First thing is to know what would I be moving interstate or over seas, prepare a list for the services needed, such as packing, services, requirements, etc. so when you contact the moving company you would know from where to start and how to direct your mover for the services and prices for the services requested. This will narrow the surprises after pick up date pr additional expenses.

When you contact your mover ask for referrals, check the company profile, ask for service breakdown, and don’t be afraid to ask to understand the cost of the move and the services received.

Read the Agreement, 90% of the problems start when the consumer does not read the agreement to its details, and when an issue appears the consumer gets the feeling of a scam or fraud.

Don’t fall for low price offers, as the old American say "you pay for what you get for" stay away from low red blinking e-mails that will reduce your move within 50% no such thing not in the moving business. The moving business is not a Tower Records store or a Best Buy department store. The moving business is a business for its own, each company this is the company your dealing with from A-Z not many companies have the allowance as they advertise therefore don’t fall for falls advertisements and low cost budget.

After you get the estimate, confirm the price rate of the proposal giving to you from the mover, ask the questions needed, learn everything you need to know, check for the "hidden costs" ask what’s not included in your quote you’ll need it. And read the agreement so you would be aware for the services that you’re paying for what to accepts from the company providing the services.

The estimate must be in writing, the services from A-Z included and not included, in some situations companies do not indicate the not included listings on the agreement, the outcome is that down the road the customer is requesting to add money for services that he never discussed with the mover. Or never sow on the agreement signed and etc.

It’s always best to get an on-site survey prior your move, a good company would be able to set up an on-site survey, prior your move. In some cases the company will send you a list of household items via e-mail, or ask from you to make out the list of your move. One of the major issues is that the consumer is not eligible to calculate the amount of boxes on there personal goods. Therefore it’s recommended to add 20 – 25 boxes per person in a regular household goods.

If your mover is in your area visit him, go and see there operation, see there warehouse, tucks, who are they and what they do. First it will give the security to know the company who would be moving your goods. It’s like buying a new home you would go for an open house before you buy your new home. Same thing if you can meet the moving company it would make you feel much better and secure.

You feel good with your mover, book the job. In most companies you would require a deposit prior your move, ask your mover for payment and terms, see when is you final payment due, check the payments schedule and how is the payments done. Check for all expected payments (especially for international services) such as taxes & fees on the other side, services, insurance, etc.

International relocation moves are subject for an agent on the other side who will continue the services provided in the US, you must check in advance what would be the charges from the agent. And what is the regulation of the country your visiting or returning to. 100% of international services port fees & taxes are assigned to the consumer who is relocating. No company will pay any cost of services rendered by the ports authorities and/ or country regulation. Therefore is the consumer responsibility to check all these information in advance, to avoid miss-understanding of charges that will appear like a fraud or a scam.

If you know where you’re new home on the other side for interstate of international mover, you must provide that information to the moving company, moving companies cannot know or predict the location or access of your new residents. Therefore to avoid the bad taste of the move and to feel like you have been scammed apply the information prior you’re booking with your company. Just think about it that it would be a surprise to the moving company as it’s to you.

As a consumer you would always need to know the services that are not included in your move, therefore to read the agreement is most important. In this industry services is the main factor of the price and any services you request or not requested should be clear with the shipping company you choose to work with. For example:

Packing - Is not a service that’s included in most companies therefore the consumer needs to know what would be his charges if packing will apply on his move.

Surcharges – In our economy today we know that gasoline is not cheap and not for free, in the moving business where the most of the services is required via trucks, or steamship line. Gasoline is a major factor. For example if a shipping line spends 1.6 millions gallons per year for ocean services and the gasoline prices go up in $1.00 then there expenses is $1.6 million for the year.

Walk Up/ Down High Floors – In some situations not everything fits the elevator or the stair cases for example houses in Europe are smaller then houses in the US. The out come is that the agent in Europe will most likely require a usage of Crane services or ropes that will add additional charges to the consumer. If the consumer will know this info in advance prior the booking of the job the shipping company will be able to address the consumer with an estimate cost of the following services, other wise these charges will look like a scam or a fraud to the consumer.

Taxes and Duties – All shippers (consumers) need to know if there are legible for duties or taxes on the goods they import into the country. These information need to be collected from the agency’s of the country of destination such as consulates or embassies.

In most situations the shipping companies will not have the following information other then basic info collected from the internet. Therefore it’s the consumer’s respocebillty to find this information prior his move.

Insurance – The consumer in most cases must purchase insurance, the insurance will provide the consumer for coverage on lost of damage goods in the process of the move.

There are 4 types of insurance 2 in the moving industry and 2 in the shipping industry

The moving coverage – the most common & formalize insurance coverage in the moving industry is the very basic which will not cover any special damages but is to cover the moving company for any damages. The coverage is $0.60 per lb per item therefore I you have a TV that weights 15lb your insurance coverage will be $9.00 which means nothing for the consumer and the consumer will feel that he fell into a scam or fraud.

The other insurance is to ask from your moving company to address you to an outside insurance broker for full coverage of your move.

- The Shipping Coverage – In the shipping industry the insurance coverage is different in there circumstances the consumer will receive insurance forms to insure his shipment for replacement value, the most common charges are 2.8% to 3.5% of the declared value that the consumer insured his shipment. Make a note: that the household goods of your shipment should be insured for the replacement value of it worth, and not by the value in the US. Therefore if there are damages you shell receive the coverage of a new item or replacement on the other country of destination.

- The Secondary Insurance Coverage – Total lost coverage, if a consumer is not willing to cover his worth of goods he can purchase a total lost coverage the coverage will be only if the boat sank into the ocean, or the goods were stolen, highjacket, the truck flipped over, Etc. in these situations the consumer will receive only the total lost value based on his insurance declaration. For more information you would require to follow up with the insurance carrier of your mover or shipper.

If you’re happy with the company who have provided you with your relocation a good word is always appreciated, to find the bad is always easy. But if you did your research and you happy with the shipping or moving company you highered for your move, send them a letter let them know you where happy with there services, you can recommend them to others as well.