Choosing professional movers

Choosing a moving company can feel like an overwhelming task. Where can you start? What should you look for? Here’s a short checklist to help outline some steps in choosing a professional moving company:

• Give yourself plenty of time – If you have the luxury of time, start considering moving companies as much as 8 weeks before moving day. Planning well in advance will make it much more likely you’ll find a moving company you’re going to be satisfied with. It will also allow you to compare many cost estimates, and to build a more solid idea of how much your move will cost.

  As well, always ask if the estimates are guaranteed or variable. Often, estimates from van lines are based on the best-case scenario and can vary widely once your items are loaded on the truck and weighed.  It’s much harder to negotiate a price when everything you own is on some one else’s truck.

• Get feedback from family, friends and the internet – Were these moving companies on time? Were they professional? Did they have the right equipment for the job? What about damage? You can get an abundance of personal testimonials from neighbors, friends, and family about local moving companies. Additionally, researching a moving company on the internet can provide some insight into its reputation and history from a wider clientele. Be sure to check business advocacy sites such as the Better Business Bureau. If your employer is transferring you, ask your relocation agent.

• Determine the size, distance, and timing of your move – How much can you afford to spend on your move? How much work can you do yourself? Be honest, and over-estimate often. Knowing these facts can help you evaluate moving estimates and decide what company is best for you.

  As well, make sure to plan for the unknown.  What if weather delays happen?  Research hotels along your route and make sure you can afford an extra few nights in a hotel if necessary.  How flexible is your departure and arrival date? Have you packed enough in case your belongings are delayed on their arrival due to weather as well?  Make sure to have your options open in case things don’t go according to plan.

• Determine which items the company in question will not transport – Some common restrictions include hazardous items such as paint, cleaners, aerosol cans, or gasoline. Many companies will not move personal valuables such as jewelry, important documents or furs, and many have restrictions involving pets and plants.

Putting some time into making sure you have made the right choice will help you avoid a considerable amount of the stress involved in choosing a moving company. A few minutes of planning is worth avoiding a lot of potential headaches down the road.

Self-Moving, part two – preparation, people and patience

Relocating by yourself requires some special dedication. It also helps to have a handle on three prerequisites: Preparation, people, and patience.

Preparation: Start preparing for moving day well in advance – as far out as 6 to 8 weeks, if you have that luxury. Often, people don’t set aside enough time to adequately pack and prepare their items.  Nothing is more stressful than scrambling on moving day to pack the four junk drawers you forgot or forcing your friends to carry a dozen loose items one by one out to the truck.

Besides allowing you time to sensibly pack and effectively plan for your eventual arrival at your new destination, starting early will help with all of the external concerns: changing your address with the local post office, changing addresses for magazine subscriptions, newspapers, etc., arranging for transfer of phone, cable and internet, and other things that tend to get lost in the shuffle.

People: Line up as many people as you can at both ends of the move. The larger the group, the less strenuous the move will become. And be sure to match individuals’ size and skill with the right tasks. Making sure you have the tools available, such as a hand truck to move your stackable washer and dryer keeps in mind the health of your friends lower backs.

If there are children involved, make sure they’re kept busy moving small, unbreakable items or that they have available games, coloring books or other entertainment. One idea is to have the kids pack and move their own toys and bedroom items. This provides them with both a sense of accomplishment and association, as well as helping ensure them that their stuff will arrive safely with everyone else’s at the new location.
If that doesn’t keep them busy, I’m sure Grandma would love to spend some quality time with them for the day.

Patience: Moving all your belongings in a single day will inevitably bring mistakes and accidents. Perhaps more than any single trait, you’ll likely find that patience will be the one you’ll need the most of on moving day, and it’s likely to be the most hard to maintain. Keeping a cool head will keep your moving group around to help happily, and that will help the day pass quickly. Stopping for well-deserved breaks every hour or two will also help your group maintain focus and energy over the whole experience. And don’t forget to express your appreciation liberally to everyone, especially that friend of yours that bravely held the door the entire day without complaint.

When you’re considering the option to move yourself, keep these tips in mind to help the day go smoothly, and to help make your move a success. If you feel like any of these points will be hard, or even impossible, to achieve, then PODS might be a good alternative – giving you the freedom to move and pack your household in your own timeframe.

Self-Moving, part one – is moving yourself the right move for you?

As we grow in our careers, add to our families, and continue through our complex lives, relocating becomes more and more complex. There are many ways to complete a successful move by yourself, and there are many ways to have the move process taken care of for you. [link to pods.com]

How do you know if do-it-yourself moving will work for you? Here are some general guidelines to help you figure it out:

• There are basically two necessities for a successful moving day: people who can (and are willing) to help, and the means to get your belongings from your old location to the new one. You’ll need to be sure that you have access to both of these well in advance, to make sure the move goes smoothly.

• To decide whether or not self-moving will work, ask yourself if you have friends or family that will help and will commit to a moving day in advance. If you’re able to assemble a dependable – and preferably burly – group, moving day can be relatively painless, followed by pizza and beer at the new digs. If your group falls through, however, portable storage allows you that flexibility to find better, more dependable friends.

What about the economics? When comparing a self move against other options, consider things like:

• The cost of fuel and rent for a large truck (or trucks).

• If you’re incredibly popular, the cost of food and refreshments for you and your moving entourage.

• The cost of packing and moving supplies and tools.

• In the case of a long distance move, factor in the cost of lodging, tolls and fast food as well.

After all of these are figured in to a total estimated cost, request a few estimates from the relevant moving options. In some cases, the cost of hiring movers to pack and load your container is well worth the peace of mind gained from having someone else handle your belongings.