We Give You the Ultimate ‘How-To’ Guide when Hiring a Moving Company.

Sometimes a move is just too big an undertaking to handle alone; and sometimes the help that’s needed is whatever help you can get! (Seriously, wanna help me move? Can you be there on Saturday at 8am? Can I borrow your truck?) OK, obviously I am just trying to represent the situation in words…but you know what I mean. Moving is stressful and you will want and take whatever help you can get. And, when you just don’t want to deal with it, you need to be sure you hire the right professionals.

What you need is a system to follow to make it all easier. There are certain steps you need to take when looking to hire professionals to handle your move. If you follow this process, it will all come together nicely. Here’s how to do it…

Determine where you’re going.

If you’re moving more than a few towns over, you’ll want to search for a company that specializes in moves from state to state. There are regulations in place that may prevent some companies from crossing state lines. Moving companies have to be certified by the government for national or international moves. Be sure to pick a company that fits your geographical needs.

Another point to examine is the area you’re moving from and to; is it a city, a suburb, a rural area? City moves may require a company that has experience with the smaller streets and stairways found within the city and inside older city homes. Plus, most city streets have street parking on both sides and traffic going both directions – you want a company that can maneuver their vans or trucks easily and without causing damage or disrupting traffic flow.

Get referrals.

Never underestimate the benefit of calling your friends and family for referrals or accounts of their experiences. There are so many moving companies out there and you’ll need to weed through them to find the right one for you. Asking for actual experiences with moving companies will help you to determine the best choice.

If you cannot locate any referrals on your own, simply give our property manager a call or contact us today and we will gladly give you some companies to check out. We have a few we refer to our tenants because we know they have a good reputation and we have referrals directly from our customers.

Contact several companies and discuss your needs.

Once you have narrowed it down to a few companies who can cover your needs, it’s time to call them and discuss your move. It’s important not to make decisions prematurely. Discuss things beyond the hourly rate, such as the fees per mover, mileage rates, packing, larger items, etc. You will even want to ask if they are licensed and how they are licensed (remember what I said about national and international moves?). Also confirm they are fully insured in case something would happen to your stuff during the moving process.

Get several estimates.

Next, schedule a free estimate. Companies unwilling to conduct an in home estimate for free should be removed from your list immediately. An in-home estimate is the best way to be completely prepared for the move and will help avoid any surprise charges if you should choose that company.

Make sure the moving company is aware of everything you want done – what needs packed, what goes where, how you want it handled and moved. If you have an antique piece of furniture passed down through your family for generations, you want to make sure they know how to handle it and protect it when they move it around. Many hidden fees can be added to the final billing if companies are unaware of surprises such as your attic, the backyard shed, etc. Take some time and show them those areas so they know exactly what they are getting in to.

Find out what items the company cannot move. Some regulations will not allow moving companies to handle and transport certain items such as chemicals, propane tanks, etc. Some states won’t even let you take plants across state lines. Again, eliminate surprises for your moving day and discuss everything during the estimate.

Be sure to ask them if they have any questions for you. And, they should. A company that doesn’t ask you anything isn’t being thorough enough in my opinion. Unless you gave them a printed and bound report that is beyond detailed, they surely have at least one question they can ask you.

Review the contract.

Read the contract carefully. And, don’t be afraid to ask questions about it. All moving contracts should state in detail the rates and pricing, liability, delivery dates, the move description and claims protection. Ask about the insurance the company holds for the contract. Discuss accident and damage protocol. You’ll want to know how well the company will handle the mishaps that can occur. And, be prepared for mishaps to happen, it is often inevitable during a move. Make sure you get a copy of the contract to keep for your records so you know what you signed.

It’s time to move!

Finally, the big day has come. There are some key things you need to know for moving day to keep it as stress-free as possible and without major catastrophe.

First of all, you should be present during the move. If you cannot be there in person, you should have your spouse, partner, close friend or a relative stand in for you. Be sure you have gone over your wishes with them ahead of time so they are prepared in case the moving company has questions or finds a small issue. The last thing you want is to leave the moving company there alone and have no one available to provide them direction or give them answers.

You also want to have someone at your new home to meet the movers there as well. Of course, if you can be there with them that is best. You will want to direct the movers on where to put all the boxes and furniture to make it easiest on you after they are gone. You may want to have a diagram of what goes where, and clearly label your boxes and the rooms inside the home to prevent hiccups. If you plan to renovate one of the rooms right away, make sure nothing is placed in there, and instead set it in a spare room or the garage so it’s out of your way. Planning is important for this step.

Give them feedback.

Now that the move is complete and you are getting all settled in at your new place, think about giving the moving company some feedback. Moving companies, like all companies, rely on the reviews of clients to fuel their business. Reviews help ensure customers get the best service possible, and allow the company to correct any issues you may have discovered during your move. If you had an experience worth sharing, you should!

Negative reviews are something you want to avoid if possible. If you had a problem, it is best to reach out to the company first by phone or email. Talking directly to a supervisor may very well lead to a resolution quickly and prevent any bad mojo between you and the company. Mistakes do happen, and you shouldn’t penalize a company without first giving them the opportunity to resolve it to your satisfaction.

Are you planning to move and would like some help? You can give us a call to speak with a property manager or contact us today and we will gladly assist you. If you need a storage unit to help with your move, reserve one now to get started!

Let’s face it – sometimes the winter season can be brutal. This winter was sure an active one with many smaller snow storms and bitterly cold temperatures like we haven’t seen in decades. By this time of year, you are ready to wash the rock salt residue from your gloves, boots and your car – your poor car. Each day that goes by is one step closer to where you want to be…Spring! Soon you will enjoy days when you throw on a t-shirt with your favorite pair of jeans without freezing your buns off. Have you even thought about Spring cleaning yet?

Spring is a time for renewal and rebirth. The same goes for your home, your garage, your wardrobe – and yes, even your storage unit if you have one! If you’re anything like I am, you’re antsy for some Spring cleaning by the time March rolls around. It’s the best time to look around your home and go through your stuff to decide what you want to keep, what you can donate to a local charity or mission, what you can throw away and what needs moved to your storage unit.

Please keep in mind that we have Volunteers of America of Pennsylvania collection boxes at our location where you can donate new or gently used clothing and shoes to those who are in need.

Are you new to self storage? Never had a unit before and aren’t sure if you need one? By all means, stop by our rental office to see what it’s all about! Our friendly Property Manager can take you on a tour, show you our interior access units and the drive up units located at our partner facility Sierra’s Glen Self Storage, and help you decide what’s best for you. He is very knowledgeable and can answer all of your questions so you know what size and what type of storage unit you will need for your valuables.

It may seem overwhelming to think about Spring cleaning in your home and knowing you will have to decide what to keep and what to toss. (Probably why you “never had time” to do it last year!) Well, you can relax a bit! This is where self storage can really be beneficial, and where we can help reduce your anxiety about it.

Based off my experience both managing and using self storage units personally, I have a few ideas for you:

• First of all, make a list of what items you can put into storage when the seasons change. When Spring comes along, your Winter stuff can be put away; and when Fall comes long, Summer stuff can be stored, and so on. Think of it as a rotating cycle. None of us can remember everything all the time, so a checklist for each season is very helpful. This way we don’t forget anything at home or at our storage unit and it can prevent multiple unnecessary trips back and forth.
• Do you have a bunch of stuff you just can’t part with, but you want it out of your house like yesterday? No problem. Take it to your storage unit! This way you can get it out of your way and go through it later when you are ready to deal with it.
• Since we are talking about Spring cleaning, now is the time to put all of your winter bulky items away since you won’t need them for another six months. Items like parkas, snow pants, boots, sleds, skis, shovels and your snow blower can be moved into your storage unit.
• While you are dropping off the winter items, now is the time to take home the Spring decorations and essentials. Everything from vases, baskets, Easter eggs for the little ones at home for the big Easter egg hunt this April, patio furniture and so on are all things you will need before you know it. As much as you may hate it (with my allergies, I certainly don’t enjoy it), you should also take home your rakes, lawn mower, flower pots and all of your landscaping items. That way you are ready to dig right in when the weather cooperates.
• As you move things back and forth from your home to your storage unit, take inventory of it all. There are probably some things that you don’t use anymore or maybe just don’t work as well as they once did. Spring is the time to clean out! Remember what I said earlier about Spring being the time for renewal and rebirth? Minimize where you can now and you will feel a lot better later.

If you use your storage unit year-round, giving it a thorough cleaning and visit each season (before you say “I don’t have time for that”, it’s just four times a year so it is manageable even for the busiest of us), you will keep your storage unit organized and easily accessible. The last thing you want is to neglect it, and for it to become just like your messy attic!

Without even really “cleaning” anything, you have just reinvigorated your life by moving out the cold Winter items and moving in the warm Spring and Summer items! Now you can dream about the warmer days to come with a big smile across your face. By the way, you probably should give everything a good dusting and wipe down when you move them between your home and your storage unit. Spring is the season to take a little time to actually clean your stuff, too.

By the time you are done, your home will be refreshed, clutter free and ready to be aired out when the final frost is done for the year and you can crack open those windows for some fresh Springtime air! If you have any Spring cleaning tips, we would love to hear them! Just post them in the comments below so everyone can benefit from what works for you.

If you are ready to take the plunge and get your Spring cleaning started now, contact us for more information about using self storage. You can also reserve a unit now!