A Bozeman move, planned backward from the truck
A local move looks simple on paper: one address, a short drive, another address. In practice the day is decided by small things that nobody wrote down, such as where the truck can stop, how many trips up a staircase the crew faces, and whether the boxes are packed and labeled when the crew walks in. If you are moving within Bozeman or to a nearby town, it helps to plan backward from the moment the truck pulls up and work out what has to be ready by then.
This page covers that planning: the quote, access at each end, packing, the questions to put to a mover, and what to watch for in the paperwork. A separate guide covers what to do if something goes wrong.
Begin with a walk-through, not a phone estimate
A mover who has not seen your belongings is guessing. Ask each company you are considering for an in-person or video walk-through of every room, the garage, the basement, any shed and the attic if you use it for storage. Open closets and cabinets during the walk-through. A full linen closet or a basement shelf of tools can add more boxes than you might expect, and a crew that arrives expecting less may need more time or a second truck.
During the walk-through, point out:
- pieces that need to come apart, such as bed frames, desks, cribs and sectional sofas;
- anything heavy or awkward, such as a piano, a safe, a gun cabinet, exercise equipment or a large freezer;
- items you plan to move yourself, so they are left off the quote;
- anything that stays with the house.
Both addresses matter
Movers price time, and much of that time is spent between the front door and the truck. Describe both homes, not only the one you are leaving. Ask yourself, and then tell the mover:
- where a large truck can park at each address, and whether the street or the driveway is the better spot;
- how far the crew will carry from the truck to the door;
- how many flights of stairs there are at each end, inside and out;
- whether an apartment building has an elevator that needs to be reserved, or a loading area with set hours;
- whether a homeowners association or building manager has rules about moving trucks.
If you are unsure about parking on the street, ask the city which permits, if any, a moving truck needs for street parking, and ask the mover who arranges them.
What rides in the truck and what rides with you
Some things are better kept out of the truck altogether. Set aside a box or bag for the car that holds documents, passports, medicines, jewelry, chargers, keys, cash, a change of clothes and anything you would struggle to replace. Ask the mover whether there are items it will not carry, such as paint, fuel, propane tanks, cleaning chemicals or plants, and plan how you will move or dispose of them.
Packing in an order that unpacks well
Pack the rooms you use least first: guest rooms, storage, books, seasonal items and decorations. Leave the kitchen, the bathroom and the bedrooms for last. Label each box with the room it is going to in the new house, not the room it came from, and add a short note about what is inside. For boxes of papers or valuables, a general label such as "office" is enough.
A few general packing habits help the crew and protect your things:
- keep boxes to a weight one person can lift comfortably, and put books in small boxes;
- fill gaps so contents do not shift, and tape the bottom as well as the top;
- wrap glass and dishes individually and pack plates on edge;
- photograph the back of the television and computer before unplugging them, so reconnecting is quicker.
If the mover is packing for you, ask what materials are included in the price and which are charged per box.
The registration question
Before you book, ask every mover: "What state registration or authority, if any, covers your moving work, and what is the number?" Write the answer on the quote, and keep it with the rest of your moving file. Also ask for proof of liability coverage and workers' compensation, and ask what the mover's own coverage pays if something is damaged, and whether fuller protection is offered at extra cost. Call your homeowners or renters insurer to ask what, if anything, your own policy covers while your things are in transit or in storage.
Gallatin County, for the record
Gallatin County is named for Albert Gallatin, President Madison's Secretary of the Treasury, and the Lewis and Clark party left the first written description of the Gallatin Valley in 1805 and 1806. The Montana Historical Society lists the county as created on February 2, 1865, with Bozeman as its county seat.
Reading the quote
Put the written quotes next to each other and check that they describe the same move. A lower number that leaves out half the basement is not a lower price. Look for:
- the crew size, the truck size and whether the price is hourly or a flat amount;
- how travel time to and from your house is charged;
- charges for stairs, long carries, disassembly, packing and materials;
- the deposit, when it is due, and how it can be paid;
- what happens to the price if the move takes longer than planned.
Ask what would change the final bill, and ask the mover to put that answer in writing. A quote that only exists in a text message or a phone call is hard to rely on later.
The week before
Confirm the date, the arrival window and the crew lead's name. Defrost and dry the freezer if it is moving. Measure the largest pieces of furniture and the doorways at the new house. Arrange for utilities to start at the new address and stop at the old one, and schedule a mail change.
On the day
Be there when the crew arrives. Walk through each room with the crew lead, point out fragile pieces, and agree on where the truck will park. Before the truck leaves the old house, check every closet, cabinet and drawer. At the new house, stand at the door with your floor plan so each box goes to the right room, and look over the furniture before you sign the delivery paperwork.