RISMEDIA, May 28, 2008-Interstate mover rate deregulation in 2008, combined with fewer consumers “on the move,” has created a buyers market for professional moving services during National Moving Month this May. As a result, Move, Inc., a leader in online real estate and operator of Moving.com, recommends consumers negotiate more aggressively to lower costs and use the free moving tips and tools provided on Moving.com when planning their move this year.
Services and tools provided free of charge to consumers at Moving.com include: Find a Mover; Find Moving Trucks; Find Moving Help; Find Self Storage; Boxes and Supplies; Free Credit Report; Move Planner; Salary Calculator, Local School Reports, City Reports, Compare two Cities, Rental Guides, and more.
“We recommend consumers leverage the convenience of Internet sites like Moving.com to locate professional movers and then shop rates aggressively to find the best pricing,” said Anne Carroll, vice president of strategic partnerships at Move, Inc. “To win business during the high season kicked off every May by National Moving Month, some professional movers may even provide discounts on supplies, such as boxes and other related services.”
Consumers unsure about what type of moving services they need can take an online quiz at Moving.com. After answering a series of short questions, they will receive a report to help decide whether full or self service assistance is necessary and what type of trucks are most appropriate. A handy chart compares the effort and cost involved in different types of moves, factoring in home size and timing.
“To help reduce stress over the cost of a move, consumers need to be sure to figure in every single item, including those in attics, basements, garages, sheds, closets and under beds,” Carroll says. “We recommend consumer reach a complete understanding about costs with a professional mover ahead of time to avoid any surprises with the final bill.”
Carroll recommends that consumers remember that quality is just as important as price in planning a successful move. At Moving.com, the company says that consumers are matched with prescreened, licensed and insured movers. Costs are higher or lower depending on shipment weight and distance since movers base their charges on shipment weight, current fuel costs, and other required services.
Effective January 1, 2008, the US Transportation Board announced the termination of mover rate agreements was necessary to protect the public interest, particularly the public’s interest in reasonable shipper rates. In compliance with the decision, the American Moving and Storage Association (AMSA) ceased all efforts to update, revise, maintain or program Bureau tariffs as of 2008.
Each year, approximately 19 million American households (42 million people) move to a new home, representing an average of 16% of the population or 115,000 people per day. In five years, nearly 80% of the US population will move.
For more information, visit http://www.move.com.
