This video is about saving money when you follow 3 easy steps before your local San Diego movers come to move you. This video comes very handy when you are preparing for apartment move, house move or small office move.

Probably, most people moved before have never heard about the term “Not to Exceed Amount”. This is the term which can be very helpful when movers come to move you or your family. As we know, San Diego movers usually charge hourly rates for local moves. Local move is when you are moving within 100 constructive miles. When movers start working, most of the time you do not know how long it is going to take. Sometimes, it even looks it is taking forever. There is no blame for movers here. If your move is big, your bill also is going to be “big”. There is no question about it. However, would you want to know how much maximum you are going to pay before movers start relocating you? I guess answer is “yes”. Great! Now Here is what you need to do.
Call your local moving company 2-3 weeks in advance for moving reservation. If they have open date for your move, great tell them you want to reserve that day. Movers may ask a deposit for confirmed reservation. That is usual too. Now you ask them if they can come to your place in advance and give a moving estimate and provide you with the form called “Important Notice About Your Move”. This form is made by California Public Utilities Commission. If the answer is “yes”, you got the right movers. Then just prepare for the next step.
A moving company associate came for an estimate for your local move. First, let him do his calculation, until he tells you approximate cost of the moving. Then, try to negotiate if he can lower the rate. Go in to details he is charging you for, because you might not need some of the features of the moving package. After you both agreed on the cost of the moving, do not hurry for flat rate deal. Why? When movers actually arrive on moving day and work by hourly rates, the actual cost might be lower or sometimes much lower than the negotiated cost.
Last, but important thing to do is, ask for the “Important Notice About Your Move” form and get signed by you and a moving company. The form, specifically, shows what activities will be performed to move you. For instance, loading your full apartment or house at your address, transporting your belonging to the next address and unloading at the specific address. I will tell you what is good about that form, because now you have basics of moving estimate process. This form states that a moving company cannot charge you a penny more from the stated amount, even movers end up working more hours. The next big part is you do not pay a penny more if movers end up working less hours then they assumed, in other words, they put on the form in dollar amount. That means, if you take job hours to the total dollar amount and the amount is less than negotiated cost, you will pay the smaller one. Why? Because you and your company signed on “Not to Exceed Amount”. In basic words, you always pay the lesser amount.

Everybody knows moving is stressful. It is not always fun as pictured in moving companies websites. A person who is moving should always think quickly what to move, how to move and where to move. Therefore, when the person gets stressed he has a lot to lose: nerves and money. What about movers? Movers lose nerves, but they do not lose money. As long as clock is ticking they are making money. However, it is not their fault, it is their work. They have to keep on going.
Moving date. You started packing your stuff, but you do not have boxes. The corner of your room is like a spider net from the cables of TV, DVD Player, XBox, Entertainment Center, Home Phone, Internet modem, Router and too many other things if you are, especially, high-tech person. In that case, it is too late to save. Your local movers will be at your door within an hour or two.
Let’s skip back. At least for two days, before movers come to your door. Try to do these:
1. Go to local WALMART, HOME DEPOT or other superstore and buy 20 – 40 moving boxes depending on how much stuff you have. Important: Buy medium size boxes, not small not large or x-large. They do the best for you. About large items which do not fit i medium boxes, do not worry too much, movers will take care of them. So, bring the boxes and start packing all items you can fit from kitchen silverware up to your bedding sets. Do not forget toys if you have kids. Name the boxes with items you put. Then bring the boxes right next to your main entrance door and stack them up.
2. Probably, you have set of tools with pliers and screwdrivers. If not, please buy small tool set when you go to purchase boxes. Start disassembling simple furniture, a dining table, a desk, a TV stand, a baby crib (if you do not need for that night), shelves, etc. If you find any furniture complicated to disassemble, leave that as is, mover will take care of it. Bring all the disassembled parts right by your door. By the way, keep the screws, bolts and nuts in safe plays, so you give them to your moving company guys or need them at your next address.
3. Again get your tools now and go to your kitchen. If you have emptied your refrigerator, unplug the cable and disconnect the water hose from the water channel. If you still have stuff in your fridge, learn how to do above steps, so you can perform that when your local movers come to your place. Then do the same actions with your washer and dryer.
Now back to the point about movers do not want you to do, but you did already.
Your movers showed up. Read the contract and sign on it. Believe me, movers look at you and say “What the heck we doing here!” But they say it in silence. You can see that from their eyes looking for what to do, because you did most part of the job.
My friend, do you know how much time you saved for movers and how much money for yourself? If each step takes 20 – 40 minutes for movers, depending on the size of your move, you saved almost 1 to 2 hours moving charge. How much, exactly, is it? Ask your San Diego movers.