74 ~ Friday, May 28. 1999 — North Shore News Being prepared makes the move sine SPRING has arrived and “For Sale” signs have begun to sprout up along with cro- cuses and daffodils, as many families prepare to change residences. Almost 50% of all moves take place berween June | and Sept. 30. If you're among the millions of families thar will be relocating this summer, it’s not teo seon to begin planning for a successful move. “Better Business Bureaus have received a steady increase in) com- plaints against moving companies over the past few years,” says Valerie MacLean, spokesperson for the Better Business Bureau (BBB) servie- ing Mainland B.C. “From 1995 to 1997, the number of complaints sys- tem wide increased trom 2,868 to 3,736 — a 30% jump. At the local level, we received more than 150 complaints against moving compa- nies last vear.” The most common complaints allege: disputes regarding claims for lost or damaged household goods, charges that exceed the estimate pro- vided and missed pickup or delivery dates. How can consumers avoid these and other pitfills? “Perhaps the most important advice is to select a good moving and storage company. There are thou- sands of responsible, reputable mov- ing and storage companies that do not have a pattern of complaints. To find out who the best movers are in your area, consumers should ask friends, relatives and co-workers for recommendations. Also check with the BBB to sec if we have informa- tion on the company,” — said MacLean. Selecting a mover: Once you’ve compiled a list of movers, contact them fer additional information and to compare their services. Inform oved it the first Sales Centre Open Daily 12-5 except Thursday & Friday them of your destination and the timing of your move. Obtain an in- home, visual estimate. How professional is the company representative? Ask fora written est- mate and know whether it’s a bind: ing or a non-binding estimate. Reach a clear understanding about the amount of packing and other services needed. Carefully compare cach estimate to see which company best suits your needs and budget. Whar about insurance? Some con- sumers mistakenly assume that the Moving company is insured to cover the full value of their goods at no extra charge. That is not the case. Untess the consumer makes specific arrange- ments, the mover generally assumes liability for the shipment at an amount equal to 60 cents per pound, per article. The consumer may obtain additional liability protection, at an extra charge, from the mover. The levels of liabiliry and charges for cach option vary. Consumers should assess the vari- ous options, check to see what might already be covered under their homeowner's insurance policy and then purchase the coverage that best meets their needs. If a specific amount of insurance is requested, that amount should appear on the lading /treight bill and the consumer should obrain a copy of the insurance policy that the moving company obtains. “Another important insurance issue to consider is whether the mov- ing company has insured its employ- ees,” MacLean advised. “Ask for proof of workers compensation cov- erage.” Claims and complaints: Be physi- cally present when the mover both loads and unloads your belongings to check that everything has been packed and arrives in good condi- tion. “Ef goods are missing or dam- aged, make sure vou report the fact prompuy and in detail on the van driver's copy of the inventory sheet before vou sign it,” said Maclean. “IH you notice damage after unpack- ing, a clainy must be filed in writing, with a specitic dollar amount. [t's to your advantage to report damage as soon as possible.” Hf the moving company is not responsive, then con- tact the BRB to initiate a complaint process. Call vour local BBB at 682- 2711) or use the province-by- province directory on the BBB Web site at . NEWS photo Mike Wakelield THE Lynn Valley office of Home Life Bay City Realty recently relocated. Receptionist Leslie Lubyk was the last to turn out the lights in the eld office at Lynn Valley Centre. The realty office is now located at 3 - 1249 Ross Rd. saw It... You'll love iteven more now that we're marking down the last seven homes! Hurry to THE MET and MAKE YOUR DEAL TODAY! We're considering all offers, but this is your last opportunity to get into THE MET. Don't miss it! Choice of: © Two bedroom homes © Two bedroom & den homies © Two level city homes Features: Brick clad building, stainless steel appliances, granite counter tops. 3 YEAR THIRD PARTY WATER PENETRATION WARRANTY 410 YEAR NEW @ HOME WARRANTY 985-0570 345 Lonsdale Ave., North Vancouver MACLEAN/WEDGEWOOD VENTURE LTD. i