What You Should Do Prior to Signing for Your Belongings

Once all of your belongings have been delivered to your new home, you are that much closer to finally being done with the moving process. The only step of the process that remains is signing for your things. After you sign the appropriate papers, the move will be officially complete, and you can start enjoying life in your new home. Prior to signing though, there are a few things you have to do. For instance, you'll have to oversee the unloading process to make sure everything is delivered to your home. If something is missing or damaged, you should bring it up to your movers immediately, before signing anything.		Photo by zeafonso, sxc.hu
Here are some other things to keep in mind before you sign for your goods: Make sure the list of items on the bill of lading is identical to that on the service order. If new charges appear on the final bill, find out what they are and why you are getting charged for them. Check to see that the method of payment listed is the same method you and the mover agreed upon beforehand. You certainly don't want to sign the contract and get stuck paying with cash when you wanted to pay by credit card. Another thing to keep in mind before you sign for your goods is that you'll want to look everything over for damages. If there are any, bring this up to the movers. Even if something was lost or damaged, you should still sign for the shipment so you can start the claims process sooner. Once you have received your entire shipment and looked it over, you can sign the bill of lading. Although this signifies the end of the move, you will still have nine months after signing to file any claims for lost or damaged goods.
TIP: If you are unable to be at your home when the goods are delivered, have a trusted friend act on your behalf. Make sure he or she knows to look over your goods before signing.
After signing the bill of lading and any other necessary documents, your move will be complete. Make sure you save all documents related to the move and keep them in a safe place. You may have to review the documents if you have any claims, and you might need a copy of the final bill when you fill out your taxes.