Our Answers to 8 of Your Most Common Moving Questions

Planning a move can uncover a variety of questions. There is a lot of preparation that goes into a residential relocation from the moving estimate to paying your movers. To help alleviate any stress, we are answering 8 of the most common moving questions to help you better prepare for your ADSI Moving Systems move. 

I don’t have time to schedule an in-home estimate, do I need to do this to get a quote for my move? 

We highly recommend in-home or virtual estimates for all of our relocation customers. This will allow us to provide you with the MOST accurate estimate for your upcoming relocation. 

Additionally, it allows us to see if you have any pieces that will require special equipment or packaging on moving day, including things like large pianos, grandfather clocks, china cabinets, and more. 

Having the opportunity to thoroughly survey your items for relocation will ensure that there are minimal surprises, come moving day.

I had an in-home estimate and am ready to book my move, will the price go up after I book? 

Pricing is based on distance and the weight of your shipment. As long as there are no significant changes in those variables, your estimate should be pretty accurate. This is why we stress the importance of in-home estimates, which gives us the opportunity to make a thorough survey of your household goods. 

We also provide our customers with a “Protect our Move” pamphlet, which outlines more of the specifics on our process and provides some reassurance that we strive to play by the rules!  

What do I need to do to prepare for moving day? 

You or a representative of at least 18 years of age must be present during the course of the move. Have all personal effects that are not going on the vehicle clearly designated or place them together in a room in order for them not to inadvertently be placed on the truck. 

Make sure you have removed all chemicals, cleaning compounds, perishable foods, liquid food items, flammable items, aerosols, combustible items, and valuable jewelry from the items to ship. 

If you have an attic in your home that has pull down stairs or requires a ladder you must have all items removed from the attic for the packing day. For liability purposes, our crews are not able to handle the movement from an attic. 

If you are packing one day and loading the next you can stay in your residence on the night the packing is completed. The loading crew will breakdown your beds and pack the last minute personal effects on move day. 

Prior to departure make sure you perform a final walk-through with the van operator to confirm all items needing to be shipped have been loaded on the truck. Check closets, drawers, and crawl spaces, inside and outside of the residence. Also, do a thorough check of your residence for any possible damage to floors, doors, and walls. Bring any property damage to the attention of your van operator and notify your Move Coordinator right away.  

Why is there a “delivery spread” on my shipment and how is it determined? 

All interstate shipments require delivery spreads based on the weight and mileage each shipment is traveling. This allows van operators to coordinate the pickup and delivery of other shipments as the trucks hold upwards of 28,000 lbs. Other shipments are dispatched on the same trucks to accommodate all orders traveling in that direction. 

The van operators are also held to strict guidelines for the hours of service they can work, drive, and sleep. These laws are instituted by the DOT for the safety of our van operators and the cargo they are transporting. 

Dispatchers determine the delivery dates. We will provide a 24-48 hour delivery notice to assist in your planning at your destination.     

I am packing my own boxes, will those items be covered under my valuation protection? 

Items inside of boxes packed by the customer will be covered IF there is visible damage to the box AND the contents are inspected and damages noted at the time of delivery, prior to the crew departing the home. It is important to inspect your items as they are coming off the truck to ensure that you note any damage that may have occurred during transport.   

If you are packing your own boxes, here are some tips to help! 

• Start by getting all necessary packing supplies including boxes, tape, labels, packing paper/bubble wrap, and markers. 
• Label as detailed as possible when packing your boxes to make unpacking easier including the room in the house it goes in and the contents. 
• Pack heavy items in smaller boxes to avoid the box becoming too heavy.
•  Leave clothes on hangers with wardrobe boxes or wrapping bundles of clothes on hangers in trash bags. 
• For more packing tips, check out our blog 20 Packing Hacks For Your Upcoming Move.

We are moving long-distance, can you help us move our vehicles? 

Yes, ADSI Moving Systems routinely moves cars, trucks, motorcycles and other vehicles. 

Are there any items I can’t move?

There are some items that we are unable to transport to your new location in our moving trucks. Please be sure any items listed as a non-allowable is removed from your boxed prior to moving day. Some of these items include aerosols, cleaning solvents, nail polish, batteries, and more. Visit our website for a comprehensive list of all non-allowables. 

How and when should I pay? 

Tariff provisions require that all charges be paid before your shipment is unloaded at destination (unless prior arrangements have been made for later billing). 

Payment for your shipment can be made by one of the following methods: Traveler’s check, money order or cashier’s check. In addition, the American Express® Card, Discover® Card, Visa® or MasterCard® can be used to pay for interstate moves, with advance approval required prior to loading (unless other billing arrangements have been made).

If you’re looking for answers to some more of our common moving questions, you can check out our FAQ reference page on our website where we take a closer look at over 20 different questions we get from our customers regularly.