What to Consider When Moving in with a Roommate:

Rent is getting more expensive, which depending on where you live might not make it feasible for you to be able to live alone. Bummer, we know. It’s the harsh reality of life post-college that can also carry-on into your 20’s and 30’s, depending on what city you’re in. Living in a specific area could also be determined by your job where you might not want to spend hours commuting everyday. One way to save money, cut some of your expenses and still live in your desired area, is to move in with a roommate. A common and very cost-effective option for young adults, however there are a few things to consider before you up and move in with someone new. Read on to check out what to ask to determine if your prospective roommate is right for you.

#1 Reach out to your network:

Before you try to find someone that you don’t know, reach out to your network of friends. Send an email to your friends or family members or post a note on Facebook, telling your network that you are looking for a new roommate. Be very specific with what area you are looking for and when you need your new roommate. Also, make it clear that they should pass it along to anyone that they might know that is also looking.

#2 Put out an ad:

If you aren’t able to connect or find a place with anyone in your network, place an ad on a local neighborhood message board or on Craigslist. In your ad, include a description of yourself, where you want to live, the rent you are looking to pay as well as any pertinent details about your potential living situation and/or needs such as wanting a non-smoker, non-drinker or someone that works the same hours as you.

#3 Set up a time to talk:

Dedicate some time to carefully go through your emails and messages to better assess the candidates. Create a short-list of prospective roommates and set up a time to speak them over the phone. This will allow you to get to know your potential roommate a little better where you can ask them additional questions such as where they work, where they currently live, what they like to do on the weekends, if they are neat, to name a few suggestions.

#4 Meet your prospective roommates:

After your screening calls, you’ll have a better idea of who you want to meet in person. Pick a local coffeeshop or park to meet where you can talk further and get to know each other. After your meetings, you should have a good idea of whom you feel comfortable and safe living with. For extra assurance, ask for references –both personal and professional–to get a full picture of your prospective roommate.

#5 Get to know each other:

After you make your decision, spend some time with your new roommate. Whether that’s a casual breakfast or going out for drinks, the more time you spend with your roommate will allow you to better know them before your moving day.

#6 Discuss bills, cleaning and more:

While bills aren’t exactly a fun topic to discuss, they are really important for you and your new roommate to figure out before you move in together. Make sure that you are both clear on whether you are sharing the cost on all of the bills, including a discussion on how you will share food (or not) and how you will split up the costs of other household items like toilet paper, paper towels, etc. You can also discuss how you will organize the cleaning, communal items and which items are off limits to each person. Discussing these things before you move in can help to avoid an uncomfortable situation when you are in your new apartment or house. Other things to discuss: get togethers at the house, guests sleeping over, work schedules, general wake-up times, etc.

#7 Create a roommate contract:

After you discuss your billing system, draft this down on paper and make sure that you and your roommate sign it. While this might seem cold, it is important to have everything clearly stated so everyone knows how costs will be shared.

#8 Look for a place together:

Now the fun part: actually finding your new apartment or home. Create a short-list of criteria for your new place, including how many rooms you need and your maximum rent. Visit a few places together until you are both happy with the options.

Move in! Call you your local movers, pack up all of your stuff and enjoy your place with your new roomie!

Moving in with a roommate can be challenging. It’s best to be as prepared as possible as you get to know your roommate. If everything works out, check out local movers for rates to help make the moving process easy.

KEEP YOUR HOME AND BELONGINGS PROTECTED WHILE MOVING:

Moving often results in having your valuables and belongings in several places at once, including your new home, old home, or multiple vehicles. You also have several people that are in and out of your home, so it remains imperative to keep your home and belongings secure during a move.

This will help to ensure that nothing gets stolen, so you can focus on setting into your new home.

MAINTAIN YOUR OLD PROPERTY.

Vacant homes are attractive to criminals. If you move out of your old home while it is still on the market, make sure to maintain the property. Keep up with landscaping until the home is sold. This will prevent burglars from trespassing. The key is to make the home look like it is still occupied.

In addition, ask old neighbors to keep an eye on your home. If they notice any suspicious activity, they can alert law enforcement for you.

KEEP YOUR VALUABLES WITH YOU.

Important documents, expensive jewelry, and other important items should always be kept with you during the moving process. This will ensure that they do not end up in the wrong hands or go missing.

Even if you keep your belongings in a safe, make sure the safe stays with you at all times. Portable safes can easily be stolen.

LABEL ROOMS NOT ITEMS.

You may not need to have electronics or fine china in your possession while moving. Label cardboard boxes with what room they are going to rather than what is in it. This will prevent temptation of theft if people don’t know what is inside.

Keep an inventory list of all of your items so you can easily check if anything is missing once you are in your new home.

KEEP DOORS LOCKED.

Only keep a couple of doors open at a time during the moving process. You want to be able to control who is entering your new and old home and when. Any doors that aren’t being used should be left locked to prevent break-ins or theft.

Once you are moved into your new home, change the exterior locks. This will prevent anyone who had access to the home from getting in.

INSTALL A HOME SECURITY SYSTEM.

Having a security system before you move in will prevent theft and intruders during the moving process. Many home security companies have moving policies that allow you to move your home security system or get a new one in your new residence for little to no cost. Consult with your home security company prior to your move so you know your options.

Even if you did not have a home security system before, it is the best way to protect you and your family. Once you are settled in, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that your home is already protected.

The moving process is challenging and stressful, but with these tips, you can feel comfortable knowing that your belongings and new home are safe and secure.

DO YOU THINK LOCAL MOVING IS EASY?

We will assist you in every stage of the relocation:

• You get an estimation of project complexity and a detailed plan adjusted to your requests.
• All your assembled furniture that cannot be transported will be disassembled and loaded into the truck.
• Every fragile item will be wrapped, taped and carefully placed in the truck.
• At the destination point (your new location or our storage facility) we unload and reassemble everything as well as help with unpacking.

Additional local moving services

“California Movers” provides all moving services you need to relocate without delays and worries. Besides simple loading and transportation, we also deal with:

• Furniture disassembling and reassembling;
• Packaging: wrapping and tapping as well as boxing;
• Additional stops anywhere you need to drop or pick up something;
• Evaluation of future costs: a detailed plan of relocation.

Our philosophy

We carefully watch our image and try to satisfy all moving needs of our customers. Our local movers follow some principles of work performance, which help us to maintain our great recognition. They include:

• Friendly attitude towards the customers. We make you feel comfortable during moving and forget about daunting relocation challenges. That is the reason why one of our aims is to act as if our local movers are your friends who give you a hand with good moving advice and professional skills.
• Transparency of business. Our moving local service never includes any hidden fees and we always prove it to you in the expense report.
• Accurate planning. Hoping for the best outcome is not our approach. We are all about planning and scheduling. We accurately reckon a volume of work and divide it into stages so the work is easier to manage.
• Careful treatment of customer’s property. We treat your property as if it is ours, accurately packaging it and loading into the truck. Then we transport it avoiding rough roads so all items are brought to the final point as they were before packing.

“California Movers Local & Long Distance Moving Company” has all instruments to supply high-quality moving local service in San Diego, Sacramento, San Francisco, Los Angeles: great trained staff, commitment to the moving business, attainment of relocation inside outs, friendly attitude.

Order free individual quote for your project and enjoy all our advantages instead of concerning about minor things!

Not at all! Even moving 5 miles away from your old house can be stressful. This is a real challenge for your nerves if you do it all by yourself.

But the process can pass smoothly and fast if it’s performed by an expert team. No worries about packing, delivery and property safety! We take it all upon ourselves.

Staff of “California Movers” consists of experienced local movers who can promptly relocate all your belongings within one city or county. They know exactly how to move your belongings from one point to another without delays, accidents and difficulties. The company deals with every project carefully and elaborately. We think over each detail of relocation plan starting from packing and organizing to cargo handling at the new place.

8 Tips For A Successful Job Relocation:

Back in June I laid out the 20 questions you should ask yourself before you agree to relocate for a job. It’s a big decision that demands a lot of consideration—but as it turns out, that might be the easy part.

“The move itself could be one of the most stressful changes in life,” says Marjie Terry, VP of business development and client service at Great on the Job. “Even if you’re super excited about the new position or company, moving is still complicated.”

Ted Stimpson, president and CEO of MyMove.com, agrees. He says: “As with any move, relocating for a job can be a complicated and stressful process. But the good news is that you’ve been recognized as a valuable asset to your new company or office, and employers are typically more than willing to help make your transition a smooth one.” Plan ahead for your move, and utilize any relocation packages offered by your employer, he says. “And if things start to get stressful, remember that the reason for your move is a positive and exciting one.”

So, what exactly makes relocating so complicated? Ryan Kahn, a career coach, founder of The Hired Group, star of MTV’s Hired! and author of Hired! The Guide for the Recent Grad, says, among other things, the process requires you to find a new place to call home, become acquainted with your new environment, master a new job, and build a new support network—all at the same time. “A lot of hard work will go into being successful at all of these things, but hopefully you find out that it’s everything you’ve wanted.”

Stimpson says today’s real estate market doesn’t make it any easier. “Selling a house is one of the biggest complications that relocating homeowners face,” he says. “Paying two mortgages is daunting—and often not feasible—which leaves many in the challenging position of selling their current home while securing housing in their new city of employment.”

Another challenge faced by two-income families: finding employment for the relocating employee’s spouse or partner, he adds. And if you have children, you’ll probably worry about their transition to the new environment, as well.

“It’s extremely difficult to be 100% focused on your new job while dealing with all of the logistics of the move,” Terry says. “You want to make great impressions on your new colleagues but everything is new and unfamiliar, so it takes working double time in the beginning to make it all work.”

So, if you want to have a successful transition, here’s what you’ll need to do:

Stay organized. Much of moving related stress comes from managing all of the logistics, like leaving your current home, and finding a new one, Terry says. “Try to be very organized.  Keep to-do lists for both your departure and arrival locations so that you can stay on top of everything.”

Know what’s available to you.  Many companies offer a variety of relocation services and most are flexible in what they provide, Kahn says. Make sure you take the time to learn what’s available to you—and use it. For example, some companies will pay for things like house hunting trips, transportation of your cars, assistance in selling or buying your home, help figuring out how to rent out a property, and event organizers to settle you into your new home. They might also be able to help your spouse with job placement or employment leads in your new city, Stimpson adds.

If your employer doesn’t typically offer relocation assistance, ask for it. If you learn that assistance isn’t typically given, don’t be afraid to negotiate, Stimpson says. Start by researching moving costs (truck rentals, quotes from professional movers, transportation expenses, temporary housing, storage, etc.) so that you can present your employer with a detailed estimate of how much your relocation is expected to cost you. “Having this supporting information is crucial to the success of your request,” he says. Also ask about preferred providers when it comes to relocation companies and real estate agents. Reimbursement for your relocation may be contingent upon the usage of designated professionals with whom your employer has established relationships.

Take time to get to know your new environment before you move. If you have the luxury of taking some time to explore your new area before arriving, do so, Terry says. “Explore the neighborhoods in the area to make sure that you find the best suited one for your lifestyle,” she says.

If you’re not able to visit the new city before you move, take the time talk to people that live there or used to live there, and “get as much perspective as you can on what you’re walking into,” Kahn says.

You should also read the local news or any local blogs to understand the vibe and learn what’s going in your new town, Terry adds.

Know the cost of living in the new city. There are significant differences in cost of living among US cities and states, Stimpson says. “Typically, these differences will be compensated for in your salary, but it’s still important to check.” Do the research and plan accordingly.

Don’t make any long-term commitments. “Renting at first is a great way to settle into a new city without making a commitment to a neighborhood you might end up not liking,” Terry says.

Kahn agrees. He says a common mistake many people make when relocating for a job is to buy a home or commit to a long-term lease immediately, and later find that they don’t like the neighborhood, or the job.

Stimpson says to ask about temporary corporate housing. “Some companies offer apartments or condos for a fixed length of time to allow relocating employees to familiarize themselves with their new surroundings and make an informed housing decision.”

Find out if any of your moving expenses are tax-deductible.  Even if your new employer doesn’t offer any financial assistance for your relocation, you might be eligible for partial reimbursement come tax time, which can definitely ease some of your financial stress, Stimpson says. (See IRS Tax Topic 455 for details on which expenses qualify.) “Generally, the moving tax deductions requirements are: the move must be because you started a new job; your new home must be at least 50 miles from your old home and your old job. (This is to prevent folks from simply moving across the street every time they changed jobs in a design to take advantage of the moving tax deduction.); and you must work full time for at least 39 weeks during the last 52 following your move. Self-employed movers need to work at least 78 weeks over the last 2 years to qualify.”

Build a social support network.  “Use your friends to network to make new friends in the same way that you would try to network for a job,” Kahn says. Use online services like MeetUp to find others in the area that have similar interests or hobbies. Your new company may also offer clubs and interest groups to meet new people. The faster you can build a support network, the more at home you will feel and the happier you will be with your decision to move, he says.

“Establishing a social network in your new town is going to make you feel more grounded and happy, which will allow you to perform better in your new job,” Terry adds.

What You Need to Know Before Buying Your Dream Cabin:

Cabin life calling your name? Answer these four questions and you'll be well on your way!

When the leaves turn colors and the mornings glitter with frost, a cabin in the woods can be a fairy-tale retreat — a place to curl up with a good book or quickly access hiking or skiing hot spots.

While there are plenty of cabins you can rent for a weekend, owning one provides the flexibility to escape when the weather or mood is right. Let’s break down the four big questions to ask yourself before making an offer on your cozy hideaway.

What kind of cabin do you want?

The word “cabin” can refer to a variety of structures. Most people think of a small wooden house in a remote location, but that’s not always the case — you have options, and they’re worth exploring.

Log cabins
This traditional type is just begging to be enjoyed with hot cocoa and a crackling fire. When you’re considering a cabin made of logs, the wood type, log shape and corner styles are the three main ingredients of style.

Spruce logs are popular for their resistance to decay, and Scandinavian pine is often chosen for its density and tight grain.

A-frame cabins
With a simple, iconic design, these triangular charmers can accommodate a lofted sleeping area or vaulted ceilings, and the roof’s steep slant prevents snow or leaf buildup.

Thanks to the obsession with minimalism and tiny living, A-frames are experiencing a comeback. They’re hip and affordable — this tiny A-frame cost only $700 to construct, using mostly found materials. Even Urban Outfitters offers instructions on how to build your own.

Mobile cabins
If you’re looking for mobility, a tiny cabin can be built on wheels for towing capability.

Gastineau Log Homes has a Log Cabins 2 Go line, featuring 400-square-foot structures that are factory-made and ready to roll on trailers. An even tinier option — the Stanley model from Rocky Mountain Tiny Houses, built on an 8-foot-by-2-foot trailer with a foldable front porch.

Prefabricated and modular cabins
Many companies offer catalogs of cost-effective cabin designs to choose from. The designs are typically customizable but simple enough to be factory-made and then transported to your site.

Where do you want to vacation?

Do you want to be on a lake or a river? Far from the summer crowds or near a bustling mountain town? To find your ideal spot, keep these three things in mind.

Travel time, family time
Consider how often you’d like to use your cabin and how far you’re willing to travel to do so. Factor in holiday traffic — will you make it there for a three-day weekend without wasting most of your time on the road?

And since vacation homes are often the place for families to gather, pick a location that’s convenient for everyone — and one that offers activities all family members can enjoy.

Scenery
Cabins afford an opportunity to embrace the outdoors, so the setting is important. The window and porch views are going to play a prominent role in watching leaves or snow fall outside, so make sure you like what you see.

If you’re building your cabin, you’ll want to plan your design and placement in harmony with the surrounding landscape. Log cabins are meant to look like they’re a part of nature — not disrupt it.

Maintenance
Remember that you won’t always be present to shovel the driveway or mow the lawn. If offseason maintenance is a concern, make sure there’s someone you can hire to look after your property when you’re not there.

How much cabin can you afford?

Cabins might seem like a luxury, but with careful budgeting and lifestyle adjustments, you’ll find they can be an affordable way to acquire property and vacation time.

Budgeting for a cabin is just like budgeting for a home. The price tags vary widely, based on location, design, amenities and quality.

Consider how much value you’ll get for your buck. If you’re going to use it frequently, you won’t need to rent vacation homes, which could save you money in the long run. And if you’re going to rent it out, it could even make you money.

But if your cabin could potentially sit there unused, collecting maintenance to-do’s that you aren’t around to complete, it can be a major financial drain.

Speak with a financial advisor, and take plenty of time to assess pricing and location options before deciding if a second home is indeed within your budget.

How do you narrow your search?

It’s a little more of an art than a science, but there are a few tricks you can try to yield more relevant search results.

Start with location
Once you land on a location, search for it on the Zillow website or mobile app. If you’re looking in a remote area outside city limits, try searching in the county or ZIP code.

You can also draw your own search boundaries on the map. If you’re getting fewer results than you’d like, try drawing a circle that’s bigger than the area you’re looking in. That way, you’ll see nearby listings, too.

Narrow with filters
From here, it’s all about filters. Set your filters to show for-sale homes within your price range.

If your range is up to $300,000, try entering $350,000 to see homes where you might be able to negotiate the price. Consider Make Me Move listings, too, as these homeowners are motivated to sell even though they haven’t yet pulled the trigger.

You can also set the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, but keep your options open when you’re getting started. Under Home Type, consider checking Lots/Land. Some properties are categorized this way even though they have small structures on the property. And if you’re considering building your own cabin, this will be an especially good option for you.

Explore keywords
If you’re not seeing what you’re after, or if you’re getting pages upon pages of results, try playing around with Keywords under More. Try one keyword or phrase per search so you don’t narrow your search results too much.

Keep in mind that Zillow scans the entire listing for your keywords, so if you search “schools,” you’ll see tons of listings because they all include nearby schools.

Most often, the keywords are pulled from the listing descriptions that real estate agents wrote to upsell the house. Think like they would — if you were selling a cabin in your locale, what features would you highlight?

Here are a few keywords to get you started: cabin, A-frame, getaway, cozy, woods, lakefront, river and rustic.

Happy cabin hunting!

How to Host Thanksgiving After a New Move:

The holiday season is both an exciting and super busy time of year. From Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day, there are tons of parties, events, activities and more that is sure to keep you busy. Another way that this season can be even busier is if you have to move during this time. While it’s not an ideal time for a move, there are certain aspects of moving –whether due to a new job, or a recent home purchase, –where you don’t have a choice on the time of year for your move. If you happen to be moving right around the time of Thanksgiving, you’ll want to figure out your plan for this holiday before you actually move. If hosting Thanksgiving in your new home or apartment is important to you and your family, you’ll need to be organized, pack your items separately and figure out your plan for the dinner, even if it’s on a smaller scale than what your family is used to. Read on for some practical pre and post moving tips that can help you host Thanksgiving dinner after your new move.

#1 Pack what you will need:
If you know that you are going to be moving right around Thanksgiving, make sure that you pack all of your kitchen items together. This can include your plates, serving platters, gravy boat, sharp knives, forks, spoons, bowls, cups, wine glasses, table clothes, to name a few items. If you have kids, you might also want to have some small toys like cards, board games and books packed together for them, so that they have things to do during Thanksgiving and right after your move. You’ll also want to make sure that your fragile kitchen items are properly wrapped in packing paper and bubble wrap to avoid any breakage. Be sure to also clearly label and mark your boxes that states “items for Thanksgiving.” This will make it easy to clearly communicate to your movers that these items should be treated with care and where they should be placed in your new home or apartment during the unloading process.

#2 Make sure your table is put together:
Your movers will most likely disassemble and assemble all of your furniture. Double check, before they leave, that your kitchen or dining table is assembled and put together for your upcoming Thanksgiving meal.

#3 Unpack your kitchen items:
While you might be eager to unpack everything to get your kitchen in order, try to focus on only what you need for your Thanksgiving dinner. If this is too much of a hassle, you can opt to use paper items so that you tackle your unpacking after Thanksgiving.

#4 Figure out your menu:
You have a few options for your Thanksgiving meal after your move. You can  opt to cook yourself, have a potluck Thanksgiving dinner with family or friends, order from a local restaurant, or even go out to eat. The most important thing is to be realistic about what you can handle, which is largely dependent, on your move in date. You’ll also (likely) be very tired from your move, where making a full Thanksgiving dinner might be the last thing that you want to do. And that’s ok! Moving during this time means that you also have to be flexible as you adjust to life in your new home. If you have kids, they might be expecting certain traditions where opting for a potluck at your home or bringing food in can be a nice compromise as you enjoy the holiday together without making things too complicated. And if that feels too daunting, consider going out to dinner. Many restaurants serve a traditional Thanksgiving menu where you can enjoy the best of this holiday, without having to cook. If you know that you are going that route, make sure that you reserve a few weeks in advance.

#5 Enjoy the holiday:
Whatever you decide to do on Thanksgiving, it’s important to relax and settle in as much as possible. There will be so much to do after Thanksgiving where taking a few days ‘off’ before the unpacking, settling in and decorating is a welcome way to decompress, enjoy some great food and chill out with your family or friends.

Moving is hectic all on its own. Adding a move during the holidays into the mix adds a new level of planning and organizing that you have to deal with. If you think you would like to have Thanksgiving in your new home, you’ll also want to make sure that you have a plan in place before and after your move. We hope that these tips helps to make this time easier as you settle in and enjoy your first Thanksgiving in your new home!

Happy turkey day!

12 Steps to Hiring a Mover:

The process of finding a good mover can seem daunting. But doing a little research is worth it. By shopping around, you can save money (sometimes more than $1,000) and avoid scams. Here are 12 steps to help you through the process.

1. Get recommendations. Ask friends, coworkers, and local real estate agents. Look in the phone book for moving companies that have offices near your home. You’re going to want to get an in-person estimate of how much your move will cost. Don’t rely on any estimate that comes from someone who hasn’t looked in every one of your closets. Don’t assume that big-name companies are best. Do not get estimates through websites that offer to “find you a mover.” Find the mover yourself and avoid the numerous scams associated with some of these sites. And don’t use household-goods brokerage services that find a moving company for you―they are not regulated by the laws that movers must follow.

2. Do an initial screening. When you have a list of recommended movers, go online to do a quick background check (you can do a more thorough check later). Call or go to the website of the Better Business Bureau (bbb.org). You also can call or e-mail the American Moving and Storage Association (moving.org, 703-683-7410, info@moving.org) to see if a moving company is a member, which means it has agreed to abide by the organization’s published tariffs and to participate in its arbitration program. AMSA membership is voluntary. As long as a moving company checks out in all other ways, the fact that it is not a member shouldn’t rule it out.

Be sure to check the consumer-advocacy sites movingscam.com. Each of these has a blacklist of companies with a history of consumer complaints, as well as tips and general information about the moving industry. You can also do a search using the company name at Rip-off Report (ripoffreport.com).

3. You should end up with at least three or four companies to call for an in-home estimate. If you’re moving to another state, ask if the company will give you a written binding estimate or, even better, a binding not-to-exceed estimate. Both types of estimates put a guaranteed cap on what you will pay for your move. While nonbinding estimates are legal (as long as they’re given free), as the U.S. Department of Transportation moving guide warns, “You should expect the final cost to be more than the estimate.” And while interstate movers are allowed to charge you for binding estimates, most will offer them free. Estimates for interstate moves will be based on the weight of the items you’re moving and the distance of the move. For moves within the same state, rules about estimates vary: Some states (such as California) require that movers give a written and signed binding estimate; others (like Illinois) forbid them to. Either way, estimates for these movers are based on the amount of time the move will take.

Want a timeline to keep the hiring process on track? See the Moving Checklist.

4. When an estimator comes to your home, show him everything you want to have moved―in the closets, the backyard, the basement, the attic. If on your moving day the foreman believes you have significantly more stuff than was calculated in your estimate, he can “challenge” the original estimate (before everything is on the truck, not after). He can’t force you to pay a higher amount, but he doesn’t have to move your stuff for the original amount, either. And at that point you probably don’t have a lot of other options. Also, make sure the estimator knows about any conditions at your new home that might complicate the move, such as stairs, elevators, or a significant distance from the curb to the closest door. While the estimator is at your home, get as much information as you can about the company. Make sure it will be moving you itself, not contracting the job out to another mover. Find out how long the company has been in business. (You want one that’s been around a few years at least, and ideally 10 or more.) By the time the estimator leaves, you should have collected all of the following:

• The company’s full name and any other names under which it does business.
• The company’s address, phone numbers, and e-mail and website addresses.
• Names and contact information for the company’s references.
• USDOT (U.S. Department of Transportation) and MC (motor carrier) license numbers.
• The U.S. Department of Transportation booklet called “Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move.” Federal law requires any interstate mover to provide you with this guide, which is the official rule book of the interstate moving industry. (You can download a copy at fmcsa.dot.gov.) For in-state moves, movers are regulated by the state’s department of transportation or its public utilities or commerce commission. Some states publish their own moving-guide pamphlets.

5. Review the estimate. The estimate may be a combined document that, when signed by you and the moving-company representative, serves as your order for service and bill of lading, too. These, along with the inventory list created when your goods are loaded, are the basic documents any mover should provide you with. Make sure you see the words “written binding estimate” up top, as well as the mover’s signature with a date at the bottom. For an interstate move, the estimate should clearly describe the type and quantity of goods you’re shipping, the distance to your new home, when your things will be picked up and delivered, and any additional services (such as packing) and supplies the moving company is providing. If you want to purchase additional insurance from your mover (above the standard 60 cents a pound that the mover’s insurance covers), make sure you understand the costs and details of that coverage. For an in-state move, for which you can’t get a binding estimate, you should still get a written estimate that sets out the hourly rates and any additional costs you may incur (for supplies, tolls, driving time to and from the mover’s facilities). If you’re not sure about anything in the estimate, call and ask. And have the company send you a revised written estimate if necessary―don’t just take someone’s word for anything.

6. As you get estimates, collect them in a brightly colored (that is, hard-to-lose) moving folder. Keep this folder open in plain sight as later estimators come in. This shows them you’re doing your homework, which encourages them to be honest and perhaps give you a more competitive quote.

7. When you’ve gotten all your estimates in, compare the bids. Be wary of any company that comes in much lower than the others. Look at high bids to see where the extra costs are coming from. Call and ask questions if you don’t understand anything. If you have several reasonable-sounding bids from reputable companies, don’t be afraid to negotiate to get the best possible rate. Especially in a market where there’s lots of competition, most movers will work with you on pricing.

8. Now check out the contenders in more detail. Take the information you’ve gathered and get back online. First, make sure they’re incorporated in your state―and confirm how long they’ve been in business―by checking your secretary of state’s office. Some have searchable databases of businesses online; if not, call the number in the government pages of the phone book.

9. Next, make sure your moving company has the license and insurance it needs to move you legally. (Yes, there are movers who solicit business without the legal authority to do so.) Go to safersys.org, the website of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), and enter the company’s USDOT number and click on “Search” (you can also search by name or MC number). If you have an accurate DOT number, you’ll be shown a screen with lots of information on the company. Here’s what to look for:

• The company’s name, address, and phone numbers. Are they the same ones the company gave you?
• The “Out of Service” field, at the upper left of the form, should say “No.”
• The fields labeled “Power Units” and “Drivers” tell you how many trucks and drivers the company has. A company that claims to do 100 moves a month but has only two trucks deserves skeptical treatment.
• Under “Operation Classification,” there should be an X next to “Auth. for Hire.”
• Under “Carrier Operation,” if you are moving out of state, there should be an X next to “Interstate.”
• Under “Cargo Carried,” there should be an X next to “Household Goods.”
• Farther down, in the “Inspections/Crashes” section, you should be concerned if the company’s average is much higher than the national average shown. In the “Safety Rating” section, if there has been a review, the results should be “Satisfactory.”
• At the bottom of the page, click on the “FMCSA Licensing & Insurance site” link. On the next page, click on either the “HTML” or the “Report” button under “View Details” to get to the “Motor Carrier Details” page. Under the column “Authority Type,” there are three listings: “Common,” “Contract,” and “Broker.” The “Authority Status” column to the right tells you if the company’s authority is active. At least “Common” should be listed as active, with “No” under “Application Pending.”
• In the next table down, there should be a “Yes” under “Household Goods.”
• The bottom table contains insurance information. A moving company is required to have both bodily-injury and property-damage (BIPD) insurance ($750,000 minimum) and cargo insurance filed. Under the heading “Insurance on File,” BIPD should be at least $750,000, and “Cargo” should say “Yes.”
• You can also call the FMCSA to get information on the status of a company’s licensing (202-366-9805) and insurance (202-385-2423).

10. Finally, call the FMCSA’s Safety Violation and Consumer Complaints hotline at 888-368-7238 (open 24/7) and ask about complaints against your moving company. And, if possible, go to the company’s address and check out the facilities in person.

11. Now you can select a mover. You should feel confident about any company you’ve run through the checks above. Confirm the dates and details of your move, and make sure you get a signed order for service and a bill of lading.

12. On moving day, get a written copy of the mover’s inventory list, provide the movers with specific directions for getting to your new home, and make sure you have a number where you can reach the movers throughout the move.