Issue link: https://nest.uberflip.com/i/1184006
paid by the hour, so you should tell the company," he says. "If they're slow- dogging it, then the company's paying more money for less work." In other words, unless you're dealing with a small "man with a van" operation, chanc- es are the moving company has just as much incentive as you do to see the job done quickly. And even if you're not paying by the hour, you should still make sure you have an office number you can call in case there's a dispute with the moving team that can't be resolved on the spot. Even on weekends there should be a cell number available of someone familiar with the job. Get some assurance from the person who gives you the quote that some- one outside the crew will be reachable. Another thing to keep in mind when paying movers by the hour is that they'll need to disassemble and reassemble anything that's too big to get out the door. That can take a lot of time—if you have a big bunk bed, for instance, you could be looking at up to 45 minutes on each end. The gen- eral rule is that if they take it apart they have to put it back together, so you might want to take it apart yourself and save money. As with all trans- actions, it comes down to how much you value your time. If spending hours taking apart your bed and then putting it back together is worth the money you'll save, by all means. can i quote you on that? Of course, you won't know—and the movers can't tell you—how much time they'll need to break down your bed until they've actu- ally seen it. And that goes for every aspect of your move: Any quote you get from a mover on costs and time must be based on an on-site inspection. "It's best to get an in-home estimate so they can make an accurate estimation of moving costs," says Sheila Adkins, spokesperson for the Bet- ter Business Bureau. She notes that some "rogue movers" will provide an estimate over the phone or Internet, then charge more when it comes to the day of the move by claiming that there was more inventory than they expected. Any mover who gives a price quote without seeing what needs to be moved is likely up to no good. "Every company should go and get a look at the move," agrees Ehrhardt. "With an in-home [estimate], there's no reason a mover can't stick to their quote." Indeed, the Depart- ment of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration requires an interstate mover to give you an in-home estimate if your current home is 50 miles from the mover's (or the agent's) place of business. And you're entitled to get the full quote in writing, which should itemize all charges associated with the move.