Moving Day Paperwork

Moving is a very tedious task for many. It involves handling a lot of paperwork, the shuffling of your goods and money. There is a lot of paperwork that is very important both legally and financially. Making an error among these may cause you to suffer significant financial loss. Therefore it is very important that you know these important documents and how to handle them.

Obtain an in-house estimate. When moving with a long distance moving company, the first document that you will be given is the estimate from the company for moving your goods. This document is known as the in-house moving estimate. You should read it carefully and make sure that all your goods have been included in the estimate. If you have doubts regarding any content of the document, notify the company immediately.

The order of service. Once you are clear on the estimates and decide to hire a company, you will be issued an order of service. This document is the official contract between you and the moving company. Before you sign this document, make sure that all the details are correct. Take all the time you want. Once you sign the form, you will be bound by the statements it contains. Typical contents include the dates of delivery and pick-up, the insurance coverage details and the estimated cost by the company.

After the contract has been signed, the company will arrive at your location on moving day.

There are three important documents you will be given this day.

The inventory sheet. The inventory sheet lists all the objects that the moving company takes custody of. The inventory sheet will be filled as the company loads the goods into their vehicles. As each item is loaded, it will be marked on the sheet by a company representative. It is always best that you supervise the loading yourself to avoid any misunderstanding error. When all the items have been loaded, the inventory sheet will be handed over to you for signing. Make sure that there are no missing items and no extra items. When your goods arrive at their destination, the inventory sheet will be used as a reference for unloading. Any discrepancy may cause problems.

The high-value inventory sheet. The high-value inventory sheet is similar to the inventory sheet. This document is used to account for the expensive and valuable goods during your move. This includes works of art, any precious antiques and jewelry. The high-value inventory sheet is used in the same way as the normal inventory sheet. Movers take extra care while packing these items. Make sure that you supervise the packing.

Bill of Lading. Once the vehicle has been loaded, the movers will give you the bill of lading. This document is the agreement between you and the moving company. By signing it you legally authorize the company to move your goods. Without the bill of lading, the moving company cannot move your belongings by law. Make sure that you tally the information on the bill of lading with the order of service document. Make sure the dates of delivery and pick-up, the insurance coverage and the estimated cost a consistent with your contract with the company.

If you are careful with these documents, your move will be very efficient with minimum delays and disputes.