Planning for a long distance move can be stressful. There are a lot of moving pieces to coordinate to make sure your goods arrive where you need them when you need them.
A little bit of extra preparation can make a huge difference in helping your move go as smoothly as possible! Below, we provide information for what to expect on moving day for a long distance move, and some tips to help things go even more smoothly.
Long Distance Move: What to Expect on Moving Day
You’ve scheduled the move, packed your suitcase, and are ready to go. What should you expect on moving day?
1 – The Moving Company Arrives
Your long distance moving company will have coordinated for you the date and time of their pickup. If for some reason they are not available to arrive at the scheduled time due to traffic or other unforeseen circumstances, they will contact you in advance.
When your long distance moving team arrives, they will need you or a representative there to help guide the move. This is especially important during inventorying.
If your streets are wide enough, then the truck will pull up directly in front of your home to move items into the truck. If your streets are too narrow, they may need to use a “shuttle,” or a smaller truck to move items to the full-sized truck. If this information was not known ahead of time, this may result in an additional charge, so if your streets are narrow it can help prevent surprises to let your movers know ahead of time!
2 – Complete a Walkthrough With the Van Foreman
Once your long distance moving team arrives, you will be introduced to the crew and will do a walkthrough of the home with the van foreman. At this time, the goods being moved will be compared to the list of goods provided in your original estimate. This helps the movers ensure there is the right amount of space on the truck for everything you need.
In the instance that there are additional items not listed in the estimate, it may require additional fees or an additional truck moving the items at a later date. This is because your reservation is based on the projected weight and space it will take up on the truck, and we may not have room for additional items.
The foreman will then have you sign your contract, and the crew will lay down floor coverings to protect the main traffic areas of your home.
3 – Loading Begins!
Your movers will load your items into the truck safely and securely. Furniture such as sofa/couch sets (except leather), mattresses, box springs, and upholstered goods should be wrapped in plastic wrap to prevent damage. Our moving team can provide this service for $10-15/piece. All other furniture will be wrapped in professional moving blankets.
If we packed your goods for you, they will be packed in professional moving cartons and loaded onto the truck. If you packed your own goods, we are still happy to transport them! We just ask you to be aware that they will not carry the same level coverage as cartons our professional movers packed since we cannot confirm the contents were properly wrapped and packaged, though we still cover exterior carton damage if there happens to be an unlikely accident with your crew.
Furniture such as entertainment centers and headboards/footboards may be disassembled by our crew. However, our moving team is not allowed to assemble or disassemble cribs. If you need additional items disassembled, let us know at the time of estimate so we can factor it into your bid. If you forgot to include an item, let the foreman know and he may be able to accommodate the disassembly.
4 – Review Inventory
During the moving process, you will be asked to review inventory with the van foreman to ensure you acknowledge the original conditions of any items being shipped. This helps to keep an accurate record of the items being moved for comparison purposes when they are delivered, to ensure everything arrives in the same shape in which it left.
5 – Your Truck is Weighed
Your truck will have been weighed before loading at a certified scale. After your goods are loaded into the truck, the truck will be weighed again. We will subtract the empty weight from the full weight to get the exact weight of your shipment. This is then used to provide the final balance for your long distance move.
In the instance that no scale is available, your moving team will use constructive weight, or 7 lbs. per cubic foot, to determine your shipment weight.
The final weight and charges will be emailed to you within 2 business days of moving day.
5 – Rest Assured!
Your goods are now safely on their way! If you ever want updates on your delivery or would like status on your delivery, you may contact your team at Great Canadian Van Lines. We take great pride in the communication between our customer service team, dispatchers, and truck drivers. Our system allows us to know where our trucks are at all times so you can rest assured your goods are in good hands.
Ready to get started? Request a moving quote today!
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