Moving Guide
Moving is a very overwhelming and daunting event. Whether you are moving with us or have made other arrangements, Local Motion has developed a Moving Guide that can be accessed at any time on your mobile device to answer questions and guide you through the moving process.
Local Motion extensively trains every mover to conduct your move with care. Our uniformed moving team will arrive promptly in a clean, well-equipped truck. We also communicate throughout the day to ensure that your step is a success.
General Overview
MORNING ARRIVAL
If you have scheduled your move for the morning, your move team typically arrives at your first location between 8:00 AM to 8:30 AM unless you have arranged particular start time. The moving crew will give you between 30 minutes and one hour of notice before arrival.
Afternoon Arrival
Afternoon moves typically start between 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM. If you’ve arranged your move for the afternoon, the team will contact you on the day of the plan to let you know when they will arrive. Again, the moving crew will give you between 30 minutes and one hour of notice before arrival.
Arrival Procedures
Upon arriving at your first location, your team will introduce themselves and then get the lay of the land completing a walkthrough. There are specific steps that the team must complete while protecting your property, and the team is accountable for these steps. At the end of the walkthrough, you will sign off to confirm that your designated moving team has completed all the steps. After this process is complete, the team will position the truck or trailer and start moving items.
Service Procedures
Throughout the day, we will ask you to sign off each phase of your move, indicating that you are satisfied with your team’s performance. Also, if there are any Change Orders or Waivers discovered by the moving crew, they will communicate this discovery before taking any action without permission. (see Change Orders and Waivers) The Team Leader will enter the arrival, departure, and break times in our app.
Calculating Cost
Your move cost includes a destination fee (trip charge), billable hours, and occasionally additional service fees specific to your move. The destination fee covers traveling to your first address before your move begins, and back to our headquarters after your step concludes. The billable hours start when we arrive at your first location and stop when we leave your final site. All billable hours include transit time with your belongings in our care and custody. The total charges do not include any crew initiated breaks (i.e., lunch). For included halts in the billable hours (i.e., severe weather), see ‘Road Restrictions,’ and ‘Additional Time Situations.’ Any items not included in the estimate may incur an additional cost.
Team Breaks
The Team Leader will communicate with you before a break. The movers will usually take a lunch break in transit to the new location. It can range from 15-60 minutes and will be deducted from the billable hours when calculating total charges.
Gratuity
It is not uncommon for customers to tip their movers for doing a great job. Gratuity is optional, and rarely expected, but appreciated.
Deposit Refund
We take a $100.00 deposit per truck on all moves to secure your move team. All deposits are applied to the cost of the move and are non-refundable within forty-eight (48) hours of your initially scheduled move date.
Rescheduling
If your move date changes, please call us immediately, and we will be happy to reschedule your move. If the new move date is unknown, we will hold your deposit and apply it to the latest move date.
Moving Checklist
Please use the moving checklist below when planning for your move. If you book your move less than eight weeks from your moving day, please catch up on the list as soon as possible to relieve stress.
Book Your Move
The farther out you book your move the better, as the schedule fills up very quickly. This is particularly true during the months April-September.
Need Storage?
Have a Plan
City Services
You may want to contact the city office for information on your new town, utilities, schools, workout facilities, and other quality-of-life matters.
Spread the Word
Inform your friends and family of the move date and your new address.
A Clean Start
Arrange to have helpers that will assist in cleaning your home after the movers have finished.
School Records
Arrange to transfer your children’s school records.
Complete Final Home Repairs
Necessary repair work may come up in the final walk-through prior to closing. It is best to have these repairs completed before you move out.
Boxes and Packing Supplies
Local Motion has packing supplies available at the main location; talk to your Moving Consultant if you need additional boxes and we can have them delivered.
Start Packing
Start by packing items that are infrequently used, and avoid ‘over-packing’ boxes. Keep the weight to less than 50 pounds per box. See the ‘Packing Tips’ section for specific guidance on packing boxes. If the thought of packing your home creates stress, contact your dedicated Moving Consultant to obtain an estimate for Local Motion’s packing services.
Change of Address
Contact the post office for change-of-address forms and additional information. A helpful guide is available at https://moversguide.usps.com.
Inform Vendors
Arrange to have all of your services switched and hooked up at your new location before move day. These can include utilities, sanitation, home security, cable, phone, lawn care, and cleaning services. Also, inform magazines and other subscriptions of your new address.
Reserve Parking
Check for parking and weight restrictions that may be enforced in your area(s); this would be a good time to apply for the necessary permits or any parking meters that may be outside your building.
Schedule Special Services
Your moving team does not disconnect water or gas lines. You will need to schedule a licensed technician to disconnect and re-connect water and gas lines.
Make Arrangements for Pets
Please have your pets in kennels or in a closed room prior to our arrival. This will protect them from possible injury during the move.
Keep us Informed
Notify your Moving Consultant if you need to add or subtract items that are a part of your estimate. Also, let your consultant know if there is a change to your move date.
All Items Packed
Please make sure everything is packed and ready to be moved by the time your move team arrives. This will help ensure that your move goes as quickly and efficiently as possible. Even if you can only fit a couple of larger items in a box, it still makes them easier and quicker to move. Unpacked items are the leading cause of moves going over the estimated cost.
Confirm Your Move
You will receive a confirmation email from us 5 days before your move date. Please complete the 30-second questionnaire to ensure that all of the information is correct. You will also receive a phone call from a Member of the Operations team a few days prior to your move to ensure all your questions have been answered.
Disassembling Items
Your move team will be happy to disassemble and reassemble your furniture. However, if you would like to reduce moving expenses, disassembling and reassembling your furniture is a great way to do so.
Children and Helpers
Please educate children about moving hazards. Have them stay clear of the truck and move team while Local Motion team members are working. Restrictions on our insurance policy do not allow anyone other than our movers on the trucks. Having a few family members and/or friends generally helps to reduce moving costs, but be careful not to invite too many people. It may result in overcrowding.
Move Valuables
Please have all of your valuables, important papers, titles, deeds, and similar items gathered and moved ahead of time, or set aside where you can locate them easily. It is recommended you move these items yourself, but we would be happy to load them in your car or take them in our truck if necessary.
Snow Removal
Please be sure to have all walkways and driveways cleared of snow and ice. Also, please clear snow off outdoor furniture a few days prior to your move. Otherwise, our movers will handle the shoveling and clearing when they arrive. This will be time counted on the bill.
Handy Items Box
Pack a “handy items box” or two for your first night and day in your new home. Have them well labeled and mention them to the movers so they know to keep track of them during the move. It should include scissors, utility knife, cups, paper plates, paper towels, toilet paper, snacks, beverages, soap, pens and paper, tape, bath towels, trash bags, toiletries, sponge and cleaning supplies.
Clear Walkways
Have all walkways inside and out cleared of clutter, not doing so will lead to your moving team maneuver around obstacles which will take additional time. Please take pictures, art, mirrors, and any hanging objects off of the walls.
Final Walk-through
Conduct a final walk-through with your moving team to ensure no items are left behind. Inspect the basement, attic, all closets, and garage. Be sure to lock your windows and doors.
Please be Available
Throughout your move, have someone available to answer any questions and let your move team know where to place your belongings.
moving terms
NON-BINDING ESTIMATE
An estimated cost of your move; does not bind Local Motion to the estimated price. The final cost will be based on the hourly rate, mover count, time and any applicable fees in accordance with our tariff filed with the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
Destination Fee (Trip Charge)
The destination fee covers the travel time from Local Motion to your first location, and from your final location back to Local Motion.
Billable Hours
We start the clock when we arrive at your first location and stop the clock when we leave your final site. All of the time spent loading, transporting between locations, and unloading your belongings is charged at the hourly rate. If you are using our storage facility, we charge for the time that your belongings are present on our truck. If this is the case, it means that when you’re coming into storage, we charge for the time it takes to go back, and if you are leaving the warehouse, you are billed for the time to get to your new location.
In-Route Time
The in-route time is the traveling time between the stops on your move. We include this time in the hours on your final bill.
Portal to Portal
A portal to portal move is a move where the billable hours are charged from our facility’s departure time until we return. There is no destination fee applied to a portal to portal move. All moves in Arizona and Florida are portal to portal moves. In Minnesota, a ‘move’ is defined as a portal to portal move if any location exceeds 60 miles from our facility.
Hourly Rate
We base our hourly rate on the number of movers we send to your home and the time of the month that we conduct the move. The hourly rate is calculated for every 15 minutes, rounding up to the next increment beyond each 15-minute mark. Your Moving Consultant will help guide you to the best possible date for your move, depending on your needs.
Furniture Count
We determine an estimated box number through furniture counts, how many movers are required, and how many trucks we will use on your move. We base the furniture count on the number of individual pieces your furniture breaks down into and helps determine the number of trips it takes to move your items to the truck. For example, a nightstand counts as one item, but a standard queen-sized bed counts as five pieces (mattress, box spring, frame, headboard, and footboard).
Difficulty Rating
Walking distance, stairs, elevators, street parking, and other access issues significantly affect the accuracy of your estimate. Your Moving Consultant tries his or her best to calculate the time it takes to access your locations. If you have a long walk, please count the paces and report it to your Moving Consultant.
Shuttle Service
We will use a small moving van to shuttle your items from your location to our trucks if standard pickup or delivery is not possible. Our most common reason for shuttled service is bridge and road weight restrictions. Please inform your Moving Consultant if we must travel on a restricted road to your location(s).
Freight Tariff
A publication containing Local Motion’s rates, rules, and regulations for services performed in accordance with state laws.
Change Orders and Waivers
In the original estimate, we don’t include situations that can occur during the move. Customers must sign off on Change Orders and Waivers that the team leader identifies on the day of the move. The most common Change Orders occur when several open boxes on a move and the customer are not prepared before arrival. Another example is adverse weather conditions. An example of a Waiver would be having us move unboxed or uncreated glass or marble/granite, or exceptionally fragile items that are packed improperly.
Packing Tips
We highly recommend that you use Local Motion to pack your home; our Packing Teams can pack an entire home in a day that could potentially take you weeks.
We recommend that you use standard size moving boxes for packing your items. Local Motion’s moving boxes are designed specifically for household moving and are most effective when we are loading your household goods onto the truck.
- The number and make a list of every box you pack and its contents so you can find things quickly. List a brief description of the items in the box on the box label.
- Avoid packing in tubs with lids. The lids tend to pop off while being moved, and they cannot support as much weight while driving as they can hold.
- Use plenty of packing paper. Do not use newspaper to pack, as ink from it can stain your items.
- Limit the weight of your boxes to 50 pounds each.
- Pack heavy items such as books, records, CDs, and canned food in small boxes.
- Pack plates, flatware, documents, and files on their ends. Avoid stacking items in a box.
- Pack bulkier, mid-weight items such as pots and pans in medium boxes.
- Pack very bulky, lightweight items such as pillows, children’s toys, lampshades, etc. into larger boxes.
- Strive for a firm pack, filling any extra spaces with crumpled packing paper. Packing this way helps ensure that boxes will not collapse when stacked in the truck.
- Never overcrowd boxes, and never leave them open.
- Seal all boxes on the top and bottom with two-inch packing tape. Using two or three strips to ensure they do not open while being moved.
- Have every box labeled for the room to which you would like it delivered. Also, have the doors of the rooms marked accordingly. Doing this will help ensure that your move team places your belongings in the correct rooms.
The safe transport of your belongings is our number one concern. It’s crucial to pack fragile items adequately must be adequately packed to ensure protection in transit.
- Use plenty of packing paper. Avoid using newspaper to pack, as ink from the article can stain your fragile items.
- Before packing the box, layer the bottom with crumpled packing paper. This will give the things a soft cushion to prevent breakage.
- Wrap each piece individually with a sheet or two of packing paper.
- Objects with delicate appendages should be individually bubble-wrapped.
- Pack individually wrapped dishes in the end. Do not lay them flat.
- Crumple paper between each layer to ensure there is no breakage.
- Before closing the box, layer the top with crumpled packing paper. Also, make sure to fill all empty spaces with crumpled packing paper. Seal all boxes on the top and bottom with multiple strips of two-inch packing tape.
- List the contents of the box on the label and mark the box “Fragile.”
Please follow the guidelines below.
- Canned foods are hefty, and you should pack them into small boxes.
- Use coolers the day of your move to move items to your new location. Our movers will move them if you wish.
- Any open boxes of dried foods such as macaroni and cereals should be sealed with tape to prevent spilling.
- Small containers of spices, condiments, or flavorings should be placed together in a small box before packing into a larger box.
- Please be aware that perishable items are not covered by insurance while in transit.
We supply complimentary wardrobes for your hanging clothing. There are ten wardrobes per truck, and each wardrobe holds approximately three feet of closet space. On the day of your move, we can load your clothes or place wardrobes by your closets for you to load. Loading and unloading your wardrobes generally makes the transport of your hanging garments more efficient, and therefore reduces billable hours. If you think you may need additional wardrobes, please contact your Moving Consultant before moving day.
Appliances must disconnect before your move team’s arrival. Contact a service technician to prepare all major appliances for the move. Preparation includes the following steps:
- Have your service technician disconnect all gas lines.
- Have the water to your devices turned off.
- Have all hoses and water lines disconnected and drained.
- Refrigerators and freezers will need to be empty.
- Freezers should defrost, as melting ice could leak while in transit.
Hazardous materials are items that are flammable, corrosive, or explosive. Please make arrangements to move the following items before our arrival.
- Fire Extinguisher
- Household Batteries
- Matches and Lighters
- Aerosols and Chemicals
- All types of Fireworks
- Guns and Ammunition
- Pesticides and Poisons
- Ammonia and Fertilizer
- Paints and Paint Thinner
- All Cleaning Products
- Nail Polish and Remover
- Solvents and Bleach
- Propane Tanks and Gasoline
- Car Batteries and Motor Oil
- Charcoal and Lighter Fluid
- Kerosene and Sterno Fuels
We suggest that irreplaceable and sentimental items be carried with you instead of on our trucks. Such things are in the following list. Our movers will gladly load them in your car for you if requested.
- Prescription Medicine
- Stocks and Bonds
- Airline Tickets
- Cell Phones and Pagers
- Address and Checkbooks
- School Records
- Jewelry and Cash
- Financial Documents
- Deeds and Titles
- Family Video Tapes
- Family Photographs and Albums
- Professional Files
- Computer and Storage Discs
- Home Theater Equipment and Remote Controls
- Medical records
- Insurance Policies
- Documents for Your New Home
- Keys to Furniture, Safe, Home, and Cars
Please be aware that we cannot take passengers in our trucks or offer a ride to customers. Please arrange transportation to your new location before our arrival.
Please be aware that you may be moving into or out of an area where there are road restrictions. Because these restrictions change often, you will need to notify your Moving Consultant before your move. It is illegal to drive on a restricted road; fines can be costly and are not the same for every city. If you request us to travel on a limited road, we will have you sign a form, and you will be responsible for any fines that may incur. The following are other road restriction options.
Alternate Route
Please let us know what road is restricted and the alternate route for us to take.
Road Permit
If no alternate route is available, please try to arrange for a permit to allow us to travel the path. Please be aware that not all cities will issue permits.
Shuttle Trucks
We can arrange to bring smaller rental trucks with lower axle weights. The cost of these vehicles will be in addition to all other charges and added to your final moving bill.
Please expect additional time for unforeseen situations that will trigger a Change Orders on your move. Your move team will address Change Orders with you. These may include:
- Poor weather conditions
- Unexpected traffic delays
- New construction grounds
- Excessive walking distance
- Additional flights of stairs
- Encountering road restrictions
- Adding extra pickup or deliveries
- Handling several oversized items
- Adding other items to your inventory
- Moving open boxes or unpacked items
- Disassembling/reassembling several items
- Unreserved or smaller elevators
- Additional shrink wrapping or padding
Please call (855) 474-MOVE (6683) and we will help you during any phase of your move.