AFFILIATE Corner “Moving Factors”
By Dan Chapman, Affordable Quality Moving & Storage Almost everyone has to move from time to time. How you get all of your possessions from one place to another depends on 3 main factors: your physical ability, your financial ability and your availability. There are also 5 parts to a move: the packing, loading, transportation, unloading & unpacking. Some folks have the physical ability, and the time to move, but are short on finances. Their move is going to look a bit different than someone who doesn’t have the physical ability, or the time, but has the finances to have someone else take care of it for them. The industry has options for everyone on the moving spectrum. First, there is the Beer & Pizza move. You ask your friends to help you move. You get the food. You get refreshments. You gas up their trucks. You set up the perfect playlist to inspire movement. I suggest video game score music. It is specifically designed to help people focus and stay on task. This is a great option for young folks moving locally. A step above this is all of the above, but renting a truck. When considering renting a truck, be sure to get a reservation for the truck early. This is especially important for a move in the last couple of days of the month. Even if you are a homeowner, when renting a truck, you are in the pool with renters who generally move on the last day of the month. Again, call around for rates, and reserve early. Oh yeah, DON’T FORGET TO FUEL IT UP BEFORE YOU RETURN IT. If they have to fuel it, it costs a lot more. Next step, loading a box and having it delivered. Let’s say you want to handle the packing & labor, but don’t want to deal with the transportation. Companies like PODS and UPack do that. They set a big box in your driveway. You load it up. They take it to your new place. Set it in the driveway and wait for you to unload it before picking it up empty. Make sure you meet your loading & unloading deadlines. A late pickup will cost you more. Next, hiring movers. You’ll pack, but want the rest just done. A good local moving company will come out, load everything 8
ARCADIA REALTOR® · MAY/JUNE 2018
up, take it to the new place, and unload it. Most offer packing services for additional costs. If cost is not an issue there is a full packing & unpacking exclusive use of truck, full coverage move. You hardly lift a finger and get your possessions moved directly to your new place. Also known as the Movie Star Move. The moving industry has a certain reputation. There are things you can do to reduce the chances of problems with a moving company. First, if at all possible, don’t move during the summer. The industry is saturated during this time and logistically some try to do too much. Or when a breakdown in the system does occur, there is no room to absorb the issue. If you are moving in the summer, book early. Believe it or not, in the first week of July, you might have a hard time finding a mover that still has availability on the last day of July. Move during the week if you can. Ask LOTS of questions. Ask what potential extra charges there might be. Ask if there is an extra charge for the following: Fuel, Driving time, packing, stairs, elevators… Make sure all of your non-furniture is packed in closed stackable boxes. Make sure larger pictures/art are boxed or at least bubble wrapped for a local move. If a mover shows up and has to do packing, there could be extra charges. Make sure that fragile flat screen TV is in a box too. If you’re the type that kept the original box, you just saved $25 to $35 dollars. Finally, regarding the packing, some folks moving locally will load the TVs, art, fragile stuff in the car and take it themselves. It saves on packing material cost/time and some worry. Most folks move with a level of service somewhere in the middle. Most people do their own packing. Some people rent a truck. Some use a version of PODS. Some hire movers. Whatever you choose, do your homework. Get multiple quotes. Ask lots of questions. Ask what differentiates the people you’re talking to. You’ll get their focus. Whether it’s cost, or service, or speed or something else. I’ll leave you with this hot tip. Start your move early. Start packing early. Book your reservations early. Get ahead of the game. AND if at all possible, move before or after the summer season.