Moving One Item Out of State

If you live in another state and while traveling decide to purchase a bed or huge antique... Don't.

Let me try that again.

If you live in another state and while traveling decide to purchase a bed or huge antique and decide to contact a mover to move it, please do not be surprised that the cost might be $1000 or more.

Moving companies have a minimum weight charge that they use on all of their moves. It's doesn't matter if it is one item or one household. This is more to over the cost of running the truck & insuring the item then to pay the driver. It is not there to prevent people from hiring them or to make it difficult for you to move your item. It is there to protect the company.

Now, some people might ask if we could 'tak it on' or 'sneak it on' to the back of a truck if we have a truck going that way. Once upon a time companies were able to do this but now, due to insurance reasons, they can't. You can ask, but do not expect any answer other then no.

I feel really bad telling people this. UPS could be an option or you could rent a truck and drive it your self. Personally I would get a rental and drive it because I would totally shop along the way.

Planing to Move

I can't tell you how many times I have paused while talking to a person on the phone because they "are planning ahead" or "want to get the ball rolling" for their move that they want to happen in three days.

Most companies have a seven day registration policy. In my opinion it is there to prevent last minuet switches to driver schedules. The last thing any moving company wants to do is have a driver stuck on the other side of the country and possibly delay other moves.

If this happens in the summer, durring our bussy seasion, I have to tell people that we can not do their move. A few have asked for my manager and would hang up on him because he would give them the same answer. Generaly in the summer we are booking moves two weeks out so a last minuet thing just can not happen.

In the winter, during our slow season, once in a RARE while we can pull something like that off. but we have started to see a pick up in appointments during this time and this makes last minuet moves like this almost imposable.

To save your self some frustration you want to get an estimate about two weeks or more before your desired move date. If you are worried about getting stuck with a last minuet move; contact a moving company a check to see how long their estimats are good for. If you have a sales agent come out ask them if there is anything that  could be done if you have to be out of your home sooner then you thought.

Please Leave a Voice-mail Messege

I can not stress this enugh. Leaving a voice-mail messege is the best way to get your information to the person that you are looking for if they are not available.

Seriously, voice-mails are not your enemy.

I can not tell you how many of our shippers have not left important messages and wondered why they never received a call back when they needed it. Most were about changes to their pick up or delivery dates. This information is very, very important and should be left in your message. As well as a good call back number that you can answer.

Too many times have I been asked to take a message that was just a 'have them call me' with no number or sometimes no name. The ones that give me pages of detailed information so fast and get angry that they have to repeat parts until I feel I have it all? That type of message needs to go to voicemail. written messages get lost or forgotten, but mostly lost.

It always seems that when no voice-mail is available everyone only wants to leave a voice-mail. But when It is available they only want me to write the message. Unfortunately this is something were not everyone will be happy.

Moving During the Snowmagedon or Snowpocalypse

This is not the kind of weather you want to move in. Right now it is not to bad here at my office but yesterday was spent contacting customers and other agents to make sure that people knew what was going on.

Over all most wanted to just wait and see what the weather would be like today. Which was good because we only got three inches of snow last night. Only one survey appointment canceled but that's understandable. The street plows have not been by the office yet and our hired guy didn't bother with the parking lot until people showed up. (who then got stuck and had to dig themselves out...)

But again, all the scheduled move we had for today actually happened on time. The movers all made it in to the office and were not snowed into their homes. All the trucks started and were not stuck at the dock. Over all it was a very good day so far.

But! We got very lucky.

If we had gotten the 16 -24 inches that we were warned about then the office would be closed today and we would not have been able to move or help anyone. It doesn't sound like a lot if you imagine a semi-truck driving in it, but if the drive can't get to the office then there is no one to drive the truck. Like wise if the movers get stuck then there is no one to move the furniture into and out of the trucks. Driving bans can also cause havoc with moves because no one wants to rick the fines.

So, with luck this will all be over and we can get back into the nice moving weather.