Of all the questions we receive regarding moving, the eight listed below come up most frequently. Continue reading to get answers to what our customers want to know about moving with Bailey's.
1.) How Much Does It Cost to Move?
Local Moves
Our local moves are charged by the hour, not by weight. The number of crew and trucks used to facilitate your move determine the overall price. Charges start when the truck and team leave the warehouse and end when they arrive back – we charge for the whole time they are in service for your move.
While the rates vary by time and location, most customers can expect to pay between $1800 and $3300 for a local move. That price can be higher depending on what services you need and how extensive the move is. It can also go lower, though all moves are subject to a minimum amount depending on location.
Interstate Moves
Interstate moves are charged by weight and by distance. How you're charged depends on the estimate you select during your appointment with an estimator.
Although costs can vary widely, most people can expect to pay between $3500 and $7000 for an interstate move. Our peak season can increase these rates, as can other services that you might want to add. Prices can be lower as well, but again are subject to minimums.
We calculate the cost of your interstate move using several variables. To do this, we send out an estimator to help compile an inventory of what needs moving, help estimate the required time it'll take to move your items, and get you a final estimated price via a written binding or non-binding estimate.
Non-Binding Estimate
If you've chosen to book your move under a non-binding estimate, interstate movers use a tariff to match the weight and distance of your shipment to a given rate. With a non-binding estimate, while we'll give you an estimate of the price, we'll calculate the final charge once we get the actual weight of your shipment. Expect this final price to be somewhat higher or lower than the estimate (though all non-binding estimates must be reasonably accurate to your final cost).
Binding Estimate
Alternatively, you can opt to book your move with a binding estimate. Binding estimates base the cost of your move on the itemized inventory and the scope of services you need. If the inventory matches what is moved and the estimated capacity matches what was presumed, you'll know your price before you move. It is binding, meaning unchangeable.
Are Prices Negotiable?
Sometimes customers ask if the price is negotiable. Though it's a fair question, we'll always give you the best price based on your itemized inventory and the type of estimate you need.
Now, suppose the price is outside your budget range or comes in higher than you wanted. In that case, there are typically some revisions that can change your written estimate. Typical changes include reducing the items requested to move or eliminating an extra service. Your estimator can work with you on your specific circumstance to give you the best possible arrangement.
Also, we can never issue a binding estimate or even promise any rates without firm move dates and a booked move. Our price is dependent on the demand for our services. If you're looking to move during a high-demand time, work with your estimator to know if prices change quickly and factor that into your decision. Once you're on the books, though, your price is locked in unless you opt to change the scope or inventory.
Basically: Your expected shipment arrival date or delivery spread will be included in your contract. Though things like inclement weather and route delays affect that timeline, expect to see your shipment arrive in the range of dates previously discussed with your estimator or coordinator.
2. How Long Does a Move Usually Take?
If you've never moved before, understanding how long it takes can be tricky. You want to plan around the move, and our goal is to make sure you know what's always happening. We can guarantee that we'll do our best to accomplish your move in as little time as possible.
Every move is unique. The length of the move will depend on your situation, but here are some general timeframes that apply to most customers:
- Packing (if we're doing it for you) takes roughly 1-3 days.
- Loading happens in around 1-3 days.
- Transit can occur over a few days, up to 2 weeks (depending on where you're going).
- Unloading takes 1-3 days.
All in, most interstate moves require 2-3 weeks from start to finish. Also, local moves take around 1-3 days in total. Your specific circumstance could change this, so your estimator will review the specifics of your move.
When Will My Shipment Be Loaded?
Your estimator will include details about your shipment's load date in your written contract. This date typically appears as a range of a few days instead of a firm date. We do this because promising a specific day is not usually possible with a high demand for services.
The same is true for delivery. Your contract will list a delivery spread, or a wide range of dates, instead of a single date. We develop this date range based on how many miles your driver needs to drive and how much your shipment weighs. Whether your driver is going coast to coast or just crossing state lines, the driver must follow stringent guidelines put in force by the federal government.
Among those rules are regulations that limit drivers to a specified number of miles per day. Drivers are required to log that time and mileage electronically. Furthermore, the driver may also need to stop along their route to load and unload additional shipments on the truck. Drivers pack each truck with efficiency in mind.
Inclement Weather and How It Affects Your Shipment
Unforeseen or logistical changes are apt to happen from time to time, both with loading and unloading. But what would those be, and how likely are they?
Mechanical failures, weather-related storms, hurricanes, blizzards are all factors that can affect delivery. As a result, we always instruct that you should be available with a minimum of 2 hours' notice on any of the days listed in your delivery spread. Most drivers can tell you on pickup day when they intend to unload, barring any unforeseen changes.
Also, note that you may be eligible for a delay claim if the delivery somehow moves outside the delivery spread. Before you sign your move contract, review it with your estimator to make sure you're eligible and that you know how it works. Once loaded and on the way, the moving company can only get an update from the driver - who is the keeper of information about where the truck is and when it will deliver. But, we'll keep in touch and make sure to pass along any updates or changes if they arise as soon as we can.
Here's a quick summary: While the rates vary by time and location, most customers can expect to pay between $1800 and $3300 for a local move. Interstate moves tend to cost more, since more distance is being covered. Customers should expect to pay between $3500 and $7000 for an interstate move.
3.) What Happens if Something Breaks During a Move?
We have a seasoned team of crew and drivers; we've got some of the best in the business. But that doesn't mean that nothing ever breaks. That's where valuation comes into play. It's one of the most important decisions you'll face when it comes to booking your move.
Unlike other companies with express or implied warranties, moving companies are regulated businesses that offer standardized protection over your household goods. There are a few options available to you when it comes to protecting your belongings. You can:
- Add full (replacement) value protection to your move.
- Release the liability of the moving company via waiver of full (replacement) value protection.
- Forgo valuation through your moving company and purchase third-party cargo liability insurance.
Even Valuation Has Its Limits
High-value items (such as those worth more than $100 per pound of their weight) need to be disclosed separately. Adding these items to a high-value items inventory protects them for their total value. Examples of such items include things like antiques, artwork, and electronics.
Also, valuation only covers damage from services performed directly by your movers. Therefore, coverage doesn't apply in situations where contents within an undamaged box sustain injury. Since the moving company didn't do the packing, they can't be held responsible.
In short, Depending on the valuation coverage you selected, you're entitled to file a claim and get reimbursed for those damaged items.
4.) Do You Offer Storage?
Yes! We offer storage in Utah and Colorado facilities. Also, we work with companies around the nation and the globe to store items for you.
We have over a quarter-million square feet of warehouse storage space in Colorado and Utah, all climate-controlled.
How Does Storage with Bailey's Work?
First, our driver brings the shipment to our warehouse. Then, we pack the shipment into our vaults (each holds approximately 1500 pounds.). Those vaults are stored in our climate-controlled warehouse until they're ready for delivery. Then, we can deliver them out anywhere you need, whether that's here in Colorado or Utah or anywhere in the world.
We offer three storage options:
- Short-term Storage: This involves a shipment typically stored over a small period, like one or two months
- Long-term Storage (or Permanent Storage): This option is helpful for customers wanting to store items for an extended period at or over 12 months.
- Storage in Transit: This final option involves holding belongings that aren't quite ready for the next leg of their journey.
Most items stored with us fall under short-term storage or long-term general storage. It's a great option to use when you're between homes. For example, maybe you have to move out of a home, but the other isn't ready for you to move in. In that case, we store and deliver when you're ready.
Can You Hold My Items On the Truck For a Few Days?
In general, we do not store household goods on the delivery van. Sometimes we keep the shipment for a day and deliver the following day, but this is typically the only time we'll hold your load. In almost every case, the truck your shipment is currently on already has another move lined up.
How Much Does Storage Cost?
It depends on how much you want to store. Like most moving and storage companies, we will charge you per hundred-weight. We calculate the cost per month for every 100 pounds of weight.
Keep in mind there are additional charges to handle the items as they're put in and pulled out of the warehouse. Monthly storage prices range, but an average single-family home might expect to pay between $400-$800 per month to store, plus handling charges, depending on availability. If you're wondering how much it may cost to store your items, make sure to discuss your specific circumstances with your estimator before signing the moving contract.
5.) Do I Have to Share a Truck With Other People?
In the case of local moves, your household goods are often the only items in the truck. But, with interstate moves, your shipment will most likely be loaded with other shipments to save you some money and time for our crew.
In most cases, you will not have to share a truck if you're moving locally. Local moves typically only take a few days, so we use a truck that's dedicated to you. It might be a straight truck or a semi-truck; it just depends on your move size and what the local dispatcher thinks is best.
Interstate moves are a different story. Most shipments are typically not large enough to warrant a whole truck, so we try to load other shipments going the same direction to make it economical for everyone. The more efficient we can run our trucks, the more likely we'll have one available to load when you need to move.
Can I Load My Vehicle in With My Shipment?
In the past, we used to haul vehicles and household goods together on the same van. However, in more recent years, most movers changed this practice. Loading automobiles in our enclosed trailers increased the truck or household goods' probability of damage in transit.
Now, we utilize auto transport trailers with a specific tie-down system to accommodate every make, model, and car size. As a result, they transport with more positive results, causing minor damage (if any), and are cheaper for the consumer.
6.) Are You a Move Broker?
We are not move brokers. All our crew, trucks, and equipment are owned and operated by us.
Here's how you know whether you're working with a broker or mover: when we come to load or unload you, you'll have our team and our trucks involved. We operate a fleet comprised of more than 80 vehicles, employees, and drivers. Our crew is all trained and seasoned in the art of moving.
What If I'm Working with Bailey's Moving & Storage but the Truck Has a Different Allied Agent on the Side? (H3)
As an agent of Allied Van Lines, sometimes crew or trucks that aren't owned by Bailey's Moving & Storage are involved. Often, this happens when dealing with interstate or international moves.
Allied Van Lines is a family of independent moving companies that work together to move people around the country. We don't shop around; we have specific partners. Trucks that are part of the Allied Van Lines network from another agent might be involved in your move.
However, we still retain control of the quality. Depending on how and where you're moving, we will still be involved at either origin or destination. This affiliation helps us move you anywhere globally at a reasonable price because we have partnerships with Allied agents across the nation and globe.
7.) Is Your Moving Crew Comprised of Employees or Contractors?
Almost all our crew is comprised of employees who are trained and vetted on a continual basis. We do hire some long-term contractors for larger shipments, though our contractors are also trained to ensure our team operates at the highest levels they can.
Our employees work locally, so they're most engaged in loading or unloading customers in the local area. We hire, train, and help them forge careers in the moving trade.
Our crew is comprised of employees who have worked with us for over 20 years, but that doesn't mean that we won't use contractors for specific circumstances. For example, we might use a packing contractor to help get your move packed on time if we cannot use our crew. When we utilize contractors, we're cautious about ensuring they always meet the same standards that our employees do.
Crew setup changes a bit when your shipment is going long distances. In those cases, you'll probably encounter a driver who works for us as a contractor. These drivers hold specialized positions and have years of experience in the moving trade, so they typically own their trucks and haul shipments on behalf of Bailey's Moving & Storage. In this industry, we call them owner/operators because they own the trucks and operate them independently.
Nearly every van line works this way – it allows trucks and owner/operators to remain efficient while loading and hauling shipments. In the end, whether an employee or contractor is performing a service for you, we take significant steps to ensure we're still providing you with exceptional service. Our quality is defined and measured by our teams. Between our dispatchers, our quality control team, our operations managers, and the many others involved in making sure our moving team can function at the highest level, we're here to make sure you love your move.
8.) How Do I Pay for Services (And When)?
Your mover must issue you an honest and truthful freight or expense bill for each shipment transported. In other words, you should know how much you're going to pay before you move, or at least have the best possible estimate and know the ways it could change.
When your shipment is delivered, you will be expected to pay one of the following:
- 100% of the charges on your binding estimate.
- 110% of the charges on your non-binding estimate.
In addition, you're expected to pay the charges for any additional services that you requested. Such services can include things like waiting time, an extra pickup or delivery, and storage. At Bailey's Moving & Storage, we typically pre-authorize a credit card before loading to ensure your card has sufficient funds for the move. Still, the actual charge happens on or after delivery.
Your mover must note in writing on the order for service and the bill of lading the forms of payment they accept at delivery. Do not assume your mover will accept payment by credit card unless it is clearly indicated on the order for service and bill of lading. Bailey's Moving & Storage does accept credit cards.
What If I Don't Pay at Time of Delivery?
In that case, movers have the right to refuse delivery of your shipment. If so, they typically place it into storage at your expense until the charges are paid. The regulations provide that when your mover arrives at the destination, the mover may collect the payments due before unloading the shipment from the truck. They are legally allowed to hold your shipment until you pay what you owe the company.
That's why credit cards are the most common payment for moving customers. It allows us to pre-authorize to make sure the funds are available. Then we'll collect them from your card automatically on or after delivery. You'll know how much before we collect. In this way, it's essentially painless for you as a customer.
In summary, At the time of delivery, you'll either pay 100% of the charges on your binding estimate or up to 110% of the charges on your non-binding estimate. Before your shipment is delivered, you and your mover will discuss the forms of payment they accept. Most movers charge via credit card authorization.
Have Any Additional Questions? We'd Love to Hear Them!
You can reach us at 888-260-5717 or through our website.
