Moving? Here’s some advice on hiring professional movers from the book “How to Survive a Move” (Hundreds of Heads Books, www.hundredsofheads.com, $13.95), straight from people who’ve done it:

“Get several estimates and go with a fixed estimate wherever possible. Check out the company’s record with the Better Business Bureau. How many complaints have they had? Were they resolved amicably? The lowest price is not always the best service. Look for hidden charges, like insurance, travel, tolls and gas. Make sure there are enough guys — too few will up the costs considerably.”

Liz Scherer, Annapolis, Md., 3 moves

“Beware of hidden charges with moving companies. I once hired people to move a piano from a third floor apartment and it ended up costing me $400 extra because the workers had to disassemble the hallway and staircase since the piano couldn’t be taken apart and they were charging me by the hour.”

“Check to make sure movers have insurance. Then, if something gets damaged, it’s covered.
— Samantha, Los Angeles, 6 moves

“If you’re handing your boxes over to a mover, count the total number of boxes and label them as such (box 1 of 30, 2 of 30, etc.) Keep a running list of what’s in each box so if something gets lost, you’ll know what’s missing and what to claim on your insurance.”

“The greatest thing about professional movers is that you just stay out of their way and let them do their jobs. They know what they’re doing. I pack valuables myself and take them with me because there have been times irreplaceable valuables have been misplaced or stolen. If you would rather the movers pack everything, photograph valuables before the move and make sure there is a time/date stamp on the photo. It’s easier to prove theft if you have evidence.

Hundreds of Heads Books’ survival guides offer the wisdom of the masses by assembling the experiences and advice of hundreds of people who have gone through life’s biggest challenges and have insight to share.