steps and gets hurt? Who is responsible for your goods while they’re in transit? What happens if something comes up damaged or missing? All this needs to be included in the contract, as well.