Mover's Syndrome, Part II

Before the first box is picked up or the first item wrapped in a blanket, I remind everyone, movers and clients, that while the clock IS ticking, the client and I are only interested in a manageable, methodical, trackable move.And even when the crew nods in agreement, I still have to slow them down throughout the process of packing up and loading out.It's imperative that you know what's going in every box and out the door. And that your inventory matches the movers' manifest to avoid any confusion or worse at the load in.I had a friend who recently used a discount mover to ship some things from the west coast. He did buy additional insurance but he didn't keep track of what was leaving and confirming that it was also recorded by the mover.No amount of additional insurance will cover you if you don't have a record of what is being moved.When they finally arrived in New York, it seems these movers had 'lost' a sofa and a computer somewhere between LA and NYC. And because he didn't have a clear and concise paper trail of what they had picked up, it was his word against theirs.Imagine being accused of lying by your movers?! You're already distraught over something missing or damaged and rather than being your partner in locating the missing items, you now find yourself at odds with the only people who could possibly help you to find your things. Awful.So... nothing leaves without you knowing about it and it being confirmed with the mover.And here's a great tip from a reader: take a picture of the contents of each box. Print two copies and number the box -- Write the number on the pictures, keep one for you and tape the other one to the outside of the box -- you'll never have to open a box again to identify what is inside. (Thanks, Roberta!)