Moving Tips

Thank you for allowing Bekins A-1 to be your mover. We will do everything we can to make this move a smooth, pleasant experience for you and your family. All successful moves have one thing in common, planning and communication. Your Bekins A-1 relocation councilor will guide you through the moving process and coordinate the details of your move. Your relocation Counselor is here to help, please feel free to call with any moving question. The information in this smooth move guide will also help you prepare to move. It has details about moving, tips on communication, packing, loading, high-value and special items, delivery and planning. Before you move, please review the information carefully and please discuss any questions with your Bekins A-1 customer service representative.

Communication

Contact the telephone company and all utilities about disconnection well in advance of your move.
Arrange to have your telephone service disconnected the day after loading.
Arrange to begin telephone service at your new location one day prior to your anticipated delivery date.
Please be present on packing, loading and delivery days to complete paperwork and answer questions from the movers. If you cannot be there, you must have someone present to act on your behalf. Please advise your customer service representative as to whom will be present at the move.

Pre-Move

Prior to packing and loading day(s), collect all small valuable items like jewelry, cash and other items listed on page 10 and put them in a safe, secure place. These items are not covered by Bekins A-1 Full Value coverage. Therefore they must be taken with you and not be part of your household goods shipment. Packing and loading days can be very hectic and confusing, you won’t want to worry about your valuables on those days.
While sentimental items, like photographs, may not have a high dollar value, they are often priceless and irreplaceable. For your peace of mind, we recommend you pack them yourself and take them with you.
Have your larger high-value items like antiques, furs, paintings, and others appraised and photographed.
Bekins A-1 offers additional services called accessorial services. These are provided to you in addition to the Linehaul transportation. They include crating, packing, unpacking, appliance services, elevator, stair and long carries, or shuttle service (when access to your residence is limited and a second, smaller truck is necessary).

Packing

We’ll move your dressers full. Therefore, you’ll want to remove valuable and breakable items from all the dresser drawers. You should plan to physically carry valuable items with you. Notify the packers of breakable items that may require special attention.
Take clothes with you for the days between loading and delivery/unloading, and set this suitcase clearly away from the boxes and crates to be loaded in the moving van. Moving day will be hectic. Preparing this suitcase and putting it in the car ahead of time will be one less thing on your mind.
Do not pack holiday gifts for moving on the truck, take them with you.
If you are planning to store a portion of your belongings, think ahead of the change of seasons and climates, and plan your wardrobe accordingly.
Prior to the packers arriving, don’t forget to collect all small high-value items like jewelry, cash, credit cards, checks, etc. and put them in a safe, secure place so they wont get misplaced.
The following procedures must be followed for safety and security reasons. Handguns that are to be moved must be registered with the appropriate authorities. Ammunition cannot be moved. If handguns are being packed by Bekins A-1, please witness the process of placing them in an unmarked box (e.g. no notation on the box indicating it contains handguns). A description of the handguns along with serial numbers must be made on the packer’s inventory. If you are packing handguns yourself, do not mark the cartons or seal them. At loading, the driver will verify contents and record their description and serial numbers on the inventory.
While you can pack your own items and benefit from some cost savings, we don’t recommend it. One of the major advantages of hiring a professional moving company to handle your move is the assurance that your belongings will arrive safely at your new home. Our trained packing crews stand behind every box, crate and item we pack, load and ship.

When you pack the belongings, we are unable to stand behind this commitment. However, your customer service representative can offer assistance if you choose to pack yourself. Ask for a copy of our Tips for Packing brochure as well as packing supplies the experts’ use. It’s illegal and unsafe for Bekins A-1 to transport items that are flammable, explosive or corrosive. You must either carry these items yourself or dispose of them prior to moving day. Items considered illegal by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)

Loading

Prior to loading, the van operator will provide you a descriptive inventory of the condition and amount of household goods and boxes being shipped. It is extremely critical that you witness this inventory procedure and that you agree with this inventory. This will ensure that you have an accurate record of your possessions to check against upon delivery.
If your goods are to be delivered to two different addresses (e.g., an apartment and storage), carried with you or not to be moved, please separate and clearly label those boxes to avoid errors.
You’ll need to wash out trashcans and barbecue grills that use coals prior to loading.
Conduct a last-minute walk-through with your van operator. Make sure windows are closed, attic, closets, basement, garage, etc. are empty, lights are turned off and doors are locked. Remember to take your phone with you.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) allows movers to transport plants if the trip is less than 150 miles and under 24 hours. However, the van operator cannot be expected to water or protect them from temperature extremes. Bekins A-1 Possession Protection will not cover plants that are in our possession in excess of 24 hours or 150 miles. Some states restrict the import of live plants due to agriculture regulations.
Notify the van operator of any rifles and shotguns to be moved. We are required to itemize these items on the inventory along with serial numbers.

High-Value Items

Certain high-value items cannot move as part of your household goods shipment and will not be covered by Bekins A-1 possession protection. Do not pack them to be carried on the moving van, take them with you. Examples include, but are not limited to:

Appraisals
Medications
Currency/Money
Passports
Computer Backup Disks
Precious Stones
Deeds
Receipts
Jewelry & Watches
Securities, Stocks & Bonds
Legal Documents
Software Licenses
Manuscripts
Tax Records

Other high-value items such as antiques, paintings, objects of art, furs and large collections may require special preparation prior to loading and shipment. You must specifically identify these items to you van operator prior to loading. In addition, you and your van operator must specifically list and identify high-value items on the inventory at origin. The van operator will specifically place these high-value items in the truck for easy confirmation of you receipt at unloading and delivery. To protect yourself in the event of loss or damage, you must support the value of these articles with appraisals, photos, original receipts, etc. Also make sure your Possession Protection is adequate to cover the value of these special items and all other belongings.

Special Items

Swing sets, sky forts, storage sheds and other items of a similar nature must be disassembled for shipment. If you are unable to do this or prefer not to, ask your customer service representative to help you arrange for services in advance, including:

Disconnecting and hooking up of icemaker water lines.
Disconnecting and hooking up of gas lines to gas stoves, barbecues, dryers, heaters and fireplaces.
Disconnecting and hook-up of electricity or water lines to washers, hot tubs and other items.
Disassemble and assemble of slate pool tables.
Proper draining and folding of waterbed mattresses to prevent damage to baffles.
Emptying and cleaning toner from copier machines.
Securing and preparing the working of grandfather clocks.

Personal Computers

Be sure to backup your PC hard drive, and carry the backup disks and other software with you.
Pack software-licensing agreements with other important papers and carry these with you.
The hard drive of a PC is sensitive to climatic changes and needs adequate time to acclimate to room temperature. If the PC is not allowed time to acclimate, there is a possibility that the hard drive will fail, causing problems with your personal computer. Let the PC acclimate in your new home for approximately 12 hours before starting the system.
It is best to have your PC packed in its original carton.
Ink cartridges must be removed from printers.

Delivery

As your household goods are being delivered to your new home, you must check off each item on the item check off sheet provided by the van operator. If any items are missing of damaged, you need to note the missing or damaged items on the items check-off sheet or inventory form next to the item. This is know as taking an exception at delivery and is for your protection in the event of damaged of a missing item.
Signing the item check-off sheet or inventory form is a declaration that all items were received and in the same condition as they were shipped, unless exceptions were taken at delivery.
We do not except you to unpack every carton before signing the inventory. However you must inspect any cartons for external damage at the time of delivery and note exceptions to such cartons.
On cartons where security seals were used, be certain seals are intact at delivery. If not, make sure exceptions are noted at delivery.
Bekins A-1 may need to inspect any damaged items to determine if they should be repaid or replaced. Items must be inspected at the location where they were delivered; this includes delivery to a mini storage unit. If you or another company prior to our inspection move the goods, it is likely that a portion of your claim will not be paid.
Don’t throw away damaged items; cartons or other packing materials prior to our inspection-we may need to view them as part of the settlement process.
It is in your best interest to file any damaged or missing claim quickly, while circumstances are still fresh in everyone’s mind. And, in the event of a missing item, our ability to locate it is greatly enhanced. You must submit your claim in writing. For a claim form, contact us at 877-680-8076.

Pre-planning is the secret to a good move

A good moving plan involves setting three important dates…for packing, loading and delivery to your new home. These three dates form a solid framework for you plan. If possible, allow a time-span of 30 days. This lets you schedule your activities conveniently. Choose your moving day carefully. Avoid peak periods if possible: the first few days of the month, and the last few days of the month especially during the summer and the holidays of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s. These are the times when everyone wants to move. We understand that you may need to move at these times, however, the entire moving industry has limited capacity and flexibility at these peak demand times. So if your schedule can accommodate it, we can reduce the potential for problems. A good checklist offers peace of mind. Start planning early and you’ll be surprised how smoothly things go.

Pre-Planning:

Have an inventory session. Decide what to move and what not to move.
Make arrangements for trip (hotel/airline reservations, routing, etc.).
Schedule a moving sale for items you won’t move. Donate other items to charitable organizations (get receipts for tax records).
Arrange for packing. We recommend you have Bekins A-1 do your packing. If you pack yourself, purchase special cartons you will need from your Bekins A-1 agent.
Gather personal records such as medical, dental, school, birth, baptismal, marriage, etc. to be taken with you.
Arrange in advance to send transcripts of school records to your kids’ new schools.
Close local department store and other charge accounts.
Arrange with employer to forward tax withholding forms.

Notify others of your change of address:

Post office
Social Security office
Insurance companies
Credit cards
Magazines
Friends and relatives
Mail order account

Just before you move:

Fill in and transfer prescriptions for family and pets. Pack all medications to personally carry with you
Arrange for shipment of plants and pets. Get immunization records for pets
Safely dispose of or give away all flammable, explosive or corrosive items (paints, paint removers, etc.). They can not be moved due to DOT regulations
Defrost refrigerator and freezer, plus allow thorough air-drying to prevent mildew. Arrange for disposal of frozen foods (sell, donate, of eat)
Clean oven
Drain garden hoses
Transfer checking and savings accounts
Drain fuel and oil from lawnmowers and other power equipment
Pack items to be carried in car. Label “Do Not Move”
Gather valuables from safe deposit box, drawers, jewelry cases, personal records, software backups and licenses and other items listed and take them with you. Do not pack them for shipment on the moving van
Send clothes, draperies, curtains and rugs out for cleaning and leave in wrapping to move. Take down curtain rods, shelves, TV antenna
Have car serviced for trip and have proof of insurance in car

Loading Day:

Remember to pack a box of the basics you’ll need on move-in days (tools, paper products, all-purpose household cleaners, etc.). Be sure to have these items loaded last so that they will be first off at your new home
Pack suitcases for trip. Remove all bed linens
Be available to check items on inventory sheet, and identify to your driver any large high-value items, like antiques and paintings.
Conduct a last minute walk through with your van operator. Make sure windows are closed, closets empty, lights out

Delivery Day:

Be available to check off items on the inventory as they are removed from the moving van

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