Watch Out For Hidden Moving Fees
Sometimes customers get shocked when they find hidden moving fees on their bill after they complete their move. The facts are that somewhere in the process of getting an estimate about their moving bill, the moving company should have told them about any possible extra fees or they should have been written down in their contract.
However, it is quite possible that they weren’t in large print or were not mentioned for more than a few seconds. The company may have just started to list all the things they charged extra for and most likely, your eyes started to glaze over and you may have stopped listening. That’s why it’s vital to pay close attention to all the things the estimation of your bill is covering before you sign on the dotted line for your moving bill.
Here is a list of the most common extra fees that moving companies are likely to charge:
Packing materials: It’s quite common for moving companies to charge extra for things like boxes, tape, shrink wrap, bubble wrap, etc. This could add hundreds of bucks to the cost of your move! Be sure to know if this is true of your company so you can save by packing some of it yourself.
Moving blankets: These are those heavy blankets many companies use to protect your items during a move. While most of the moving companies don’t charge for them since they can use them again, some make you pay a rental fee, so watch out and see if your moving company does this or not.
Shuttles: Sometimes moves that occur in big cities require that the moving company uses shuttles or small vehicles to move some of your stuff instead of a moving van. Watch out for extra charges due to this fact.
Stairs and moving fees: It’s vital for you to let your moving company know if there are stairs involved in either your current home or the new one you are moving to. Some companies will charge extra for having to navigate stairs, so be sure it is on the contract so you won’t be surprised.
Long distance to walk: If the moving van or truck can’t get right up next to your new home, it is quite possible that they will charge you extra. This works just like charging extra for having to navigate stairs, so ask about it and if so, get it all written down in the contract before you make your move.
Gas surcharges: With the cost of gas being so high these days, many moving companies will charge you a fee for gasoline. Be sure to find out if yours does or not.
Putting Things Together at the New Home: Also be sure to find out if the moving company will put your items back together once they reach the new home and ask if they charge for doing so.
These are just some of the possible hidden fees that moving companies may charge, so pay strict attention to the contract that you are signing.
