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Your Questions Answered

One of the most common moving FAQs we get from our Des Moines customers is how many boxes they’ll need for a move. Our answer? You’ll almost always need more boxes than you expect. It is better to have many of varying sizes than to be missing the boxes you need at the last minute. Contact us to learn more about our Budget Box Program.

See the table below for a rough recommendation of how many boxes you will need.

Large Boxes 3 – 12 5 – 15 10 – 20 15 – 25 20 – 30
Medium Boxes 8 – 15 10 – 20 15 – 25 20 – 30 25 – 35
Small Boxes 12 – 18 15 – 25 20 – 30 30 – 40 40 – 50
Bundle of Paper 1 1 1 2 2
Dish Barrel 2 – 5 3 – 6 4 – 6 5 – 7 6 – 9
Wardrobe Box 3 – 5 3 – 6 5 – 7 6 – 10 8 – 12

AAA Movers can provide affordable, sturdy boxes for your move through our Budget Box Program. You can also ask local store managers for extra boxes at retail stores, grocery stores, and liquor stores, or ask friends and family. Many people keep extra boxes of varying sizes on hand that you could borrow.

In additional to plenty of boxes, you will likely need packing tape loaded on a dispenser, unprinted newspaper (the ink on newspaper leaves stains on some items), packing paper, bubble wrap, markers to label your boxes, and a notebook and pen to inventory which important items are packed in which boxes.

We suggest carefully labeling your boxes with their final destination room. You can also use colored stickers to color-code boxes belonging in specific rooms. Whatever you decide, the more clearly and detailed you label, the easier it will be to unpack efficiently or find needed items quickly.

See our moving checklist for detailed suggestions on what to pack when. In general, start with seldom used areas of the house, such as the basement, attic, or storage area. This will allow you time to decide if anything should be sold, recycled, or donated. Things that are not currently being used, like clothing out of season, holiday items, fine china, or some books, can be a good place to start. The more you can pack in the weeks leading up to a move, the more freedom and time you will have to continue being planful and careful as you pack your final boxes.

If you have enough room, keep these items with you in the car. If this is not possible, pack your valuables within a miscellaneous box. Be sure to verify how these items are covered by insurance in a worst case scenario. Always keep important papers like bills, birth certificates, new job contacts, realtor information, and closing papers close to you during your move.

Begin at the Post Office and fill out a Change of Address Form. Contact places like your bank, doctor, credit card companies, magazine subscriptions, etc. to notify them of your change of address. To get an updated driver’s license and register your vehicle, visit the DMV in your new state.

Click here to go to the USPS online address change form.

Or, let us help you with it all using our comprehensive Updater app!

Our moving consultants use AAA Movers proprietary software that calculates your move based on the weight and number of items you have, the date of the move, and the distance between your locations. With the gathered information, our moving coordinators will provide a comprehensive Move Plan to fit your timeline and budget.

There are several ways to plan and book a move with AAA Movers:
• To begin, you can use our online Quick Quote tool and get a basic idea of what your move might cost.
• If you’re interested in scheduling an in-home estimate, fill out our online In-Home Estimate form and an agent will contact you to schedule a visit.
• You can also reach our customer care center directly by calling 515-497-7649 to speak with one of our representatives.
• If you decide to move with AAA Movers, a move coordinator will be assigned to you. This person will help you select moving services (if needed) and answer any questions you may have throughout the entire process.

You and your moving coordinator will determine this when setting up your move. There are two different arrival times. Our morning arrival time (8am–10am) is guaranteed. Our afternoon arrivals are an 11am–6pm window, and you will receive a call half an hour prior to your movers arriving at your pick-up location.

We are different than other companies; we don’t bill from when we leave to when we return. The only billable drive time is when we have your items on the truck. Our movers’ time will start when they arrive at your origin location and will end when they are finished at the destination address. For storage jobs, the movers’ time will start when the vaults are loaded on the truck and end when completed at the destination address.

Two hours is the minimum number of hours needed to book your movers.

AAA Movers enforces a 7-day cancellation policy. If any customer wishes to cancel their move, they must do so at least 7 days prior to the scheduled move date. Otherwise, the minimum amount will be charged to the authorized credit card number given by the customer at the time of scheduling the move. Any cancellation will result in forfeit of the $50.00 deposit that is required to schedule your move. Customers may reschedule their move with NO penalties if done so no less than 48 hours prior to their scheduled move time. Otherwise, the minimum penalty charge will apply.

Yes, but how much protection you have and its cost to you depends upon the valuation coverage you select. This can be one of the most confusing aspects of moving but it is important that you understand what is being provided to you. The valuation option you choose determines the basis upon which any claim will be adjusted and the maximum liability of the carrier. The liability of a carrier for loss or damage is based upon the carrier’s tariffs, as well as federal laws and regulations that have certain limitations and exclusions. Valuation is not insurance. This is important to understand. It is the liability of the moving company. Check with the provider of your homeowner’s insurance to find out if you are covered for moving. Often you will find that you are.
Released Value
This is the most economical as there is no additional cost. However, this option
provides only minimal protection and is not sufficient coverage for most shipments. It will pay you $.60 per pound per article if lost or damaged while moving. That means a piece of furniture weighing 75 lbs would receive a settlement of $45.00. You will be asked to initial the bill of lading if you select this coverage. The only place this is applicable is if your insurance policy covers your goods for their entire value, and this would be considered supplemental coverage for your move.

During an in-home estimate, a salesperson will visit your home and estimate the weight and size of all of the belongings that you will be moving. They’ll also discuss move details such as dates, packing services, etc., and address any questions you may have. At the end of the visit, your salesperson will draft a customized written estimate for your review.

Items of extraordinary value such as jewelry, money, photographs, antiques and stamp collections can be included in your shipment provided you notify your AAA Movers driver of these items before packing or moving day. However, we strongly recommend that you carry irreplaceable and expensive articles with you or make other arrangements for their transport. In the moving industry, items worth more than $100 per pound are considered to be articles of “extraordinary” value. If you are moving items of extraordinary value, then complete and sign the High-Value Inventory Form and sign the “Extraordinary (Unusual) Value Article Declaration” box on the Bill of Lading. If no articles of extraordinary value are included in your shipment, simply write “none” on the High-Value Inventory Form and sign it.

Chicago Moving Experts

We Value Community

AAA Movers recognizes the importance of being an active participant in the community. Since the founding of our company, community involvement has been at the cornerstone of our values.

Our Community Involvement
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