Congrats on your big move to Charleston, West Virginia
Your Charleston Moving Guide
How exciting, you are moving to Charleston, West Virginia! Your move will either be an intrastate move (moving to Charleston from another city in West Virginia) or an interstate move (moving to Charleston from another state).
This detailed article explains what to look for in a moving company whether you're making an interstate or intrastate move.
Your Interstate Move (Moving to Charleston from Another State)
This type of move is regulated and governed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Under the FMCSA guidelines, movers must have certain insurances and are given a USDOT number in order to transport household goods between states. They must also have insurance and make their tariffs and price lists available to anyone who requests it. To check if your mover is registered with FMCSA visit: www.protectyourmove.gov, or call (303) 894-2850. You should also check out the Better Business Bureau to check the companies rating and also see if they have any complaints against them.
Your Intrastate Move (Moving to Charleston from Another City in West Virginia)
A move within West Virginia is called an intrastate move. In West Virginia, moving companies are required to have a Certificate of Convenience and Necessity to transport any household items. To make sure that the moving company you want to work with has this license, check out WestVirginia.gov or call the offices at (304) 340-0320.
Meeting the Moving Companies
After your research, it’s time to meet with three-five Charleston movers for an in-home estimate. This will allow them to actually see what you have to move and give you an accurate quote of what your move will cost. This is also a great time to address any concerns and ask questions. The moving estimate must be in writing unless your move is under $500 or if it's scheduled within five days.
Read your estimate carefully, and don't assume something is included in the estimate if it is not written there. If you still have questions and are unsure about anything ask, even if it’s the day of the move. You don’t want to be uneasy on moving day.
Packing
A lot of people dread the packing experience, but this can be a great start to get you into organizing and cleaning mode before your move. Start by organizing your belongings into a keep, donate or toss pile. Toss pile will likely be obvious (do you really need clothes with holes and stains?). The donate pile can be items that you might not have room for or no longer use. These can be donated to friends, family members or a local charity. You can also look into storage facilities if you can’t bear to part with these items. The keep pile will then go into boxes. When you are packing your keep items, be sure to label each box for its contents, as well as what room (or rooms) the items are to be placed. This system will also help the movers know where each box goes in your new home.
Lost and Damaged Goods
Unfortunately, breakage and damage can occur on moving day. As a result, companies must have movers insurance in an amount equal to the declared value of your belongings. Movers have the option of providing you with one of three levels of reimbursement for lost or damaged household goods. They are:
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Minimal reimbursement: You get 60 cents per pound for anything lost or damaged during the move.
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Depreciated value: You get the current value of your goods that you previously declared or $2.25 per pound, whichever is greater. (This is the coverage you get if you do not choose a different option.)
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Replacement value: you are reimbursed for the replacement value you declared previously or $4.00 per pound, whichever is greater.
There will be a statement on the estimate that you will be required to initialize that acknowledges the level of coverage you have chosen.
Some moving companies might give only depreciated value coverage.
You may purchase moving insurance separately, and you should check your homeowner’s insurance policy to see if you have coverage that way.
A moving company may also reserve the right to repair any damaged items prior to replacing them regardless of the level of coverage you selected, but this must be stated in your written estimate.
Claims
If any of your belongings are damaged, file a written claim for loss or damage with your moving company. The moving company must acknowledge receipt of your claim, in writing, within 15 days after they receive it. The moving company must then offer a settlement, in writing, within 60 days of receiving a claim.
For an interstate move, FMCSA has no authority to resolve claims. You can file a complaint against the moving company by calling FMCSA's 24-hour toll-free hotline at (888) 368-7238, or go to FMCSA's web site. This complaint may spark a Federal enforcement investigation against the mover.
