Jason Cober, General Manager of Bookstore Movers, was kind enough to share some advice on how to get the most out of your moving company. Here are some tips you can use on your next move:
- Shop around. Compare quotes from several moving companies to evaluate not only pricing, but services offered.
- Give an accurate representation. Movers charge by the amount of items to move as well as by the hour. In an online quote, not accurately letting them know how much stuff you have will slow down the job, incur extra charges, and possibly require multiple trips.
- Check online reviews. Look at the social media review sites like Yelp, Angie’s List, and the Better Business Bureau to see what people are saying about the moving company. “This will give a good overview based on other people’s experiences,” Cober said. Also, ask for recommendations from friends, family and co-workers.
- Look at communication. Did the moving company respond quickly to your inquiry or emails? Did they answer all of your questions? Do you get to speak with a real person? A company’s customer service may reflect on the type of service you may get from the mover the day of the move.
- Ask for referrals to other services. If you have a number of items to donate, or things to be taken to the dump, ask the moving company for a referral to a good junk removal company—like 123JUNK—who can work in conjunction with the moving company. Use their resources for other related services as well.
- Be ready for the movers. Make sure everything is boxed up and taped closed and ready to go out the door once the movers arrive. Use the correct size box for the items packed; dense items should be packed in small boxes, for example. Locating the boxes in a central location also helps the move go more quickly. “The better prepared for you move you are, the better the move will be, Cober advised.”
- Pack an “Open First” box. Put items you will immediately need in a special box and label it clearly. Include your moving company rental agreement and other paperwork, cleaning supplies, snacks, toiletries, etc.
- Use a moving company’s packing services. If you cannot or don’t want to pack items yourself, use the moving company’s packing service. They charge by time and materials used, like for boxes and packing materials. “Often, we’ll pack up a house one day and move it the next.”
- Reserve space for the moving truck. Arrange with the city or county if permits are needed to secure parking near your entrance. Place “No Parking” signs. Reserve elevators and loading docks for your moving day.
- Know where you want things to go in your new home. Prepare an overview of where furniture, boxes and other items should go in your new home. Label boxes according to your room chart.
- Move or dispose of hazardous materials yourself. Most moving companies cannot haul hazardous or explosive materials including propane tanks, paint cans, gasoline, turpentine, etc.
Want a Better Rate?
While moving companies generally don’t bargain on their prices, they often provide lower rates during non-peak times, like between October and March. They may also offer coupons on Yelp or other social media sites. With Bookstore Movers, moves are priced by the size of the truck, the number of men required on the job, and the time.
Bookstore Movers
Bookstore Movers doesn’t just move bookstores. Their name came about from owner Matt Wixon’s love of the company’s nearby Capitol Hill Books independent bookstore with the thought that the moving company could raise enough money that Wixon could eventually buy the bookstore. Bookstore Movers is a full-service residential and commercial moving company serving the Washington, D.C. Metro area. Awarded “Best D.C. Movers” by the Washington City Paper for the past 8 years.
Need to Clear Out Before Your Move? Call 123JUNK.
Call 123JUNK to haul away unwanted items before your moving truck arrives, or when you are preparing your home to sell. We’ll help you donate perfectly good furniture, appliances and household goods to our charitable partners, and haul trash, yard debris and other non-usable items to the dump for you. We can also provide labor-only services when you need some heavy lifting. Contact us today.
