Wednesday, 23 July 2014

Tips for a Safe and Easy Move for Your Pet

 Relocating is not easy, but can be more challenging when a homeowner has to deal with a pet. Pets feel overwhelmed and stressed by moving. Before the move, make sure to schedule for a visit to the vet. This is very important especially if your pet has had a challenging medical history. The vet will be able to determine whether the animal is fit enough to travel. Consider updating vaccinations and fill the necessary prescriptions to help ease the transition. Some of the ways to make the pet's move easy include:

· Get ID tags or microchip
It is advisable to get your pet new identification by ordering new ID tags. ID tags that feature the pet's name, new address and phone number are recommended highly. Alternatively, you may consider fitting your pet with a microchip that holds all the important information. In the event that your pet runs off during the move, the information contained on the ID tags or microchip can help to bring your pet back safely.

· Ensure comfort of your pet

Having your pet's items of comfort nearby can help offer some form of relief, making the move less stressful for the animal. A blanket, special toys or other items can come handy in ensuring comfort during the move. Furthermore, if your pet has furniture, a bed or house, it can help. Make sure your pet has plenty of food to eat and fresh water to consume during the move. It is equally important to have the litter box close during long moves.

· Arrange for pet-friendly hotel
 
Travelling for long hours can be hard on any pet. If you are relocating a long distance away, check out on the hotels along the way to find out whether they allow pets or whether they can arrange for a kennel stay. Several accommodation facilities allow pets, but often charge an extra fee to have them. Hiring a sitter to look after your pet can help keep the animal out of the home while the relocating company is busy packaging and loading your valuables. The choice of a pet sitter should be someone responsible and known by the pet.

· Introduce the pet to his/her new home


Once you get to your destination, introduce your pet to a comfortable spot for its bed, food, water, toys and litter box. Allow the pet to wander around the premises to get familiar with the house. Initially, you may need to limit the pet's exploration indoors. After one or two weeks, if the pet is an outdoors pet as well, you can allow it to explore the outdoors under supervision.

Common Mistakes Made When Moving

It is very important to get the moving company contract in writing. A good moving company will be in a position to hand you a booklet outlining the expectations, estimated price, the tasks to be performed by the company, the dates for picking the items and date of delivery and movers responsibility in case of damages. It is advisable to know what the insurance covers if something goes missing or breaks. The minimum coverage is often regulated by the state laws. Therefore, it is important to deal with a company that offers adequate coverage for all your valuable goods. The mistakes often made when moving include:



· Being unrealistic

You can expect a few delays and glitches that are out of the control of everyone. Therefore, you do not have to be too demanding, expecting to be compensated because the mover arrived 30 minutes late. It is equally important to back up your computer by making several copies of your data and storing them in various locations. This way, you will not have to create a scene and paying for legal representation in order to get compensation for lost data during the move. Failing to buy or rent a dolly to handle your move or to arrange your items after the mover has unloaded, is a big mistake. You will end up paying for back strain and ER visits.

· Ignoring background check

One way of guaranteeing the safety of your goods is to perform a background check. This will grant you the ideal opportunity to find out who you will be dealing with. Unfortunately, many home and business owners fail to perform a background check and end up realizing they were dealing with strangers when something goes wrong.

A background check should take you to the company's premises to find out whether the company will be handling the move or will be subcontracting the job. You will find out whether the company has its own trucks. Therefore, you will avoid a situation where the name on the moving truck does not match the name of the moving company you hired. When you learn early enough that you will be dealing with a stranger, you can cancel the contract
.
· Failing to know movers responsibility

It is very important to know the movers responsibility before signing the contract. Find out and ask questions about the mover's responsibility in the event of items going missing or being damaged. Therefore, it is important to find out whether a company has insurance and what it covers. A good company should be in a position to resolve complaints, discrepancies and losses quickly. Furthermore, find out from the movers whether their price estimates are binding or subject to change. A binding estimate will help you avoid future surprises.

Strategies to Avoid Moving Frauds

It is very important to know who you are dealing with when it comes to moving home or business. Horror experiences about fraud moving companies abound. Therefore, it is advisable to avoid a service provider who is out to take you for a ride. Take the time to consider the company's website and if the service provider has no phone number or physical address, it is suspect. Make sure to hire a company that has a solid reputation. Moreover, the company should have been in existence for many years and seeks to be around indefinitely. Furthermore, checking the customer reviews and local business bureau reviews will help you get a balanced feedback about the quality of service. Strategies to avoid moving swindles include:


· Get referrals & recommendations

Word of mouth offers an effective way of finding a good mover. The simplest way of finding a moving company is to get recommendation from people who have had the experience of dealing with a mover, such as friends, relatives and colleagues. In addition, real estate agents have important information pertaining to the housing industry. Therefore, they make a reliable source. Referrals from reputable real estate agents from whom you are selling or buying your home can recommend the best movers available in town.

· Meet your movers

It is very important to meet with the relocating company face-to-face to help you know who you are engaging. Furthermore, ensure all estimates are performed in your premises to avoid future surprises. Deal with a company that is ready to send a representative to your home to determine the number and weight of items that need to be moved. Therefore, the company will be in a better position to give a more realistic price estimate. Moreover, you stand a better chance to ask the company's representative questions- to find out whether the price estimates are binding or non-binding. A company that offers price estimates over the phone or through email is suspect.

· Licensed & insured


It is very important to determine whether the moving company is authorized to engage in the business. Every reputable mover is licensed to operate, with the up-to-dated information pertaining to his or her license being available on the local authority website. It is equally important to deal with a company that has insurance. Find out from the mover what the costs and coverage options are available for your type of move. Furthermore, a mover with a Workers Protection Policy makes a better option because when a worker receives injuries in your premises you will not be held responsible.