Why You Should Move Before the Baby Comes. Or, Wait—Why You Shouldn’t:

I was 30 weeks pregnant and on my hands and knees, scrubbing out the empty fridge of the house we were leaving. My back hurt. My arms hurt. My womb hurt. My toddler pulled at my shirt, trying to get my attention. There was so much more cleaning to be done, and that was just to close out the old place, not to mention the mopping and dusting that the new house needed. And then the unpacking. I looked around the rented townhouse we were leaving, gutted of all our things, fighting off tears. All the pregnancy advice flooding my inbox told me not to move with the pregnancy hormones raging—that it would be too tiring, too physically and mentally demanding during a time when I was focused on more internal things. And there I was, doing just that.

My husband and I had planned to move after the baby’s birth, but an initial meeting with our real estate agent, not to mention a nasty leak in our ceiling, changed our minds. Lori McAlees, our Realtor® in Rochester, NY, said we’d be better off buying before the baby came to distract us—and before the real estate market heated up in the spring. In the brutal month of February, when we found a house that fit our budget and our space requirements, we snatched it up.

McAlees sees plenty of families buying homes with newborns, but she’s in the move-while-pregnant camp; house shopping is a whole lot harder in that postdelivery haze and chaos.

Two years ago, I moved when my first baby was 6 weeks old, which cut into that precious newborn snuggle time, and while I’m happy we moved predelivery this time, some say the postpartum move is the way to go. Why? Read on.

Moving while pregnant? Here’s the upside:

• No open house waits for a breast pump. There’s no room for the weary in real estate. If you’re actively searching for a home, you need to be ready to pounce at a moment’s notice, and nursing, napping, and nappie changes make that awfully hard. And if you miss a bit of the open house, you’ve got even less info on which to base your decision. As McAlees points out, you may spend a total of only 20 minutes in a house before you decide to buy it, and you need to make every second count.

• The nesting instinct is no joke. I found myself with my head deep in the kitchen cabinets of my new home, armed with a toothbrush for scrubbing those hard-to-reach corners. You might reorganize the closets and cupboards, get the linens in order, and even defrost the fridge. You won’t be able to curb the instinct. Research shows that the nesting instinct peaks in the third trimester—better to already be settled in the new place so you don’t have to sort all the baby onesies by color and size twice.

• If you move after the kid comes, you might screw up his or her sleep. Not to frighten those mamas-to-be, already nervous about impending sleep deprivation, but here’s something to consider: One source notes of moving that “well-established sleep patterns can be disturbed as a consequence of change in a baby or toddler’s environment.” Babies thrive on routine. Believe us: If your baby has finally settled into a sleep rhythm, you’ll do anything to preserve it.

• Postnatal recovery takes a lot longer than you think. You just pop the baby out and move on to the next thing, right? Some women feel minor-to-moderate discomfort (we could elaborate on that, but we’ll spare you) for weeks—some face serious problems that can affect daily activity for months. One study suggests that it takes up to a year to recover. Sure, you’re not going to win a weightlifting contest when you’re pregnant by schlepping boxes, but you’ve got to decide which discomfort is worse: pregnancy or recovery.

• You could save money. I moved while pregnant from a rental into our own house, where our mortgage was cheaper than our monthly rent. We were lucky in the affordability of housing in our area, ranked among the top 10 least-expensive housing markets in America. Though we had to pay a fee to get out of our rental lease, we still saved a total of about $3,000 by moving.

• You’ll waste spend less money on baby gear. What’s better for your sanity in the early chaos of mothering than an uncluttered house? Let’s say you have a baby shower. Let’s say you receive every co-sleeping, snuggling, distracting, milk-extracting item you could ever, or never, want—plus a diaper swan. If you’re still carrying the kid, you can sift through that stuff, quietly discarding or passing on the unwanted items, before you pack.

Actually, on second thought, here’s why you should move after the baby comes:

• Oy, your aching back: Baby bumps and moving do not mix. The American Pregnancy Association advises pregnant women: Get someone else to do the heavy lifting. Doing so carries a heightened risk of premature labor, low birth weight, and hernia.

• You’ll have to give up your Formula 409 and rely on vinegar. Nontoxic cleaners like vinegar are safest for pregnant women to use. As much as we aspire to have the greenest household on the block, we have to admit it: Some of those heavy chemical cleaners do a much better job. Pregnant women need to avoid oven cleaners and products that contain ammonia and bleach. Of course, you might decide to go clean-green after the baby comes, too.
• You’ll know better what you need from a space. Spend a month or two with the kiddo in your old place, and you’ll figure out what’s missing: Man, could I use a bigger kitchen, or a real laundry room, or an office now that the baby junk has consumed my corner of the living room. After some time with your tyke, you’ll have a much clearer sense of what kind of home to look for.

• Bye-bye, baby bump! Even if you’re in those weeks or months it takes to recover from childbirth, you won’t have that big baby bump to contend with as you sort and arrange your new space.
• You’ll make mommy friends a whole lot faster. Babies are a great way to get to know people. Moving with a newborn can feel more relaxing and enhance your social connections in your new home. Many neighborhoods have mommy groups, storytime, and, in some places, mommy happy hour. With a baby in tow, you’ll have instant access to that world of new parents.
• Newborns are easier than you might think (except the colicky ones). Though first-time moms might not believe it, newborns are pretty easy to manage—they basically just sleep and eat. And poop. Keep them fed, warm, and dry, and they won’t even notice they’ve moved.

• You could save time. When your new baby comes, time will get even more precious. You’ve heard the clichés—it speeds up to warp drive (it really does!), and you’ll treasure every minute you have with your new one. If you wait to move until the baby’s an infant, you can enjoy those early days, and if you’re lucky enough to have maternity leave, you can use your leave to bond with your baby, instead of rearranging the flatware or troubleshooting those inevitable kinks in your new house.

But let’s face it: As with all things parenting, no matter what decision you make, someone (probably a member of your own family) will tell you it’s the wrong one. And thus, as with all things parenting, the trick is this: Go with your gut, even if your gut is hiding painfully behind your giant baby belly.

How To Easily Downsize Your Home:

Moving is hardly ever an easy thing to do. You have so many things to consider and sometimes – so little time. One of the most challenging relocations is downsizing from a house to an apartment. At first it may seem like there is less to do because you have fewer items to pack and move, and therefore the moving cost will be lower. This is a good point, but the process of actually getting there is longer than it is on a regular house-to-house or apartment-to-apartment move. What is the best way to downsize your home and how do you make it happen?

How To Prepare To Downsize Your Home In 3 Steps

Downsizing could be quite of a challenge if you don’t know where to start from, so here is our list which will guide you step by step into this tough process.

De-clutter. You need to begin downsizing your home by removing all the clutter and garbage that you may have inside. Throw away all obvious things like broken electronics, tools which are no longer working, old fashioned staff you’re never going to wear, the broken hose in the garden, etc. which hangs around long forgotten in the attic, garage and basement. In other words, everything that is in front of your eyes around the house and is a must-go anyway.
Attic, basement, garage, garden. The easiest way to continue downsizing is to go through the least used rooms and premises in your home. This could also be the guest room if you have one, for instance. In such places around the house it is easy to store things you don’t want or need in the moment and then forget about them. But they are still there and will not clean themselves up.
Clean up your car. If you have the habit of hoarding things, you may have been leaving things in your car as well. Remember to check the seats and the trunk. Make the downsizing uncompromising – this is what will make it efficient!
Downsizing Your House In 5 Steps

How do you actually decide what is worth taking and why? These ideas will help you take a decision!

Can you use it at all? There may be items in your home that are broken, torn, or worn out. In other words, they do not longer serve you. So, how about just tossing them away? You don’t need all that. When downsizing from a house to an apartment this is the easiest decision to take – throwing away what is actually useless.
Is it old fashioned? If you really care about fashion then this is an important decision to make. Do you have items that are out of fashion like clothes, shoes and accessories? Be honest with yourself. If you haven’t used it for the last two years, chances are you may never do it again. Things that you don’t want in your home and those that are outdated could go away.

Do you have space in your new home for you the things you want to move? Take measurements and consider well!
Is it of emotional value to you? There are items that are dear to us which hold an emotional value like gifts from people we love and cherish. Those could be souvenir or practical things like clothes. Either way, if you really care about it and want it in your next home, pack it and take it.
Do you really need it? There are some things that we actually need and some – that only fill in the space in the shelves, drawers and racks on our home, collect dust and nothing more. You don’t need to pay to move all that, especially if it is something bigger and/ or heavier!
Do you have room for it? It is important to take measures of your future home and decide what will and what will not fit in it. Why would you pay to move your sofa if there is not enough space in the room for it? Make a floor plan of your next home in order to make the estimations right.
What do you do with the things that are in a good condition and can be used but you have decided not to move? You can organize a moving sale and sell whatever you can. You can separate kids’ clothes and shoes, and toys, and donate them to an orphanage. You can just give away some things. Of course, if you still want to keep some things but will not have space for them in your new home, you can always use a storage unit. And remember to choose a mover carefully!
Does downsizing your house still look like a complicated task to you? If you have questions that you want to ask or experience that you want to share, you can make a comment!

4 Tips for Moving a Piano:

Pianos are one of the most beautiful (and heavy) instruments on the planet.  They are elegant and add style and class to any room they are placed.  These gorgeous instruments are delicate and can be quite pricey.  That’s why when moving your piano you need to take the utmost attention to process, detail and safety - for both you and the piano!  As experienced piano movers in Palmdale we here at Farley Bros would like to share a few tips on how to safely and securely move a piano.

1. Ask a professional – the number one way to move a piano is through a professional this will guarantee experience and safety to all entities involved.

2. Asses age and fragility – Always asses age and fragility and discuss this with your moving professional.  All pianos are going to be treated with the utmost care but antiques need special treatment. Be sure to contact and discuss with your moving coordinator before move day.

3. Insurance- Make sure you are choosing a licensed and insured moving professional.  In the unfortunate event something happens during the move you want to have full coverage of your instrument.

4. Tuning – When the piano is moved it is inevitable that after the move it may be a bit out of tune.  Anytime an instrument is moved especially when it is taken through different temperatures (inside to outside) parts tend to expand or contract.  Once the piano is in its new location make sure to either hire a professional or if you have the skills yourself re-tune before playing.

As elite Palmdale specialized movers we make sure all of your items are transferred properly and delivered in the same condition they left in.  Call us today for your free quote!

Complete Moving Guide to San Jose, CA:

It's no doubt that San Jose carries a high end reputation with Silicon Valley's top execs seeking refuge in this picturesque city under the California sun.

If you too are considering nestling down in the city that dubs itself the Capital of Silicon Valley, take a look at the following guide for tips and information that will help you to reach your final decision.

San Jose Climate

Characteristic of the Bay Area in California, San Jose has what's called a Subtropical Mediterranean climate – mild winters and warm dry summers with very little rainfall. The San Jose area has an average temperature of 73 degrees each year, and over 300 days of sunshine.

Rain occurs typically in November and can last through May (precipitation averages about two months annually), making the area green with vegetation that eventually dies and dries out during the summer months, making the hills and fields prone to fires.

San Jose Neighborhoods

San Jose has a blend of various different cultures, and similarly has a mix of both suburban historical neighborhoods and exciting city life.

If a bountiful nightlife excites you, try relocating to somewhere in the downtown area, that is not only bursting with culture through its plethora of museums and music festivals, but is safe and appropriate for all age demographics. Visit the San Jose Downtown Associationfor more information on what to do and where to go in the city.

For historic and quant living, Willow Glen is for the family-friendly side of Silicon Valley, with Boutique stores, spas and antique shops intermingled within residential streets. Take a trip to smell the roses just northwest of downtown in the Rose Garden area, with over 4,000 rose shrubs that span 5.5 acres.

Interested in a 19^th century vintage? Los Gatos still maintains its historic architecture characteristic of old style wine country. Museums and music festivals entertain the locals, along with the weekend farmer's market.

Registering Your Car

In order to avoid any penalties, you must register your vehicle within 20 days or entry or residency, according to the state of California's DMV website. You will need an application for Title or Registration signed by the owner as they appear on the out-of-state title, the last issued out-of-state title, smog and weight certification (if applicable), any fees or taxes, and the vehicle must be inspected by the DMV.

Upon moving to California, you have 10 days to acquire a California driver's license. You will need to complete application form DL 44, give a thumbprint, have your picture taken, and provide your full name and social security number. You must also pay the application fee, pass a vision exam and pass a traffic laws and signs test.

San Jose Schools

San Jose's primary and secondary education, provided primarily by San Jose Unified School District, contains over 125 elementary schools, over 45 middle schools and over 40 high schools in the area. The Catholic Diocese of San Jose runs most of the private education in the area, with the second largest student body in Santa Clara County. Some of the schools within the diocese include: Archbishop Mitty High School, Bellarmine College Preparatory, Notre Dame High School, Saint Francis High School, Liberty Baptist School and White Road Baptist Academy.

There are a large number of colleges and universities in the San Jose area as well, with notable institutions like San Jose State University (a top-ranking public university in the US), National Hispanic University, California University of Management and Technology, Lincoln Law School of San Jose and University of Silicon Valley Law School. Stanford University is about 20 miles from San Jose.

San Jose Employment

Known as Silicon Valley, technology engineering, computer and microprocessor companies have carried the area's economy. Many companies like Adobe, Cisco Systems, eBay, IBM, Kaiser Permanente, CEVA, TiVo and Netgear have headquarters in the valley. Some of the top employers for the city are: the County of Santa Clara, Cisco Systems, IBM, San Jose State University, Brocade Communications Systems, eBay and Hitachi.

The unemployment rate in San Jose was at 8.2 percent as of January 2013, and the median salary for college graduates is approximately $92,000.

Living Costs in the City

San Jose is among the highest in California and in the US, about 75 percent higher than the national average, but households within the city and the surrounding areas have statistically the highest disposable income of any city in the country. An average house costs between $300-$400 per square foot in San Jose, with homes starting in the $250,000 range and jumping to multi-million dollar mansions.

A single person renting an apartment in San Jose would need to average approximately $60,000 a year with limited luxuries to live in this city. A studio apartment will cost you upwards of $1,100, while a single bedroom starts at around $1,500, not including your utility costs.

San Jose Moving Resources

Moving and storage companies are ready and willing to help you with your move to San Jose, whether you're moving from out of state or from another county in California. Make sure you get estimates from multiple moving services before you commit to hiring any (at least three estimates). Check back to our guides for tips on how to choose your moving service wisely with important questions to ask, differentiating between types of estimates, and mistakes to avoid. Visit the following pages at Movers.com to get quotes for the following services:

• Moving Companies in San Jose
• International Moving Companies in San Jose
• Auto Transport in San Jose

San Jose Transportation

There's a large freeway system in San Jose, like many other California cities, including three interstate highways (280, 680, 880) and one US route (101), but none of the interstates primarily serve San Jose. State highways in the area include: SR 17, SR 82, SR 85, SR 87 and SR 237, and a few expressways in the county.

Amtrak provides rail service within San Jose and beyond with the Sacramento-San Jose Capitol Corridor and the Seattle-Los-Angeles Starlight. The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority operates a local system that connects downtown to Mountain View, Milpitas, Campbell and Almaden Valley. Streetcars are also available throughout the city.

Culture & Contemporary Life

Experience a myriad of cultures in the San Jose area that all offer alternative activities, dining, unique architecture and businesses.

Visit the ever-unique Japantown just north of downtown, which features martial art studios Asian performing arts, Japanese traditional music, and the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin. Little Saigon gives an authentic Vietnamese vibe with traditional eateries and gift shops, as well as a museum.

For those who wish to take advantage of San Jose's year round agreeable weather, there's outdoor parks and gardens to stroll through, like the Almaden Quicksilver County Park which was former mercury mines, Circle of Palms Plaza with a ring of palm trees surrounding the California state seal, and the Chinese Cultural Garden. There's also over 50 miles of trail networks for recreation and commuting purposes throughout the city, like the Coyote Creek Trail, Los Gatos Creek Trail and Los Alamitos Creek Trail.

Pass through the town of Campbell on the way to Santa Cruz and you'll find a historic town with shops, dining and pubs and the Ainsley House, an English Tutor-style home built in the 1920s. The town used to be the home of eBay, and features an annual civic festival for locals and visitors.

San Jose Relocation Tips

• Have a purpose for moving to San Jose. The cost of living is high and unless you are relocating for a job in digital technology, the move may be risky. Unemployment is still particularly high, so establish employment and create a budget before your move.
• Since house prices are high within the city, you may end up moving outside of the city limits and commuting to work in San Jose, so make sure you have reliable transportation before you get there.
• You won't have to worry about scheduling a move date based on cold winters of unusually hot summers, just keep in mind it rains more often from November to April. Otherwise, pick a date that best suits your needs

Bay Area Named The Worst Rental Market:

It probably doesn’t surprise most of us to live here, but if we rent, we are paying out the you know what for just rent. If we own, we’re paying even more. At least those are the findings of Forbes’ annual ranking of rental cities.

The worst city for rentals, according to Forbes, is San Francisco. On average, renters pay $2,800 a month and their rent increases almost 13 percent a year.

MSA: San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, CA Metropolitan Division

Average monthly rent, Q4 2014: $2,802

Year-over-year % change in apartment rent: 12.8%

Median houshold income, Q4 2014: $85,087

Avg. rent as a share of household income: 40% Apartment vacancy rate, Q4 2014: 3.6%

Average monthly mortage payment, Q4 2014: $5,851

Mortgage payment v. rent: $3,049 cheaper to rent

Right behind San Francisco on the “worst” list is Oakland.

MSA: Oakland-Fremont-Hayward, CA Metropolitan Division

Average monthly rent, Q4 2014: $1,815

Year-over-year % change in apartment rent: 10.5%

Median houshold income, Q4 2014: $76,493

Avg. rent as a share of household income: 28% Apartment vacancy rate, Q4 2014: 2.9%

Average monthly mortage payment, Q4 2014: $4,182

Mortgage payment v. rent: $2,367 cheaper to rent

Right behind Oakland is San Jose.

MSA: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area

Average monthly rent, Q4 2014: $2,291

Year-over-year % change in apartment rent: 11.3%

Median houshold income, Q4 2014: $93,902

Avg. rent as a share of household income: 29% Apartment vacancy rate, Q4 2014: 3.5%

Average monthly mortage payment, Q4 2014: $5,050

Mortgage payment v. rent: $2,759 cheaper to rent

Believe it or not, New York is behind even San Jose. Their average monthly rent is a bit higher than San Francisco, at about $3,300, but the annual increases are much lower.

METRO (Not an MSA): New York County (NY)

Average monthly rent, Q4 2014: $3,290

Year-over-year % change in apartment rent: 3.4%

Median houshold income, Q4 2014: $74,915

Avg. rent as a share of household income: 53% Apartment vacancy rate, Q4 2014: 2.3%

Average monthly mortage payment, Q4 2014: $7,917

Mortgage payment v. rent: $4,627 cheaper to rent

Rounding out the bottom cities are Los Angeles, San Diego, Northern New Jersey, Boston, Orange County, California and Palm Beach, Florida. I guess we should be happy that California has “only” six of the 10 worst rental markets.

Of course, there’s a reason our rental market is so tight – everyone wants to live here. We have the best weather, the best companies, but biggest variety of recreational activities and the best people.

Here’s What You Need To Know To Make The Best Inventory Sheet:

The inventory sheet is an inevitable part of every move. It helps guide your relocation, its organization, timing and can point you towards the cost of your move. But what is an inventory sheet, to ask in the first place. The inventory sheet in relocation is the list of items that you will be moving. It is very important to have one for a number of reasons which which we will now explain below. You will also read here some useful tips on how to create an inventory sheet so that you can make your move happen better and easier. So, what do you need to know and what do you need to do?

What Is An Inventory Sheet?

The inventory sheet is something that is essential for every move which you are a part of. It can help you get a better picture of what you will be moving by having a list that provides the information visually.

How much does your move cost? This is probably one the main questions for every move. If you want to know the price for your move, an inventory sheet is the start for that. Once you make it, you will be able to plan what sort of packing materials you will need and how much. And if the cost is too high, you can simply remove some items from your list (sell them, donate them, give them away or just throw them to the trash), until you are happy with what’s left.
Timing. A list of many things is more difficult to organize in terms of packing, if you will be doing the packing yourself. So, take a look at what you have for moving, and take the time to pack. Do a little bit every day, beginning with the items you are certain you won’t need until after the relocation, like clothes from a different season.
Organization. While doing the packing with the help of an inventory sheet, you can sign up boxes with their content and the room or person that they belong to, for example: “Kids’ winter clothes”. Then keep track of the boxes, too, so that once they all arrive in your new home you will be able to immediately notice if a box or a certain items is missing, particularly more costly ones like a laptop. With an inventory sheet, you can plan what to pack for each day. If your job is 9 to 5 like most people’s, finding the time to do the packing at once could be very difficult so an inventory sheet can make your work much easier.
The movers will need it.If you wish to hire movers, the first thing that they will ask you is what you will be moving. Based on your inventory list and the services you wish to have, they will give you an approximate calculation of your relocation.

Make a list by writing down the items you want to move, their cost, and mark special (expensive or fragile) items.
How Do I Make An Inventory Sheet?

You need to know what you will be moving. Before making your inventory sheet, go through the premises of your house or apartment and write down the items that you will be taking. Those that won’t make it to the list, can be removed to a certain area of your home or a special room where you can decide later what to do with them.
What insurance options do you have? In order to be able to decide that, based on the worth of the items that you will be moving, you need to establish a cost. So, right next to each item you could write down what it is worth, approximately. And based on this informative list discuss with the movers the insurance options that they provide.
Do you have any special items for moving, like expensive or fragile things? These could be precious art pieces like painting, statuettes, grandfather clock, etc. More expensive items could be other pieces of heirloom; breakable stuff could include your home cinema system, large screen TV, china, items of emotional value as well, etc. They will need special, careful handling, and special packing. If you are not aware of how to handle those, here is how to pack fragile items. Alternatively, you can get a quote from movers and ask them to pack specifically those items, if you wish to organize and take care of the move yourself. Of course, the easiest option is to always request a relocation company to organize the move for you – professionals who are experienced can make a move better, quicker, and safer than you.

You Just Moved. Now What?

The hardest part is over. You’ve packed up your entire house and had it delivered to your new place. But after the moving truck leaves and the dust settles, you’re left with an unfinished home-and a LOT of boxes. So what do you do first?

1.  You want your new place to be safe and secure—start with the locks. If the previous residents or owners did not change the locks, make sure to do this first. And if the garage has a code, don’t forget to reset that, too! You can rest easier knowing that no one has the keys to your new place except you.

2.  Next, tackle the most important boxes first. Unpacking every room of your house will take a huge amount of your time, so make sure that you start with the most important rooms first—namely, the kitchen, bathroom(s) and the bedroom essentials. That way, you have everything you absolutely need ready to go while you take time to unpack everything else.

3.  Once you have those set up, make sure that you have all of your utilities in place. Test out your internet, electric, heat, etc. to make sure that everything is ready to go.

4.  Don’t forget to register your vehicle(s) if you’ve moved states, provinces or countries! Taking care of this ASAP will help you avoid hassles later down the road.

5.  Enjoy your new home!

For all of your relocation needs, call the premiere household moving company in Seattle—Pacific Movers! We can help you with every step of the moving process to make it quick and stress-free. Give us a call to get started or fill out our easy online form for your FREE quote!

Avoid Moving Scams. Protect Your Move!

Have you discovered LOSS AND/OR DAMAGE to your Household Goods Shipment?
If so, you should contact the mover immediately and notify them that you have lost and/or damaged
goods and file a claim. Next, you should promptly:
• Make a list of the items that are missing;
• Make a list of the items that are damaged;
• Take photographs of the damage (If possible take photographs before loading of your shipment
and after unloading if there is damage);
• Obtain cost for replacement value of items that are missing and/or damaged;
• If the mover provides a claim form to you, complete and return the claim form along with the
supporting documentation.
You have 9 months from the date of delivery to file your claim for loss and/or damage
The mover has 30 days to acknowledge receipt of your claim and it then has 120 days to decide whether
or not it will offer a settlement. A Claim for Loss and/or damage to your Shipment is a Civil Matter.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration does not have the authority to force your mover
to pay a settlement for loss and/or damage, or act as your advocate against the mover.
Understanding the Liability of Your Mover for Your Shipment
There are two types of liability coverage under Federal Law:
• Full Value Protection which covers the full replacement value per item of your shipment and is
often obtained from your mover for a fee; and
• Waiver of Full Value Protection which is offered by the mover at no cost to you. This level of
protection only covers your shipment at $.60 a pound per item, and you have to agree to this
coverage from the mover in writing. For example: If you have a 42” flat screen TV that
weighs 50 pounds, the mover is only obligated to offer you $30 as a settlement. (Calculation:
50 x $.60 = $30)
The type of liability you signed for at the pickup determines how your claim for loss and/or damage will
be handled. If you signed and paid the fee for Full Value Protection, the loss and/or damage to your
shipment will be processed based on the replacement value of the damaged or lost item. However, if you
signed for Limited Value Protection, your loss and/or damaged goods will be based on $.60 per pound per
item, regardless of the value of the item.
If you are not satisfied with the outcome of your claim filed with the m over, you should first attempt to
work out an agreement with your mover to resolve the dispute. However, if both you and the mover are
not able to agree, you have two options:
1. Seek an arbitration hearing; or
2. Initiate legal action against your mover.
For more information about your recourse when a dispute occurs see the “Dispute” section on the home
page of protectyourmove.gov.