Not all moving companies are the same! The goal for the consumer should be to find a company that you trust has the skills, the resources and the commitment to make your move as efficient and stress-free as possible. You want to find a company that has developed a culture of customer service throughout the entire organization. This includes not just the people who conduct the move but also the sales, operations and customer service units all of which need to be operating as one company, one team, in their commitment to meeting and exceeding customer expectations. Ask a lot of questions!
It's important to understand the costs of employing a professional mover versus renting a truck and doing it yourself. After you have fully weighed the expense in time, as well as potential liabilities in moving yourself, you may very well come to the determination that using a professional firm outweighs the perceived cost benefits. It takes considerable time to rent trucks, recruit friends and buy or rent the equipment that will assure a safe, efficient move. Variables such as fuel, mileage fees, insurance coverage and the possibility of injury raise the costs of doing it yourself considerably.
When making a decision about using a professional moving company a good place to start is with your real estate agent. They will often have developed relationships with companies in whom they have trust and confidence in referring. Friends, relatives and o-workers can also provide their recommendations because good companies leave a trail of highly impressed and satisfied customers. Top companies will also be visible in advertising, will partner with other reputable firms and will maintain web-sites that can be checked for available services.
Finding a terrific moving company starts with being an informed consumer. By asking questions you will gain a sense of a company values as well as the scope of their services. There are many variables that will separate companies, including: the hiring and training of a professional full time staff; whether or not they charge for travel time; the availability of climate controlled storage; fleet condition and maintenance; savings for mid-month moves; interior and exterior floor protection; the use of complimentary boxes and so on. Questions around these variables are the kind of questions an informed consumer will want to ask.
If you decide to do your own packing plan on spending several weeks to be fully prepared on move day. Getting a head start will help you get organized, it will undoubtedly save money and it will further ensure the safe transport of your belongings. There are many important tips that a superior moving company can and will provide that will address all aspects of packing including fragile items, electronics and perishables. Make sure to ask for information and to refer to it in your preparations!
There are times when temporary storage of furniture, boxes and personal belongings is required. On those occasions the best and safest alternative is containerized climate controlled storage. Superior moving companies maintain fleets of "vault trucks" that carry four or five vaults that can be packed and stored with your belongings. This also means that your valuable possessions are handled only twice - at the load and again at the unload - and you never have to worry about possible damage due to weather and the elements.
May is National Moving Month! May marks the beginning of the "moving season." According to the US Census Bureau, approximately 45 million Americans will move this year and not surprisingly the summer months are far the busiest. Make your plans well in advance if you are moving in the summer to assure an efficient, stress-free moving experience.
If there is anything we can do to help you, please let us know by contacting Tony Squillante, Relocation Director at homestony@comcast.net or calling us at (720-838-0320) . We're happy to help you!
