Moving Guide and Terms Glossary

A
Access - Space at and around the property for removal vehicles, and whether lifts are available for apartments. This is usually assesed by the consultant to ascertain any difficulties the vehicle may encounter.

Agent - A person or company appointed by your mover to act on their behalf, or a member of a Van Line.

Air Ride Suspension - Feature on a removal vehicle, to aid smoother transit.

B
Blanket Wrapping - Method of packing furniture to prevent damage in transit

Bonded Warehouse - Warehouse that meets with local Customs specifications, allows the storage of items that have not yet gained customs cleared status.

C
Cartons - Boxes for packing smaller items, some are specifically designed for certain types of items e.g. Books, Clothing on hangers.

Chargeable Weight - The weight used by an airline to determine the air freight charge.

Consultant - Person who will call at your property, discuss your particular move requirements, usually making a note of items to be moved, provide information about their company and a removal quotation.

Container - Steel container used for shipping your belongings oversease, can be used for sea, road or rail shipments

Container Storage - Large wooden containers, your belongings are loaded into them, sealed and then the container is stacked away

Containerised Vehicle - Specialist removal vehicle which is designed to carry storage container, your belongings can therefore be loaded or unloaded at your residence.

Conventional Storage - Your belongings are stacked on the floor in an allocated space and usually covered with sheeting.

Custom Approved Warehouse - Warehouse that meets with local Customs specifications, allows the storage of items that have not yet gained customs cleared status

Corporate Account - When your employer is responsible for the removal charges.

Cost per cubic meter - A rate given on the estimated space your belongings will fill on a truck / container. Note, ensure you are happy with the estimated volume, ask the mover for a list of the items the rate is based on.

Cost per 100 lbs - A rate given on the estimated weight of your belongings. Note, ensure you are happy with the estimated weight, ask the mover for a list of the items the rate is based on and a Weight Ticket, confirming the actual weight at the time of the move.

Cost per cubic feet - A rate given on the estimated space your belongings will fill on a truck / container. Note, ensure you are happy with the estimated volume, ask the mover for a list of the items the rate is based on.

Cost per hour - A rate given per hour based on the number of men and size of truck, you will be charged on the time taken to carry out the move.

Crate - A wooden crate made specifically to carry a high value / delicate item e.g., Large Mirror or a wooden case made specifically to fit several items in for long distance or international moves.

Customs Clearance - Regulations and procedures covering the entry of goods into accounts

D
Declared Value - Value you the owner declare your goods to be for the purpose of insurance. This will form the basis of your insurance cover and it is important that it reflects the value of your belongings, it could be the full replacement value or the second-hand (Indemnity) value dependant on the type of cover you are arranging.

Dedicated truck / container - A truck or container carrying your belongings exclusively, with move dates specified by you and agreed by the mover.

Destination Agent - Agent responsible for arranging customs clearance and delivery of your shipment.

Domestic - Move within same country, state, county.

E
Excess - The amount that will be deducted from any insurance settlement, may be a per item excess or per total claim.

Exclusions - Items or cause of damage specifically excluded from the policy. For example money, jewellery, mechanical derangement, check the insurance information provided by your mover.

Export Wrapping - Method of packing household and personal effects for transportation overseas.

F
Ferry Vehicle - Small vehicle used when access at residence is restricted, the ferry vehicle goes between the house and large removal truck with your possessions

Fire Insurance Cover - Specifically to cover the risk of fire, sometimes this risk is included within a policy, other instances it is specified separately

Fixed price quote - A rate given based on all the information supplied by you to the mover, this is the price charged as long as the information supplied is accurate.

Foam Moulding - Foam moulded to the shape of specific items, usually very high value and delicate items.

Full Cover - Detailed insurance cover, usually includes loss, theft, fire and breakage, (breakage maybe restricted to items packed by your professional mover). May carry excess or deductible, maximum limits on total value or certain types of items, pairs and set clause, mechanical derangement clause and specific exclusions, for example money, stamp collection and jewellery. Always read details carefully.

Full Container Load - A container carrying your belongings exclusively, with specified move dates as agreed with your mover.

G
Groupage - Your belongings use part of the space in the container, the costs are shared and this method of transport usually results in a saving although transit times are usually longer.

H
Home Packing - An option when you choose to carry out your own packing.

I
Indemnity Cover - The value of your items allowing for depreciation and ware, the second-hand value.

Inland Move - Move within same country, state, county

Intrastate Move - Move within same state

Insurance - To cover your belongings whilst in transit or storage - see Insurance section for further details.

Insurance Certificate - A certificate is sometimes given to you or held on your file by your mover. It is in accordance with the details you provide on the Insurance Proposal Form and confirms insurance has been arranged on your behalf.

Insurance Proposal Form - Usually a condition of arranging insurance. When completing the appropriate form consider that it maybe used in the event of a claim, ensure that you complete it comprehensively, any items you do not show will be considered not insured. Make sure you specify items of high value or of a special nature, you may produce your own valued listing and attach it to the proposal form, ensure that you sign the form and your own listing.

Inventory - A list of the your belongings to be moved or a list of your belongings in transit or storage.

J
- No Terms

K
- No Terms

L
Local Move - Move within same country, state, county

Lump sum - A rate given based on the information supplied by you to the mover, this is the price charged as long as the information supplied is accurate.

L.T.S. - Long Term Storage.

M
Maid Service - Staff to put items into cupboards such as clothing, bedding, kitchen equipment.

Marine Insurance - Insurance specifically to cover your belongings whilst in transit over long distances and or across water by vehicle, ship or aircraft. The policy will cover specific marine risks, ensure that you are aware of the nature of the cover and it's inclusions and exclusions.

Materials - Various items with which your belongings are packed for safe transit e.g., cartons, crates, bubble wrap and removal blankets

N
National Move - Move within same country, usually long distance.

O
Owner packing - You choose to pack your belongings yourself, either into cartons supplied by the mover or into your own boxes.

P
Packing List - Numbered listing of your belongings, with general description and the condition of items prior to storage, used for checking that all items placed in store are accounted for at the time of delivery. You will be asked to sign the form at the time of collection and delivery in agreement with the details, noting any exceptions. This form maybe used in the processing of an insurance claim.

Part Load - Your belongings take up part of the space on a truck or in a container, the cost is therefore shared and usually results in a saving, suitable for small moves. Note transit times are usually longer and you must have some flexibility on your move dates.

Pantechnican - Specialist removal vehicle

Pre-Delivery of Cartons - Cartons delivered to your home by the mover in advance of the pick-up date for owner packing.

Pre-Packing - Packing staff and materials arrive before the actual move date to pack and prepare your belongings for moving.

Private Move - The person who is moving is responsible for paying the move charges

Professional packing - Packing staff and materials supplied by your mover to carry out packing of your belongings.

Protective Pads - Method of packing furniture to prevent damage in transit.

Q
- No Terms

R
Relocation Consultant - To provide advise / information source on aspects of home relocation, not usually removal specialist.

Replacement - Insurance that provides replacement of the item damaged beyond economical repair or lost. Ensure that if you are required to provide a valued inventory, the values declared are the replacement value.

S
S.I.T - Short Term Storage

Shuttle Vehicle - Small vehicle used when access at residence is restricted, the shuttle vehicle goes between the house and large removal truck with your belongings.

Special Load - A truck or container carrying your belongings exclusively, with move dates specified by you and agreed by the mover.

Storage Extension Insurance - The extension of an original removal insurance policy to cover a period of storage, for more information see Insurance Section.

Storage Modules - Large wooden container, your belongings are loaded into them, sealed and then the container is stacked away

Storage Vaults - Large wooden container, your belongings are loaded into them, sealed and then the container is stacked away

Storage Extension Cover - In the event that your consignment is placed into storage you may need to extend an original insurance policy (Marine Policy usually), to cover for this period. There is usually an additional premium and you may need to give your insurance provider / mover written instructions to do this. It is likely that it will be for a specified period and therefore you may need to make further extensions. It is in your best interest to extend an original policy in order that the cover is continuous and therefore with one insurer.

Sub-Contractor - A company appointed by your mover to carry out packing, loading, collection or delivery services on your movers behalf.

Surveyor - A person who will call at your property, discuss your particular move requirements, usually making a note of items to be moved, provide information about their company and a removal quotation.

T
Third Party Services - Some movers offer to arrange / co-ordinate additional professional services e.g. Plumbers, House Cleaners, Waterbed dismantling/assembling, carpenters, maid service.

Total Loss - Insurance for your belongings on the restricted basis of total loss only, this is very limited cover and you should check the details carefully

Transit Insurance - Insurance for your belongings whilst they are in transit, the cover provided maybe Indemnity or New for Old/Replacement, check the details of the cover you are offered

Transit Time - The time indicated between collection and delivery of your belongings.

U
Under Insured - When the declared value of an item is less than the cost of replacement, insurance compensation will be restricted to the value declared as a maximum level of compensation

V
Van Line - Group of independent moving companies who co-operate together to provide moving services throughout a specified country e.g., U.S.A.

W
Warehouse Handling - The physical unloading / loading at a warehouse, this can be carried out by forklift truck of by manpower