Category Archives: moving and storage

Best Moving Companies Near Me

It’s that season again where all the moving companies start swinging into full gear! Whether you live ina big city, a suburban jungle or a small town in the middle of nowhere – we found the best moving companies near you. I will help you navigate through the muddled waters of what to look for when choosing the “moving companies near me.”

THE BEST MOVING COMPANIES HAVE THIS IN COMMON

TRANSPARENT PRICING without pushy salespeople

If you fill out a moving calculator from a moving company that you have considered and they call more than 3 times, I would pass. High pressure moving sales people are usually not the most trustworthy.

LOCATED NEAR YOU

The average person doesn’t know that there are many moving companies that are sourced out of another country and own multiple shell companies. For example, in Boston when you call what looks like a real company you will find the call being picked up by someone from another country and they sell or broker the move. You can go on your state’s corporation search site and search a company name. If it has a foreign name, 9 times out of ten you are not dealing with a US company. Find movers near me.

MULTIPLE MOVING SERVICES OFFERED

The best moving companies will have storage, packing and all moving needs so you don’t have to subcontract somewhere else.

VERIFIED MOVING REVIEWS

It’s really unfortunate but these days movers can purchase reviews. And even the good moving companies do this because they all do. There are a few places where you can find actual moving reviews that have been verified. Even the BBB allows movers to pay to have reviews removed and it is actually just a business and has no government affiliation. A recommended review sites for movers is Houzz. A pretty website with thousands of obviously fake google reviews should not be trusted.

YEARS IN BUSINESS

Moving companies come and go. There are moving company owners that will open a company, get a fine or lots of claims then shut it down and reopen another under another name. In Boston, there are hundreds of these shell companies. Look for movers that have really been open for at least 10 years without switching names. Some moving companies will have a company for local moves and one for long distance. Learn more about trusted Boston Movers.

Movers Near Me
Click to Find “Movers Near Me”

Now that you know some of the important things to look for when searching for the best moving companies in your area, we can go over some other considerations. Comparing movers is key when you are moving – and especially true when deciding which will be the best long distance moving company.

COMPARING THE BEST MOVING COMPANIES NEAR ME

Here are the best questions to ask your moving company when comparing movers:

  1. How long have you been in business and has it always been with the same corporation? Meaning did you have to open a new company due to too many claims.
  2. Will you be using your own trucks and labor? It is normal for movers to rent moving trucks in busier times but they should always be registered to the moving company for insurance purposes.
  3. Do you hire day labor?
  4. Will all of your movers speak english? ( or whatever languages you speak). It is so difficult to communicate about your move to the actual crew if they don’t all speak english/your language. I have heard horror stories of items getting left behind because the crew cannot understand what needs to be done or just one crew member can communicate with you.
  5. What extra fees can be added? So many movers will charge you for tape, materials, etc. and they do not put it on the estimate but in the fine print that they send over.
  6. Will I have to sign a release or waiver at the end of the move? This is important because many movers will make you sign this release to combat against bad reviews and claims. Yes, the release will usually say you cannot write poor reviews! You will have no retaliation to a poor job and local residents won’t ever know.

Learn more about having the the Best Long Distance Move!

Moving And Storage Near Me

Types of Moving and Storage

The type of moving and storage help you will need will depend on a few factors:

  1. Overnight Storage – Typically for residents needing a bridge loan or when moving into a new apartment most customers need a night or two of storage. Your moving company should easily be able to store your truck in a gated lot with management on-site. Be wary of van lines as they usually subcontract local moves and you never know what company will show up. Price between $100-$150/night
  2. Short Term Storage – Short term storage is usually for students while they are away for the summer or people going to another country for 3 or less months. This storage is held in an accessible “mini-storage” garage like unit that is accessible during business hours Price depends on the size of the unit and is in-between $70-$300/mo
  3. Long Term Storage – Long Term storage is held in large containers in a warehouse and is accessible only by the moving staff and usually containers are moved using a forklift. Price between $150-$200/mo

Learn more about overnight storage options

Local Moving and Storage

Searching for professional, trustworthy moving and storage nearby? Movers Near Me is a local moving and storage service with a location near you. Our moving and storage experts offer options to fit every budget. You can book your moving and storage in 3 easy steps:

  1. Find the closest Movers Near Me location
  2. Fill out our on-line inventory or schedule a FaceTime estimate
  3. Book your move with storage online!

Long Distance
Moving and Storage

Need long distance movers that offer storage? We suggest Monster Movers, Mastodon Movers or another private flat rate moving company that does not subcontract moves. Mastodon Moving is one of the best movers in Massachusetts and offers climate-controlled storage. They are locally owned and have provided us with these important long distance moving and storage tips:

  1. Your long distance movers should be the company that stores your shipment – not a parent company or affiliate.
  2. Make sure you moving company is insured for storage not just moving.
  3. Your long distance movers should have movers that are background checked

www.moversnearme.com

Residential Moving and Storage

Many residential moving customers choose to store household items while making the transition into a new home. When you are moving from your old residence but your new residence isn’t quite ready, or you need some additional storage space while you sell your previous home, you will need moving and storage. Choose specialized storage services provide an easy-to-use, flexible solution when you’re faced with long-distance moving schedule challenges.

Green Moving Tips | Economical Ways to Move

Green Moving Tips | Economical Ways to Move

Moving is not the most economical event in a person’s life yet we all do it one time or another.  All those boxes and tape are a waste for the environment so here are some ways to use moving pads and bands to alleviate some of the debris discarded after a move and make your move a green one!

Some other things you can do to make your relocation a green move are: recycling moving boxes, hiring green movers, and

Recycling Moving Boxes

If you are a germaphobic, you may not want to use others boxes but if you can live with the possibility of others touching your boxes you can check NextDoor and craigslist for boxes.  NextDoor is a great app if you live in a suburb – you can usually find moving boxes within a few days here.  Big box stores like costco and bjs as well as liquor stores will have used boxes.

When you a finished with your moving boxes you can post them on-line and/or do something useful with them.  I used to let my kids use them to build castles, cars and what have you.  Teens may enjoy using a razor to cut out shapes for crafts.  There are a ton of cardboard craft ideas on pinterest! Some moving companies will pick up boxes at the completion of a move and use them as floor and wall protectors on another move.

Hiring Green Movers

There are a few green movers that you can hire – but finding some near you can pose a difficult challenge.  Monster Movers is a green moving company that uses fuel efficient vehicles, recycled materials, and saves over 50% of paper waste by using electronic copies of estimates, bills and inventory.  They are members of the sustainable business network and here are there green initiatives:

  • Reduce and reuse our moving boxes whenever possible
  • Offer complimentary retrieval of used moving boxes and packing supplies
  • Resell used boxes at discounted prices
  • Collect all non reusable moving boxes, which are then compacted and sent to a recycling center
  • Recycle anywhere between 20,000 – 30,000 pounds of materials each year
  • Provide moving boxes that are manufactured from 90% post-consumer recycled materials
  • Use only biodegradable foam peanuts
  • Use bubble wrap that is oxo-biodegradable, degrading into only water, carbon dioxide and less than 1% natural biomass
  • Source the production of our moving boxes and packing materials from companies that participate in Sustainable Forestry Initiative programs
  • Use FSC certified products for external marketing materials
  • Member of the Sustainable Business Association

Make sure you do research to make sure you are actually hiring a real green moving company and not just a company called green movers that doesn’t use sustainable practices.

Donate Unused Items

Moving is the perfect time to purge and donate unused items to be used by others.  Again, NextDoor is a great app to use where you can post a curb alert letting others know that you have free stuff on your curb that they can take.

 

 

Cross Country Moving – How to Move Cross Country

How to Move Cross Country

Moving Cross Country is time-consuming, full of surprises, and overall a pain in the butt.  Here’s a quick video outlining the steps for moving cross country:
 As you can see hiring a reputable moving company is numero uno on the list of importance when moving cross country.  Here are some things to look for and a little bit about the best cross country movers we know!
About the Best Cross Country Movers we know – Monster Movers:
Monster Movers is a long distance moving company that consists of a team of professional movers who are experts in storage, relocation, packing, and specialty shipping. Since 1999, we have been in the business of offering exceptionally prompt and painless moving services around 48 states.T his makes us stand out as the best moving company in the US. We are aware that customers will be glad if they can experience this kind of service, hence, we moved to bring their desires to fulfillment. Since we have made Customer Satisfaction our foremost priority, we always ensure to put smiles on the faces of our clients and customers by providing superior customer service support. We have upheld this principle since inception.

OUR CORE VALUES INCLUDE:

INTEGRITY
To deliver all orders as promised; conducting ourselves with equality and honesty.
GOODWILL
To be open-armed to everyone from various backgrounds in the community and workplace.
COMPASSION
To be full of empathy for clients, co-staff, and community.
CUSTOMER SERVICE
To offer loyal services to all our customers while also responding to all complaints and enquires with attention and accuracy.
Our mission at Monster Movers is to continually surpass customers’ expectations in the standard of satisfaction and value on investment. We maintain guaranteed prices on all orders placed on our out-of-state moving services. Cross country moving costs are affordable because we focus on client progress. Our long distance moving services include packing of all furniture items, kitchenware, mirrors, lamps, pictures, electronics, etc. You can be sure that your belongings are safe with us!

Our professional long distance movers are also skilled at utilizing moving boxes for packaging your valuables; making sure that all items are prepared for out of state move. On pick-up day, a bar-coded inventory list of all items is made, and we will provide you with a copy. We are professional movers and are simply amazing at what we do. We provide all types of long distance moves from and to anywhere within the United States.Going new places can’t come any easier with our astute expertise in storage, moving, relocation, packing, and logistics services. Our long distance moving company is dedicated to unparalleled problem-solving.

Look no further and give us a call today!
Competetive
Cross Country Moving Company offers competitive rates for every long distance move. Many moving companies offer “low rates” laden with hidden fees and charges. We do not play that game. We provide a guaranteed rate for every long distance move. We also provide free, no-obligation consultations, so you will know exactly how much your move will cost before you even hire Cross Country Moving Company.
Efficient
At Cross Country Moving Company, we hold our services to the highest of standards and we strive to provide the customer with the safest and most efficient moving solution in the country. We take the safety of your valuables very seriously and that’s why we utilize only the finest moving equipment available. Our fleet of modern moving trucks undergoes regular diagnostic checks to ensure that no harm will come to your possessions during transportation. A fleet of modern trucks means that we can also move more often at reduced costs to our customers.
Professional
We also only hire the best movers. Everyone that works for Cross Country Moving Company is a trained, dedicated professional with years of moving industry experience. Our movers go through one of the most rigorous training programs in the long distance moving industry. We also carefully select and train our drivers and packing staff to ensure that our customer gets only the very best service. Cross Country Moving Company stands for professionalism. Each and every one of our employees is expected to uphold our ethic of superior customer service. We believe that you should be able to trust Cross Country Moving Company to treat your belongings with the same level of respect and care as we would our own. In our opinion, there is nothing more important than providing the customer with absolute best service.
Trusted
Our customers trust us to safely transport their most valuable possessions because of our reputation for unbeatable service and outstanding professionalism. When it comes right down to it our job is about making your moving day as stress-free and enjoyable as possible. Hundreds of extremely satisfied customers have discovered how easy moving can be when you have Cross Country Moving Company on your side. We have remained the most trusted name in long-distance moves and our customers continue to provide us with overwhelmingly positive reviews. When you are in need of a moving service you can trust look no further than Cross Country Moving Company.

Ultimate Guide to Moving in the Winter

Ultimate Guide to Moving in the Winter

Moving in the winter has got to be the most difficult move that I can possible imagine – mainly because of parking, snow, ice, dirt, salt, lack of elevators and whipping winds.  The OCD in me is terrified of salty, slushy boots tramping throughout my house.   If you are planning a move during  winter – here are some moving tips and hints to get you through the madness.

Winter Moving Tips
Winter Moving Tips

WINTER MOVING GUIDE

  1. Get Moving Help.  Right now is not the time to look for bargain movers who aren’t going to protect your furniture.  It may cost more initially but save you a bundle in the long run.  Hiring a professional moving company is crucial this time of year. Invest in a quality move team instead of trying to do everything on your own will minimize your time in the cold, decrease your risk of frostbite or injury, and avoid the chance of a friend or family member losing their footing in rougher conditions.  It is important to compare movers and use caution when selecting your movers by verifying their reputation for high customer service and a track record that supports it.  You can do this by looking at verified moving company reviews – not on their own site but trusted sites.
  2. Keep an Eye on Weather Patterns.  The temperature can change quickly in the winter. What starts rain can turn to ice within a few hours – keep salt on hand. Taking a bit of time to shovel and salt may save you a ton of money if the movers have to do this first or if they have to walk through snow to get to your door. Some cities and states do a better job of maintaining their roads in bad weather than others. For example, Massachusetts/Boston is used to extreme winter weather – it salts and plows immediately and regularly. North Carolina, however, only gets snow sparingly, so it doesn’t have the same infrastructure to handle snow and ice. Sometimes that means roads are not fully plowed or sufficiently slated.
  3. Get an Emergency Kit Together. Especially if there is a windchill of 20 degrees or less you will need some blankets, water, etc.  White out conditions can happen immediately in the winter and it is best to be completely prepared.  Things you will need: An ice scraper and a snow brush to clear your windshield of precipitation. Even if it doesn’t snow, ice can form on the glass if temperatures are warm during the day and freezing overnight.  Rock Salt/Kitty Litter
    A shovel — Have a shovel to dig out your tires, should you end up in a snowbank or it snows overnight
    Extra food, water
    A first aid kit
    A flashlight, extra batteries
    Blankets and warm clothes
  4. Make a Pile of Old Blankets/Towels Most movers will have moving blankets for the floors and protections for the walls but sand, salt and snow will find it’s way all over your house during a move.  Wipe any wet areas down immediately to eliminate the possibility of long term damage to furniture or floors. Drying rags and cloths are helpful when walking in and out of a house or apartment. Wipe up any rain to reduce slipping hazards. You can also lay down a few cloths for people to walk on so that they don’t track in water or mud. If any of your boxes get wet, a towel is handy for drying them.
  5. Unpack Wet Boxes Immediately.  Towels are a temporary solution for wet boxes. Even if your boxes dry when in the house the inside can remain wet and wet boxes that sit around for long time can start to grow mold. This problem may not be as much of a concern for easily cleanable items such as pots or pans; however, fabric objects such as your clothes may be ruined.
  6. Layer up. It’s important to dress warmly, even though you will be working hard on moving day. Consider wearing layers you can peel off as necessary. It’s better to start with too many clothes on than to deal with being cold all day. Make sure your ensemble includes a hat and warm gloves.
  7. Gas Up Your Truck Regularly. Make sure your vehicle has a full tank of gas before you put the first box in the truck.  If you are moving yourself, know that fuel lines freeze in moving trucks anytime the temperature hits 30 degrees or below – there is a special fuel solution moving companies use called Iso-Heet ( there are other brands as well) that help keep your gas tank and fuel line ice free.
  8. Call A Moving Company – There is no possible way you want to do a winter move without help – it is just too dangerous.  Hiring movers during the winter is imperative.

The hardest cities to do snowy winter moves in are below as well as local winter moving companies in the area:

  1. New York City – Try these NYC Movers
  2. Denver – Try these Local Movers
  3. Providence Rhode Island – Try these Rhode Island Movers
  4. Boston – Try these Boston Movers
  5. Portland, Maine – Try these Portland Movers
  6. Southern Connecticut – Try these Fairfield Movers

Having moved in the depths of winter multiple times, I can tell you it’s something that will definatly take the winter doldrums out of you – it’s something to look forward to and who wants to spend days moving when the weather is beautiful?

Instant Moving Estimate – Get a moving estimate in under 10 minutes!

Instant Moving Estimate   —  Get Your Moving Estimate in Under 10 Minutes!

It’s almost moving day and you have procrastinated finding a mover – You need an instant moving estimate – a fast, convenient estimate for the cost of your local or long distance move.  This moving estimator is a godsend!  Not just a ballpark estimator, it gives you a flat rate, guaranteed price based on your exact inventory. Most “instant moving quote” sites are just information gatherers where you will be called/emailed by lots of different moving companies.  Not only that but these are ballpark estimates which means they can change by the hundreds or even thousands if you are moving out of state.  Although it may sound great to have a bunch of movers call you with quotes- you will get called and emailed a hundred times a day – from moving brokers all over the country.  This instant moving estimate form is private and emails over a quote without the high pressure sales calls or emails flooding your inbox.

Instant Moving Estimate

Instant Moving Estimate

The Simple Steps to Get Your Instant Moving Estimate in Under 10 Minutes:

  1. Click the instant moving estimate link
  2. Fill out the city/state or zip codes you are moving to
  3. A second screen will pop up so you can add inventory – later you can access this screen to add anything you forgot OR take anything away
  4. Click Send
  5. You will have an instant moving quote sent right to your inbox

If you require an in-home estimate – you can schedule a on-site estimate right on the same screen.  A representative will be dispatched an you will get an appointment to receive a detailed, in-home moving estimate from a moving expert.

For more information on moving estimates and how they are calculated you can check our moving estimate blog post.

A Realtors Guide to Moving Companies

The Realtors Guide to Moving Companies

Having been a realtor way, way back in the day – I used to cringe when clients asked me for a referral.  I know what you are thinking – that’s one of the most crucial parts to being a real estate agent – giving people good advice – right?  Wrong!  I had the pleasure of taking my real estate courses by a broker  who scared the bejeezus out of me.  In my dreams – I could hear him chanting his favorite phrase “displace responsibility, remove liability.”  Essentially, explaining to us that referring a service/company/lawyer may find you in a defendant’s chair.  Well, that broker is almost out-of-business now and I have found a new calling.  I have been a part of the moving and storage industry for 15 years now and am excited to write the:

Realtors Guide to Moving:

Realtors Guide to Moving
Realtors Guide to Moving

 

To Refer or Not to Refer: 

Referring a moving company these days – is actually pretty darn easy.  There are a few moving companies that have really set themselves apart form the mistrusted industry.   Another bonus – their movers will actually sponsor an open house for your broker tour!  You can download a moving comparison sheet here – or send the link to your clients – it has all of the pertinent questions to ask your moving company.

 

Scenario: Your Clients Need Overnight Storage or Short Term Storage

In the case of a bridge loan or new construction, your buyers may need overnight storage or short term storage.  This is one of the most common moving needs – and storage is tricky.  First off, pods are not recommended.  After a few years, their reputation has taken a serious hit and the amount of people complaining about stolen items is too much to risk.  I suggest finding a mover in your area who  will let you keep your clients items on the truck overnight – it’s called on-board storage – a quick search moving overnight storage should give you a good list to start with.  On-board storage should run about $100-$200/night in the peak months.  Short Term storage will require two separate moves as well as a monthly storage fee.  It is very important to find movers that have clean, secure storage – you can always google map their location to take a closer look.

Scenario: Your Sellers are Moving Out-Of-State

This is your last chance to help your sellers out.  The long distance moving industry is in the middle of a much needed overhaul.  Long gone are the needs to wait up to 14 days for a van line to haul your customer’s belongings across the country.  Private long distance movers are doing this much faster ( about 4 days MA to FL) and are even less expensive.  How you ask?  Private long distance movers don’t load/offload items into multiple storage units/trucks.  They also don’t charge all of the typical van line fees like: fuel surcharge, mileage fee, taxes, tolls, fees for stairs, elevator and the biggest doozy – the shuttle fee.  The shuttle fee is added if a larger 53 ft tractor trailer cannot access your storage facility/house/condo.  Very common in Boston, New York City, Miami, Washington, DC and Los Angeles.

How to Get a Quick, Surprisingly Accurate Moving Estimate

Moving Cost Estimator
Moving Cost Estimator

 

Here is a quick link to a quick yet accurate moving cost estimate form.  You or your clients plug in the furniture they have and a vitally instant moving price is generated and sent to your email.  This comes from a private company so your information is never shared or distributed.

 

Ultimate Moving Checklist

By now, if you have ever looked up moving checklists you will find thousands – maybe even millions.  I think Martha Stewart alone has about 100 moving checklists.  This moving checklist has everything your client will need – from who to call to what to pack.  There are links as well to specific packing tips.

 

Best Closing Gifts

The best closing gifts are always gift certificates and/or experiences in your client’s new town.  And no, not to a home improvement store. Think dining experiences, massage envy, etc.  Another gift that keeps on giving is a subscription to a wine club, craft beer of the month club, etc.  This gift keeps your name and great service constantly coming up.

 

 

Moving and Overnight Storage

OVERNIGHT STORAGE NEAR ME

Nobody likes spending a bunch of money on moving and storage.  Moving is one service where a little information can save you hundreds and even thousands of dollars.  Lo and behold – I have a lot of information about moving and moving with overnight storage in particular.  There are a few cities and metro areas where moving with overnight storage presents a specific set of challenges, and those cities would be Boston, NYC, San Francisco, Chicago, Miami, Austin, Portland and other “college towns” will have date-specific issues – let me explain below:

Most apartments in major cities have a lease date that end on the last day of the month.  These same leases usually begin on the first day of the month.  Essentially, you will literally have until midnight on the last day of the month to move your items out and then at 10am-2pm you can move to the new apartment.  Moving companies in metro areas listed above usually book up completely on the first and last days of the month because of this.  College towns will have issues on 8/31-9/1  and May 30-April 1.

Residents that have bridge loans will also require moving and overnight storage.  A bridge loan is when a resident is selling a house and using the cash from the sale to purchase a new house.  This is very common and usually requires 1-2 days of overnight storage.

Moving and Overnight Storage
Moving and Overnight Storage

Moving and Overnight Storage Options

  1. Renting a Truck and Parking it Overnight – Unless you plan to sleep in or with your truck – this isn’t the best option.  First off, the truck rental facility will charge you for two full days which can be $$$$.  Also, they do not cover anything should your items be stolen, wet (if the truck leaks and it’s raining).  If you do decide to move and store your items in a rental truck – get a lock for the back – rental trucks in a driveway or parking lot overnight are sitting ducks.

2.  Hire a Moving Company to Move You with Overnight Storage –  In the past, moving companies used to charge customers per hour to store there items in a truck overnight.  Although it was a reduced weight while the moving crew wasn’t physically moving furniture – it was still not very economical.  Since then, there have been private moving companies that offer on-board overnight storage – or overnight storage that stays on a truck.  There is no need to hire a mover that will offload your items into a storage facility overnight.  The expense can be twice as much as it should because the crew will be doing two moves.  Monster Movers has locations in many major metro areas and charges $100-$150/night per 26 foot moving truck.  Hiring a mover that will do this is much more economical than paying per hour or paying for two days of a rental truck.

Popular Destinations Needing Overnight Storage:

Moving and Overnight Storage Boston

Moving and Overnight Storage FL

Moving and Overnight Storage RI

Moving and Overnight Storage Chicago