Preparation
Your first contact with a van line will be with a relocation consultant. This is often the title associated with a salesperson for a local moving company. Advising the family on every aspect of a well-planned move is the primary responsibility of this professional.

The relocation consultant will come to your home or explain over the phone to you and your family the many services that their company offers. Having done that, the relocation consultant will perform a survey of everything in your home that will be moved and they will probably point out things along the way that can't be moved (flammables such as cans of paint, for example) and items that may require special attention (crating for a slate-top pool table, perhaps).

This survey allows the counselor to provide you with an estimate of costs and various pricing options you may choose. Once you've selected a mover, you'll be asked to sign an Order for Service at which point your relocation consultant will register your move with the van line.

Packing and Loading
If you ordered packing, a team of specially-trained packers will be sent to your home either on the morning of your scheduled loading day or the day before, depending on how much packing needs to be done.

Next up among the professionals assigned to service your shipment is the driver or van foreman, as we in the moving industry call them, since their role in your move encompasses so much more than just driving. They, of course, are in charge of the physical moving process. The van foreman is responsible for loading your goods at origin, driving the van, and delivering your belongings safe and sound into your new home. Generally, they will be assisted in the loading and unloading processes by one to three helpers.

Before loading begins, the driver will take special precautions to protect your home, as well as its contents. This may include laying down "floor runners" to protect carpets and flooring in entryways, hallways, and other high-traffic areas, as well as padding banisters and doorways to avoid marring walls and woodwork.

If you cannot be present at the time of loading, you'll need to arrange for a responsible person to act as your agent in signing both the bill of lading and the inventory list.

Most furniture is wrapped with specially constructed cloth pads or "blankets" to protect it from scratches, dents, dirt, etc. Even items such as gardening tools are padded to prevent them from scratching or soiling other items in the shipment. Tightly loaded tiers with heavy articles loaded on the bottom will be constructed inside the van to avoid jarring or shifting while on the road.

The vans themselves, in addition to being quite spacious, are specially designed and equipped to accommodate the safe transportation of household goods.

After everything has been loaded in the van, it's a good idea for you and the van foreman to take one last walk through your house to make sure that nothing has been overlooked.

Delivery of Your Possessions
When your goods arrive, you can help expedite the unloading process by having a room-by-room floor plan in mind, and by letting the driver know where you want things placed as they're unloaded and brought into your home.

The driver and crew will reassemble any items they disassembled at origin. Check items off the Customer Check-Off Sheet as they're brought in, noting their condition. If an item appears to have been damaged during the move or is missing, make a note on the inventory including the driver's copies and notify your move coordinator.

Payment
Unless approved billing or credit arrangements have been made in advance, the driver is required by law to collect payment for your move before your shipment can be unloaded. If your shipment is placed in storage, charges up to that point are due at that time. Payment must be made in cash or by certified or cashier's check, travelers' checks, or money order payable to the van line. iMove Solutions also accept credit cards. Personal checks cannot be accepted. A copy of the bill of lading signed by the driver will be your receipt.

Unpacking
If you have requested and paid for unpacking services, your move coordinator will arrange to unpack cartons at the time of delivery and will remove used packing materials. Should you choose to unpack your cartons yourself, you'll be responsible for disposing of empty cartons and used materials.

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