Moving involves a lot of shifting pieces. And when you’re facing an upcoming move, it’s vital to create an accurate time frame for your endeavors to ensure everything runs smoothly.
Key Takeaways
- Potential delivery windows depend on many factors, such as distance, shipment weight, and the time of year
- Depending on your specific situation, moving can take anywhere from a couple of days to a month
- Properly communicate with your moving company when deciding upon delivery times to prevent any surprises down the road
- Using a reputable and reliable moving company is key to ensuring the delivery process runs smoothly
- Knowing what to do in the event of a late delivery is a great way to be prepared for any situation
Especially for first-time movers, it can be hard to know what to expect from your chosen delivery company. And if you feel a little anxious, that’s okay too!
Just take a deep breath, and we’ll let you know everything to keep in mind when it comes to working together with your movers.
See Related: Why Choose The Movers Moving and Storage?
Planning Your Upcoming Move
Everyone moves for different reasons, and this journey you’re about to embark on will be unique to you and your circumstances. And everything about your move is unique to you and your family.
But before you can unpack your belongings and start settling into your new home, there are some moving pieces you’ll need to straighten out. And a lot of these moving pieces have to do with your chosen moving company, which includes setting up a delivery window with your movers.
It’s important to know that figuring out a delivery window might not be as straightforward as it may seem. Your delivery window and delivery dates need to be decided with your specific needs in mind.
It would be best if you also kept in mind that you often can’t demand an exact and specific delivery date from your movers. Especially for long-distance moves, it’s challenging for a moving company to accommodate strict timeframes like that.
That’s because even the best and most reputable moving companies aren’t magicians. So don’t be the person who expects a short-staffed moving crew to take belongings from a five-bedroom apartment out of Tampa Bay, Florida, all the way to Seattle, Washington, over one weekend.
When it comes down to it, many factors must be considered when planning an estimated delivery window – so let’s review them now!
The Factors That Can Affect Your Delivery Date
Looking for a specific time frame for how long it will take movers to deliver your belongings? On average, moves can take anywhere from a couple of days to a month.
But countless factors can affect your delivery time and window. For example, your shipment can be susceptible to any of the following conditions:
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- Distance (deliveries will take much longer if you’re moving long-distance or cross-country)
- The time of year
- Moving in the winter has a high possibility of delayed delivery due to bad weather conditions
- Remember that peak season is usually in late spring, early summer, or even early fall.
- The weight and size of your shipment
- Driving laws and the amount of days drivers can legally drive
- Unforeseen circumstances like mechanical problems or truck breakdowns
It may seem like there are a lot of factors to take into consideration when facilitating the big move. But don’t let that scare you. As long as you know what to expect, there’s nothing you can’t handle!
How To Set A Delivery Window
Likely the most integral part of orchestrating a moving venture with a moving company is landing on a delivery window. As we said, this can come down to a lot of nitty-gritty details.
Overall, distance and weight are the two most significant factors that can determine your potential delivery window.
So how exactly can you effectively decide upon an accurate delivery window? Usually, the moving company will outline when they plan to arrive in the paperwork. To ensure smooth delivery, make sure to keep up communication with them about what your needs and desires are.
Though companies may hand out a wide range of possible delivery dates, they also might give you a guaranteed delivery date. That means you at least know the latest possible dates that your belongings will arrive.
Keep in mind that this goes both ways. You should be available during your selected delivery window to accept your incoming shipment, or otherwise have someone there to accept it on your behalf.
What Happens If My Moving Company Takes Too Long?
Though we can do our best to find the perfect delivery times and windows, we still might have the underlying fear that maybe our movers will be late. And though it may not be likely to happen, it can give us much-needed peace of mind to know what to do in this unfortunate situation.
Typically, moving companies will contact you in the event that they’ll be late. Otherwise, you can usually reach out to them for some quick resolutions.
Any reputable company will know that maintaining communication is vital when it comes to the overall delivery process. Late deliveries can be caused by anything from poor planning and plain negligence. Regardless of its origins, accounting for a late delivery is essential to ensuring your family’s comfort in the meantime.
In the case of a late shipment, follow these simple rules to prevent having to wait longer for your belongings!
- Get in contact with the moving company
- Double-check all of your paperwork (estimate, bill of lading, order for service) to make sure your delivery windows and dates line up
- You should always have a copy of the company’s delay policy – make sure to review it
- Many long-distance moving companies offer the ability to track your shipment, so it’s a good idea to watch over this to see when they will arrive
You may also keep any receipts to submit for reimbursement if you incurred additional expenses while waiting for your movers. This can include things like hotel accommodations and extra meals.
Bonus: 5 Tips for Choosing a Mover
Finding A Moving Company You Can Trust To Deliver On-Time
When it comes down to it, finding a reliable and trustworthy moving company is the best way to prevent late deliveries. And in the event of a stalled delivery window, reputable companies usually have excellent policies in place to remedy the situation.
Whether you’re facing a long-distance move or a local relocation, well-established companies like The Movers Moving And Storage make it easy to facilitate your upcoming move. Faithfully serving the Tampa Bay and St. Petersburg area for over forty years, The Movers has become one of the most trusted moving names in Florida and even the country.
Here at The Movers Moving And Storage, we pride ourselves on providing exceptional customer service to give our clients the fantastic moving services they deserve. And, of course, we value consistent and reliable communication more than anything.
Though most movers may sneak in hidden fees for their offers and services, we don’t believe in that kind of trickery. Moving is stressful enough, so we believe our job is to make it as easy as possible for you!
How To Properly Communicate With Moving Companies
Maintaining communication with those around us can fix or prevent many things in life. And the same goes for moving!
So if you’re considering the possibility of your household goods and personal belongings arriving late, you should always reach out to your moving company first. Getting an updated delivery time can do wonders in helping you plan around any delay.
Each moving company has its own method of determining delivery windows and organizing its delivery spread. Though you don’t typically expect your shipment to arrive late, planning for this event can come into use when you least expect it.
And at the end of the day, we all have the same goal – to get your personal belongings to your new home to let you start settling in seamlessly to your new life. So let’s work together!
Keep Reading: 8 Best Moving Companies For 2023
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The Movers Moving & Storage has been a family-owned and operated moving company for 40 years and across three generations. Serving areas in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Bradenton, Spring Hill, Lakeland, Wesley Chapel, Brandon, and Clearwater in Florida, our simple approach to moving has not changed since the day we opened. We treat our customers like family and their belongings like our own. For more moving facts and information, follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter.
