Can someone provide tips to a first time mover?

Relocate to Atlanta

United Van Lines
North American Van Lines

They will do as much or as little as you want them to do. They will even wrap the silverware and dishes. They have special boxes for dishes, books, grandfather clocks, mattresses.

Get quotes on them boxing it for you. Separate quote for for transporting it. If they transport it, get a quote on insurance. For insurance, list your High Value Items separately for FULL insurance. Otherwise they will insure your stuff for 60-cents a pound. A crystal glass worth $40, if broken might get you 30-cents.

Or – have them pack it into boxes and …
Then get a quote on a one-way truck rental, that you load and drive.

Rent a bundle of pads,maybe two bundles, 10 to a bundle, and buy rolls of tape. Tape the pads around the furniture in the truck. Put the heavy stuff on the floor in the front. Light stuff on top. Work from front to back. Don’t pile it any higher than you need to, so it doesn’t fall down

label all boxes as to what’s inside, what room it’s from and to. Which ones to store and which get opened first.

Find out what time the truck needs to be turned in, to avoid an additional days charge. Leave early. Plan to get done in time to return the truck on time. Get friends to help. Order pizza.

If it’s going to be stored that long, it might be wise to have it loaded into wooden crates 4 ft x 4ft on bottom and top, eight feet tall. They get loaded through the side, then clipped closed. Store the box. Then deliver it when desired.

If you hire a company to do it all. It is expected that you tip the help. Probably $10 each.

Relocate to Atlanta

We are 4WeHelp, a moving company in Cincinnati, OH and we are happy to help you with your moving questions

1) The Greater Cincinnati Better Business Bureau, Angie’s List and Google Local are all good places to find references for moving companies.

2) What a moving labor service charges depends on the area. The cost of labor is much higher in NYC than it is in Cincinnati. Also are they insured? Any company can say they are insured but it doesn’t mean they actually are. Look to see if they are certified by the AOAML or AMLPA

When you think about what they should charge take into account what the may pay for labor, insurance, taxes and licensing. A cheap company in Cincinnati that charges $50/hr or less is cutting corners somewhere.

2) Typically the longer a moving crew is on the road, the less money the company makes so they want them to deliver and come back ASAP. Less than 500 miles and you should get your load the next day or 2 days later. It really depends on how late in the day they leave your loading location.

3) Paying a company to store your items for a few weeks can be really expensive. They have to include the labor cost of moving your items off the truck, into a warehouse and then back on again.

If you are looking for storage try a mobile storage unit. Here in Cincinnati we recommend but you can also try PODS or ABF UPack. Basically they deliver a steel container designed for moving. You load it or hire us to load it. They pick it up and keep it until you need it delivered in Charlotte. Then you unload or hire someone to unload.

If you have any questions feel free to give us a call!