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:
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
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.