Category: Moving FAQ

All licensed movers must carry cargo insurance, for the customers and the company’s protection. This translates into cargo valuation coverage in the amount of 60 cents per pound per article.

Obviously, this is basic and limited coverage for covering your belongings.

Remember: Movers Are Not Insurance Companies!

Some moving companies offer different options for increased coverage, but you should remember that no interstate moving company is an insurance company.

If your long-distance mover has offered to sell you increased insurance coverage directly, then this is increased valuation, NOT INSURANCE.

This increased valuation means that for your interstate move your relocation company has agreed to be liable for damages above the $.60 per pound limit (usually this maxes out at around $5.00 per pound).…

Do you know the difference between a moving company vs a moving broker?

A moving broker is definitely not a mover!

What Is a Moving Broker?

Moving brokers are basically a sales team that book your move and sell it to an actual moving company, so the day of the move you would get a surprise: the mover you chose after long research, to trust and move your home, is a different mover – not the one that you picked!

Why Should You Avoid Using One?

Brokers do not have the operational and logistic capabilities that moving companies have.

They do not have moving trucks, professional movers, proper moving equipment, and in a lot of cases not much moving experience.…

There’s so much to do when you are moving! How to deal with your address changes.

One of the most important tasks during this hectic time is to take care of your address changes and switching over all your bills to your new place. Changing your address in a timely manner will avoid the inconvenience of misdirected mail and late bills and notices.

Be sure to send a change of address to:

• Post Office: file a Change of Address form online or visit your local post office to forward your mail
• Credit cards
• Magazine and newspaper subscriptions (this may require several weeks)
• Bank accounts (if your bank doesn’t have a branch in your new city, open a new account and transfer funds
• Insurance Companies:
  • Life
  • Health
  • Auto
  • Homeowners/renters
• Vehicle registration, driver’s license, and motor club membership (click here for TX online drivers license services and click here for TX online vehicle registration address change)
• Voter registration (click here for TX voter registration address change)
• Utilities:
  • Gas (TX Gas Service)
  • Electric (City of Austin; Pedernales Electric)
  • Water (City of Austin; LCRA)
  • Trash (City of Austin; TDI)
  • Telephone (AT&T; Time Warner Cable
  • Cell Phone (AT&T; T-Mobile; Verizon; Sprint)
  • Cable TV (Time Warner Cable; Grande)
  • Internet (AT&T; Time Warner Cable; Grande)
• Your buyer or old landlord (don’t forget to arrange for refunds of any deposits)
• Doctor and dentist (ask for referrals or check out WebMD then transfer prescriptions, x-rays, medical records, etc.)

…

Understand Your Moving Schedule

If you booked a move with Elephant Moving Austin you should receive a confirmation email from our office. This email is important because it is proof of your reservation with us and also provides you with some very important information regarding your moving schedule and Elephant Moving’s policies. Please read all information carefully and contact our office if you have any questions.

What does your move start time mean?

If you have scheduled a morning appointment for 8am or 9am then your moving crew should arrive at the scheduled time (sometimes they are a few minutes early or late depending on weather or traffic).…

…But if it’s hourly, why do you need my item list?

This is a question the sales staff at Elephant Moving hears frequently. Many customers want to know why we need an accurate item list from them if we are charging by the hour.

REASON #2:

An accurate item list helps our moving crews keep their schedule. If a crew shows up to a move and there is more to move than on the list then the move will take longer. This means that the crew will be late to the moves after this one, which is not fair to the other customers.…

When purchasing moving insurance coverage for your local or long-distance move you should be sure to read the fine print carefully!

There are some things that are not covered by any third party moving insurance policy.

Boxes, containers, and items that are packed by owner (PBO) are excluded from full coverage – the maximum amount that will be paid for these items is $250.

If there are items that need to be boxed or otherwise packaged that you would like insured for above this amount then you will need to order packing services from your mover in order to get full replacement coverage.…

The Basics About Transit Insurance

The basic insurance that Austin movers carry is $.60 per pound per article. Liability is limited to $100.00 for damage to floors, walls, doors, and painted surfaces. You may wish to purchase additional transit insurance to cover loss or damage to your goods; additional coverage is not available for damage to premises.

Elephant Moving works with MovingInsurance.com to bring you increased insurance options. MovingInsurance.com offers Total Loss Only, Full Replacement – Valued Inventory and Full Replacement – Lump Sum coverages. Additional options include Pairs and Sets coverage and Mechanical and Electrical Derangement coverage. MovingInsurance.com allows you to insure one high value item, your entire shipment, or anything in between.…

Moving Reservation and Cancellation

Reservations for move appointments are accepted on a first come first served basis. Simply receiving an estimate does not guarantee that an appointment is available on the desired day. Time slots are not guaranteed until customer has officially booked a move. Valid credit card information may be required to hold a reservation. Reference numbers and/or confirmation emails are given to every customer who books a move –

KEEP THIS INFORMATION, IT IS IMPORTANT!

Moves must be cancelled at least 48 hours in advance of appointment time to avoid a cancellation fee. Failure to do so will result in a $75 nonrefundable cancellation fee.…

We get this question a lot. The simple answer is yes, of course we will move you when it rains!

Your friendly Austin movers are here to help. We’re like the postman – a little rain can’t stop us! We take extra care to ensure that your belongings and your home are protected from the elements when we help you move when it rains.

We have floor runners, heavy duty furniture blankets and plastic wrap to keep everything dry and clean! We’ll cover your floors, your furniture and your boxes to keep everything in tip top shape. We can’t take our shoes off (not only is is unsafe but it’s also quite impractical when going in and out of your dwelling), but we will make sure our wet, muddy feet and dollies never come in contact with anything of yours.…

As you prepare for your Austin residential move or commercial move, there are some things movers cannot legally transport.

You should be prepared to move these things yourself or leave behind.

What Are the Items Your Movers Can’t Transport?

Moving companies are not legally permitted to transport any hazardous materials!

This includes items that are flammable, corrosive or combustible.

What does this mean for you?

If you have a gas barbecue grill you will need to disconnect the tank and take it with you or the grill stays where it is.

Your lawnmower and other power lawn tools must be emptied of fuel or they do not go on the truck.…