How an Interstate Move Works - the Paperwork

There is a ton of paperwork involved with interstate moving. Here's a run down of what there is and when you get it.

- Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move
A customer received either when we come out to do an on site estimate or we send it by mail. This booklet gives customers information on everything from estimates to disputes to full value protection. It can also be found online.
- Ready to Move?
This pamphlet is also given to customers either when we come out to do an on site estimate or it is sent by mail. It gives the customer tips on moving and contains a condensed version of some of the information found in Your Rights and Responsibilities When you Move.
- Estimated Cost of Services
This piece of paper is a formal estimate from us or any other moving company. It outlines all charges, including packing if that is being done by the moving company. Intelligent Labor and Moving will either mail this after a customer has accepted the estimate we've sent by e-mail someone will swing by the customer's current residence to have it signed. Estimates are good for 60 days.
- Order for Service
This document is a customers acknowledgment that he or she would like Intelligent Labor and Moving (or any other moving company) to complete his or her move. Estimated costs are outlined again. The customer must also declare the value of the shipment and select a deductible amount. As with the "Estimated Cost of Services" we will either mail it or swing by a customer's house to have the document signed before the move.
- Uniform Household Goods Bill of Lading and Freight Bill
The Bill of Lading also lists the estimated charges and declaration of value. It contains much of the same information as the "Estimated Cost of Services" and the "Order for Service." This document is filled out during the move.
- Household Goods Descriptive Inventory
The movers use this document to list your goods and their condition upon their arrival at the origin address. Every item is given a number and the condition is checked and noted again upon arrival at the destination.
- High Risk/High Value Inventory
This is much the same as the "Household Goods Descriptive Inventory" but for items that fall into specific guidelines. High value items are considered by the government to be currency, coins, jewelry, silverware and silver service sets, crystal, figurines, furs, object of arts, computer software programs, manuscripts, comic books, baseball cards, stamps, and other collectible items or rare documents that have a value in access of $100/pound (language courtesy of Milburn Printing). There are other stipulations listed on this document. It is important for customers to read and understand what high value means. This document will be filled out at the load, if at all.
- Complaint and Inquiry Sheet
We give this sheet to the customer at the beginning of their move. It outlines how to go about making a formal complaint or inquiry against Intelligent Labor and Moving and what happens after one is filed.
-Document Acknowledgment
This is a document created by us that a customer has to initial at the end of the move stating that he or she has received all of the above listed documents.
- On Site Estimate Release
If a customer lives within 50 miles of our warehouse and tells us they do not want an on site estimate for their move we require him or her to sign this document. It release Intelligent Labor and Moving from responsibility regarding the requirement as well as the accuracy of the information provided. This document should be signed at the beginning of the move or earlier.

Phew, that's a lot of paper. All of it needs to be signed by the customer. In most cases the customer also gets to keep a copy for his or her records. If you have questions about any of it let us know.