1 – What is a “move”?
It is a set of operations that includes at least the loading of the furniture at the old home, its transport, and unloading at the new home. The rights and obligations of the parties mentioned only concern this specific contract.
If the operations are limited to transport, it is no longer a matter of a move, but a simple transport contract: what will be said about the consignment note or the estimate, in particular, does not concern him. Conversely, if the furniture is simply moved, within the same building, for example, it will be an industrial lease contract: the formalities and deadlines to be observed in the event of damage, presented here, do not apply to this type of work.
2 – Which mover to choose?
The profession of mover is regulated. Each of the active companies is registered not only in the Trade and Companies Register (RCS) or in the Trades Directory (RM), but also in the National Electronic Register of Road Transport Companies (Article R. 3211-8 of the Code of transport). For this, they must meet regulatory conditions of professional integrity (absence of tort convictions of legal officials and the director), professional capacity, and financial capacity.
Check whether the mover is registered in the National Electronic Register of Road Transport Companies on the website of the Ministry of Ecological Transition.
Some movers join unions such as the Chambre Syndicale du Déménagement (consult their directory by clicking on this link), the French Federation of Movers, or the Organization of European Road Transporters (Otre).
In addition to the guarantee that these companies fulfill their legal obligations (registration in the registers, taking out insurance), in the event of a dispute, these organizations can intervene in the resolution (see question 20 – No arrangement is possible with the mover: that to do ?).
There are also networks or chains that bring together companies to streamline interregional moves. Some networks require their members to also join the Chambre Syndicale; members of other networks remain free to join. Most often, the members of these groups are independent companies to which the network can neither impose, nor even advise on prices to be charged. It is therefore not useless to put two members of the same network in competition.
Among the logos displayed by the movers is the AFNOR NF Service certification: NF Service. The companies certified by Afnor are committed to respecting the service standard in all respects. Beforehand, Afnor checked that the company implements the technical and human resources defined by the standard; it will repeat this check regularly and will also survey customers to check the quality of the service provided. In short, a company can be a member of the Chambre Syndicale, a member of a network of movers and certified by Afnor; but it can also be a member of a network only, or NF certified without being unionized or part of a network and so on.
If you are considering choosing your move over the Internet, consider consulting the reviews. Word of mouth from people who have moved can also help.
3 – When to move?
Whenever possible, it is best to avoid the end of the month and school holidays, which are very popular periods. This allows more companies to compete, take advantage of the preferential rates they offer (they often use “tricolor calendars” like transport companies) or group removals. It also avoids the problems associated with employing unskilled temporary workers, which are often called upon during peak periods. Companies should be contacted at least three weeks ahead of time, and perhaps one month ahead of time during school holidays.
4 – What are the different removal formulas?
There are no standardized formulas, and the names used are multiple: “economy class”, “standard”, “luxury”, “traditional”, “dynamic”, “comfort”, “category 1”, etc. Generally, companies practice three levels of service. At the first level, the customer takes care of a maximum of operations (dismantling, packaging, unpacking, reassembly), the company limiting its intervention to loading, transport, and unloading. In the second formula, the customer’s participation is limited to the easiest operations (packing linen and books, etc.). In the third, the company takes care of everything.
Some movers have created more sophisticated formulas that include, for example, hotel, furniture storage, and cleaning the apartment on departure. Before having quotes drawn up, it is therefore essential to have already thought about the question and, in the event that one chooses active participation, to have evaluated the time that will have to be devoted to it in the weeks. that will precede the move.
If you are moving a long distance (over 100 km), the professional can offer you groupage, which reduces the price, if you have a small volume to move, if you are flexible in your dates. The costs (transport, vehicle rental, etc.) are shared between different customers.
Another solution: the organized trip: you benefit from the return of the mover for your own move (transport does not return empty).
5 – Is it really useful to have an estimate drawn up by several movers?
Yes. The prices are free. Experience shows that for the same service, the price difference can reach 20 to 50%. The (mandatory) display of prices on the premises of the company allows, of course, a first comparison since the potential customer will find there at least the following information: the price of labor, traction price per unit of volume (with a fixed term and a kilometer term), price of lost supplies and rental price of small equipment. But that is not enough, because the final price will depend just as much on the volume of the furniture and the handling difficulties, as the mover will have evaluated them at your home.
The establishment of quotes has another interest: the visit of the technician of the company, his questions, his advice, will allow you to judge the seriousness and the professionalism of the company to which you will entrust your goods. Use with caution: quotes are drawn up over the phone or over the Internet; they only give an estimate of the price.
You can take a look at Patriot auto transport for home car moving.
6 – What is the “consignment note”?
It is a required administrative document that will accompany the furniture from beginning to end. It describes the move as agreed between the parties and includes at least the following information:
- the name and address of the company,
- the name and address of the customer,
- the mode of execution of the transport,
- the volume of furniture,
- the places of loading and delivery,
- the deadlines for loading and delivery.
The consignment note is drawn up in four copies, one of which will be kept by the company; a second copy will follow the furniture during the transport and will be returned to you at the end of the operations; the third constitutes the delivery note: it is on this document that you will mention your discharge or your reservations; the fourth is the duplicate of the delivery note, which you will keep.
You can take a look at Patriot auto transport for home car moving.
7 – What is a “declaration of value”?
This is a form that you are invited to complete at the time of the quote. You will carry the list and the value of each piece of furniture that you estimate to be worth more than the amount of the lump sum compensation per piece of furniture that appears in the contract. The contract in fact carries two limitations of liability: the total value of the furniture (€ 20,000, for example) and the maximum value per piece of furniture or object (often € 500).
