Monday, June 27, 2011

3 Steps to Ensure an Accurate Moving Quote

Moving is one of the most stressful events that can happen in your lifetime.  One way to help alleviate some of that stress is to hire professional movers.  But what good does it do to hire professional movers when they do not have a clear understanding of the job description?

Follow these 3 steps to help ensure your estimator has the proper information needed in order to provide an accurate price quote.

1)      Be honest with yourself: There is nothing wrong with being proactive and moving or packing items yourself.  The problem lies in timing, there are only 24 hours in one day.  Juggling kids, homework, and your job on top of planning a move can be difficult at best. 

During your in-home walkthrough, have your estimator provide you with a quote to pack boxes.  It may not be as cost prohibitive as you think.  Professionally trained packers can accomplish in one or two days what may take you 2, 3 or even 4 weeks. 

Likewise, it is tempting to think you are able to just “pile it into the SUV.”  While this method can work for a nominal amount of items, realistically you can only move so much at a time.  Have your estimator include items you “might move yourself.”   It is always better to plan for a worst case scenario in regards to volume on move day. 

2)      The donation pile:  Plan on contacting your favorite charity or thrift store 5-6 weeks prior to move day.  However, do not assume you will be able to donate or sell all of your unwanted household items.  Many organizations are flooded with request to donate and are therefore becoming more selective. 

Plan on utilizing other avenues such as EBay, Craigslist, 1800-Got Junk, yard sales and such in order to supplement charitable organizations. 

Provide your estimator with updates as to which items have been sold.

3)      Take Notes:  The final and most important step to ensure an accurate price quote is to take notes.  During the walkthrough with your estimator have a notepad ready.  Our staff will gladly answer any questions you have. 

Most homeowners obtain 2 or 3 estimates from local moving companies.  Each company can have different policies and procedures which lead to confusion as to who said what.  Keep information organized so that there is no confusion on moving day.   

Friday, June 17, 2011

Helpful Hints to Save You Money

Moving can be a stressful, hectic time for you and your family. The follow steps will help you prepare for moving day, all while saving you money.  

First and foremost, pack yourself.
Packing is the number one way to save. It saves both time and money on moving day for your moving company. This means, the truck will be loaded and you’ll be on your way to your new home in no time.
However, packing does seem like a daunting, endless task; ask about the proper materials to protect your belongings, and how to most efficiently pack. We’re pros—we can answer all of your packing questions!
Also, remember that even trivial items can add up. Loose items (i.e.: pictures, glass tops, glass shelves, plants, hanging clothing, lamps and shades) build up, and require additional time and materials to pack. If you plan to transport any items yourself, these smaller loose items can be easily packed in your car the night before.

Ignore the “I might need it someday” syndrome.
Do not move items that will not be used at your new home (i.e. books, record albums, exercise equipment, rugs, old tools). You do not need to furnish the attic.

Donate to your favorite charity.
Itemize your donations and keep receipts. It may help you qualify for a tax deduction.
Also, Mooney’s will deliver your unwanted canned goods to a local food bank for no fee. Mooney’s is a member of the Move for Hunger campaign, which solicits moving companies to collect its customers unwanted canned goods for donation, in hopes of ending hunger in the U.S.

Dismantling and reassembly.
Dismantling your large, assembled items is an excellent way to prepare for your move. You’ll save your movers time and energy on moving day, which means money saved. Taking apart cribs and disconnecting appliances, like dryers and refrigerators, is simple, but time consuming. Remember that the final cost of a local move is based on time spent moving—disassembly only adds additional time.   
Organize your boxes.

As you pack, move your boxes to an easily accessible area, like a garage or front room. This way, the moving crew can easily organize the truck and expedite the loading process more quickly. Typically boxes will make up 15% to 20% of your total shipment. This is a significant portion of your move—centralizing this large percentage of your belongings will reduce loading time, thus reducing your final bill.   


Be available on moving day.
It is important for you to be available to your movers to help coordinate and answer questions.
Be aware that your movers will only be prepared to move what you’ve discussed with your estimator. If circumstances have changed, alert the moving crew.
Your presence is the best resource to offer your movers—and the least expensive resource! 

Monday, June 13, 2011

Move for hunger

Mooney’s Moving & Storage is pleased to be a part of The Move for Hunger campaign.  

Move for Hunger is an organization committed to strengthening the efforts of America’s food banks, while actively engaging in the fight against hunger. Move for Hunger enlists the help of credible moving companies to collect unused canned goods from its customers. Check out their Facebook page to see their latest involvement (look for Mooney’s “Welcome” message!)

Mooney’s will now be providing boxes for canned goods to all of its customers. We will then deliver the boxed goods to Somerton Food Bank in Philadelphia, PA.  But don’t think any donation is too small—Mooney’s will accept only partially filled boxes as well. Any little bit helps!

Somerton Food Bank is an interfaith food bank that provides food at no charge for both needy families and needy individuals. In addition, Somerton delivers food to those unable to come to the food bank.  Your donations will help feed hundreds in the area, and Mooney’s is proud to facilitate this process! 

And you can help fight hunger on your own, too. Check out Move for Hunger’s donations page—they’ve outlined how even a small donation of $25 can help train an additional volunteer.

If you have any questions about how you can help, call us. We’ll be happy to tell you more about our involvement with Move for Hunger and how you can contribute. 

Contact us today  

Friday, June 3, 2011

How to Avoid a Disaster on Moving Day



Bad moving experiences ARE avoidable. Here’s one way you can protect yourself against fraud:
American Moving and Storage Associations (AMSA) trains, tests and swears in moving professionals that meet a high set of standards surrounding experience and ethical business practices.

These professionals, known as CMCs (Certified Moving Consultants), are tested on their “moving knowledge”, which prepares them to answer any and all questions about moving. In addition to experience, “moving knowledge” is gained by an intense training program designed and implemented by AMSA.

CMCs can help you customize your move, based on their extensive training and experience. Here at Mooney’s Moving and Storage, both Mike Re and Steve DeSteffano are CMCs. This means they’ve taken an oath to maintain the experience, training and ethical standards established by the AMSA.


Because of their extensive training and knowledge, CMCs can help you customize your move to better suit your individual needs. Often times, we hear horror stories about past moves:

“My estimate was much less than my final bill.”
“My previous company didn’t send a large enough truck to accommodate my move.”

CMCs are trained, and obligated, to help you avoid unfortunate situations, scams, and incidents. For example, both Mike and Steve take the time to prepare honest estimates for every customer. Mooney’s has full-time moving employees who work with our CMCs to uphold the AMSA’s strict standards for shipping and handling.

Both Mike and Steve must regularly continue training to maintain their status as Certified Moving Consultants. This means, they’re well-versed in the latest moving standards and practices to help better serve you.
Know that using a Certified Moving Consultant assures that you are dealing with a knowledgeable sales consultant who is committed to providing excellent and fair service. Using a CMC increases your probability for a swift, safe move.

 


To learn more about the Certified Moving Consultant certification, visit: http://www.moving.org/search_cmc.asp

By: Liz Shovlin Marketing & Relocation Consultant 
Mooney's Relocation Specialist