Moves that begin and end inside Oregon
Two statements from Oregon frame the questions for a household move. ODOT says that when the origin and destination of a move are within Oregon, moving company rates and services are regulated by the ODOT Commerce and Compliance Division. Oregon law says a person may not offer to transport, advertise as willing to transport or transport household goods for-hire in intrastate commerce without a valid certificate from the Department of Transportation.
Before you book, put one question to every company: "Does this move call for an ODOT household goods certificate, and if so, what is your certificate number?" Write the reply, the company's full legal name and the name of the person you spoke with at the top of its estimate. If you want to check a number, ask ODOT how.
An estimate built on seeing your things
A phone price for things nobody has seen leaves a lot open. Ask each company to walk through the home, or to do it by video, and open every door as you go: closets, the pantry, the garage, a crawl space or attic where boxes are stored, and any shed or carport. Point out the pieces that are heavy, fragile or awkward, such as a piano, a gun safe, a large mirror or a sectional sofa.
Then ask for the estimate in writing, and check that it states:
- how many people and how many vehicles are coming;
- an hourly or fixed basis, with what each includes spelled out;
- how the drive to your door and between the two homes is billed;
- materials and packing labor, itemized;
- any stair, elevator or long-carry fee;
- the deposit amount, its method of payment, and the rules for rescheduling.
Ask what could change the final bill, and ask for that answer on the estimate too.
Two addresses, two sets of logistics
Think about each end of the move as a separate job. At the old address and the new one, ask yourself where a truck can stop, whether there is room for a ramp, how far the crew will walk with each load and whether there are steps, a narrow hall or a tight turn on a landing. If either building is an apartment, a condominium or a managed community, ask the manager about move hours, elevator booking, parking for the truck and whether the mover has to send any paperwork ahead. Pass every answer to the companies you are asking to quote.
Sort before you pack
What stays behind is not wrapped, carried or unpacked. Walk through each room with three labels in hand: keep, give away, discard. Deciding on furniture early can help, since large pieces can shape an estimate. Arrange pickups for donations, and book any bulky-item collection well before the day. Ask each mover for its list of items it will not carry, such as fuel, propane, paint, solvents, garden chemicals and loose batteries, and make your own plan for those.
Albany and Millersburg's drinking water
The City of Albany says Albany and Millersburg receive their drinking water from the Santiam River system through two treatment plants: the Albany-Millersburg plant, which filters Santiam River water through membranes and is designed for up to 12 million gallons a day, and the Vine Street plant, which treats water from the Santiam-Albany Canal supplied by the South Santiam River and is designed for up to 16 million gallons a day.
Packing in an order that helps
Box up the guest room, the off-season clothes and the shelf of keepsakes before the things you reach for daily. A box's size can follow its weight: dense items such as books and hand tools in small cartons, bulky soft things in big ones. Run tape across every seam, underneath included. On two sides of each carton, write where it goes and a word or two about the contents, then give it a number for counting at the far end.
Consider carrying some things in your own car: paperwork, prescriptions, house keys, phone cables, a night's clothing, food for you and any pets, and whatever could not be replaced.
Coverage and the agreement
Ask each company what its basic coverage pays if something is damaged or lost, and whether fuller protection is offered and at what price. Ask for proof of liability coverage and workers' compensation. Call your homeowners or renters insurer and ask what your own policy covers while your belongings are in transit or in storage. Read the agreement before signing it, and ask about any line you do not follow.
Running the day
- Be there when the crew arrives, and go over the estimate and the certificate answer with the crew lead.
- Show where the truck should park, and keep pets and children clear of the path.
- Point out what is fragile and what is staying.
- Before the truck leaves, open every cupboard, closet and drawer, and look in the garage once more.
- At the new home, put a room name on each door to match the box labels.
- Count boxes as they come in, look over furniture as it leaves the truck, and write any damage on the paperwork before you sign it.
- Keep your copy of every paper, with the certificate number on it.