Some frequently used terms in the moving industry

When you are moving, there are a lot of terms that may be unfamiliar to you, especially if you are a first time mover. What are some of these frequently used terms?

- A bill of lading is the contract that we use for the move of your goods. It will state the amount of men we have sent as well as the rate we charge for those men per hour. The number of trucks we have sent is also listed in addition to the travel charge. It will include the address your goods originated at as well as the address at which your goods will arrive. The date of service will also be on the bill of lading. In essence, it is a fancy, detailed receipt.

-An addendum is a new estimate of charges prepared based upon any changes that are made to the move prior to loading. For example, should you request an extra man to help out at your move, if you want to add packing services, or if you add storage, we will create an addendum.

-An intrastate move is one that occurs within the state.

-An interstate move is a move that goes out of state (also called a short haul or long distance move, based on how far the move is).

-A binding estimate is an estimate given as an agreement for specific services decided upon by both the mover and the consumer prior to the shipment being loaded. This is for interstate service only.

-You can receive a written estimate. There are two ways you will receive one of these: the first way to get one is to have an estimator come to your home. This is a good option if you are a first time mover or if you have a large home. The second way, and less scientific, is a phone estimate. The moving coordinator will do an over-the-phone survey and base the estimate upon your description of what is to be moved. It will be mailed to you or emailed. This is only recommended for very small moves or last minute moves.

-You will receive a consumer brochure when you move. For an intrastate move, it is called a "Household Moves in Illinois A Consumers Guide." For an interstate move, you will receive the "Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move" brochure.

-A travel fee is the equivalent price of one hour of labor for a local move. It covers all pre and post-move drive time. There is no charge for fuel or mileage added.

-Materials are the boxes and pads that we use to get your materials onto the truck and safely transported to your destination. Pads come in two types: paper and quilt. We use quilt pads on every move unless you request paper pads. Boxes are based upon consumption when you request packing. There is a per unit charge when a box is packed.

Packing Advice

Hello! This is Jessica again, and I would love to offer some packing advice in this blog. All My Sons can help you pack or you can pack your belongings yourself. Often customers will call and ask for packing advice and will wonder how much to pack in a box as well as what to pack in a box. The best overall answer I can always give for packing any sort of box is to never over pack or over stuff a box full of heavy items. It is amazing how quickly weight can accumulate in a box, especially if you are packing CDs, DVDs, books, and clothes. We recommend using a smaller box for items accumulate weight quickly when placed together. We have come across some moves where we encounter large boxes full of heavy items, and when they are attempted to be picked up, the bottom of the box is ready to break under all the weight. All My Sons offers a 1.5 cubic foot box that is perfect for packing such items. For bigger, bulkier, but lighter items such as comforters, pillows, and towels a large box around 4.5 cubic feet will often work. For most items in between, such as toys and kitchen appliances, a 3.0 cubic feet medium box will work.

All My Sons also offers specialty boxes. We can help pack items that will not normally fit into a regular, square box, like paintings and mirrors. Our mirror pack unfolds and can easily be shaped around unusual pieces. All My Sons also offers a strong, durable dish packs to pack all of your dishes and china. We recommend using newsprint (which is similar to the paper they use to print your newspaper on, but with no inks on it) or bubble wrap to help protect your glass dishware. For your clothing, we have wardrobe boxes that include a bar to hang your clothing and keep them on the hangar for easy transport to your new closet. All My Sons Chicago even offers four free wardrobe boxes on loan for your move day!

One of the most helpful tips we offer to customers when packing is to label everything! That way, when we are delivering you to your new residence, we can assist you in placing your boxes in the appropriate rooms. Often just a ?master bedroom? or ?kitchen? written on a box can save a lot of time when you are unpacking, because your boxes full of utensils can already be sitting in your kitchen waiting for you!

Additionally, use caution when packing items that might leak or spill when you pack them. For instance, if you pack your shampoo or liquid hand soap, put them on the top of the box where they will not be under a lot of pressure and spill their contents all over everything else in the box. It is often a good idea to wrap those types of items up in a plastic bag as well.

A lot of customers want to protect their large items (their couch, love seat, etc) just as they are protecting their smaller items in boxes. We are committed to handling your furniture with care, and we will pad wrap all your furniture accordingly for the move. This is a service we provide to you at no extra cost!

All My Sons can always help you with your packing needs, questions, and concerns. If you ever need help with your packing, we can provide it for you! For further questions, you can consult us by calling our office or using the following webpage as a reference: http://www.allmysons.com/ams_packingguide.aspx#boxes