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Show MOVING TIPS While we neither endorse nor recommend re-commend any particular moving company, com-pany, we found a recent publication of North American Van Lines to contain some solid, down-to-earth advice on preparing yourself and your furnishings furnish-ings for a move. We quote in part: "The estimate: it's not a bid. The cost is based on the weight of the shipment, the distance traveled, plus the cost of additional services. Exact costs can't be determined before the van is loaded and weighed. Obviously you need the services of a reliable, experienced ex-perienced estimator. An estimate that's too low sets you up for an unpleasant un-pleasant surprise at the end of your move. If, for example, your estimate was $400, and you have that amount on hand, you're going to be very unhappy if the bill is $500: True, ICC Regulations Regula-tions permit you to pay 110 of the estimate on delivery, and the balance within 15 business days. But it's inconvenient in-convenient and frustrating for your bill to be more than you'd anticipated." Later in the booklet, they reveal this valuable information: "Protection plans: how to avoid being confused by facts. Even the most careful of us breaks or loses something sometime. That's why protection is vital." And then the booklet mentions two plans, one of which is included in the cost of moving when you have a professional move you, and the other is an optional plan. "The ICC requires you to specify the 60C Plan to get it. Otherwise we provide Full Value Protection. That's because in most cases you'll need the extra protection." The booklet describes the 60C plan this way: "If a ten-pound article is damaged or lost, you'll be awarded up to $6.00 (600 x 10 lbs.) for its replacement replace-ment or repair." "Full Value Protection costs a little more. FVP pays you up to the fair market mar-ket value of any lost or damaged article. arti-cle. "The minimum FVP coverage is $1.25 per pound. If your shipment weights 10,000 pounds, for example, the total value will be $12,500 ($1.25 x 10,000). You'd be paid up to this amount if the whole shipment were lost or destroyed. "A stereo might have cost $300 new. In used condition, the value might be $150. In case of loss, under FVP you'd be paid the used condition price. Or up to that amount for repair in case of damage." Then they go on to say that in their experience, the average shipment is worth $1.50 per pound. And you may buy any amount of coverage you want . |