With offices in Boston (MA) and Alexandria (VA), Olympia Moving has to contend with a lot of tight stairways and small spaces.  The practical reality is that sometimes larger pieces simply will not fit, and therefore hoisting and/or craning is required.

Hoisting:  “Hoisting” or “hand-hoisting” is essentially a human crane.  When an item will not fit into a given space, it can be brought in or out through a window or over a balcony.  Typically a minimum of 3 movers is required to safely conduct a hand-hoist.  Two movers will be responsible for raising or lowering the piece, and one mover with a “tether strap” is responsible for safely guiding the piece away from any obstacles. To be clear, this is a delicate procedure that requires significant training and should NEVER be attempted except by a professional mover.

Craning: If a piece is too heavy (a piano) or cannot be safely hoisted, a crane will be used.  Depending upon the access on your street, a permit or police detail is often required.  Special training in prepping and rigging is necessary in order to become proficient in craning pieces of any size.

If you believe that your move requires a hand-hoist or a crane, please notify Olympia’s customer service team as soon as possible so that the appropriate arrangements can be made.

The practical reality of the moving industry is that, unless you opt for a full-service relocation, you are making a commitment to being fully packed and prepared; at the same time that the moving company is making a commitment to delivering your goods in a safe and timely fashion.  Because there is typically a reciprocal obligation, I thought I would take this opportunity to spell out what it takes to be a great (and ultimately satisfied) Olympia client.

PLANNING: Take this time to plan your approach to your upcoming move.  We understand that you have closings and a host of other issues to contend with, but waiting until the last minute leads to unwanted surprises on move day.  Effective planning also saves time.

PREPARATION: Use the resources at your disposal, including the literature, website, and Olympia personnel to help understand what it means to be fully prepared for moving day.  The concept of being “fully prepared” is a somewhat nebulous one, but here are some basic suggestions:

• Eliminate unwanted items before move day
• If you are doing your own packing, get a free delivery of packing supplies well in advance of your move
• Make sure that all boxes are labeled and fully sealed
• Stack boxes one tier deep against the walls so that the movers can access all items in a given room
• Set aside items that you will need in a separate area that is clearly marked (keys, passports, documents) to ensure that they do not get packed
• Set aside cleaning items that will be needed after the moving crew has departed
• Identify where furniture will be placed at the new locations so as to avoid delays during the delivery
• Additional preparation tips are available HERE

PACKING: Label carefully and consistently.  Do not wait until the last minute and, if you think you are going to need some additional help, contact your Olympia move coordinator as soon as possible so that we can schedule a packing crew.  If there are items that you are not comfortable packing (lamps, lamp shades, stemware, paintings), make sure that you also notify your coordinator so that the crew has the requisite materials and equipment with them on the day of your move.

COMMUNICATION: Our best customers are those who understand the importance of details and of communicating those details.  You need to keep us abreast of any new developments, not make any assumptions, and be available to the crew throughout the process.  It is imperative that you are physically present during both the loading and unloading of your items.

PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS: The movers work incredibly hard on a daily basis and are there to help you relocate to your new home.  They are not your adversaries and should be treated with respect.

REVIEW: We spend countless hours on training and process-related issues.  We work hard to ensure that your experience is a positive one, and would hope that you would take the time to provide feedback and offer suggestions.  Ultimately it is these suggestions that provide the foundation for our ongoing training and allow us to improve.

TIPPING: Tipping is really at your discretion and there are no minimum requirements.  If you choose to tip the movers, take the time to explain what they did to deserve the tip and/or any suggestions that you might have.  You can also demonstrate your appreciation by providing drinks or making water available.  These small signs of encouragement recognize how hard the crew is working and, while not mandatory, are indicative of a great customer.

It is ultimately the movers themselves who largely dictate the client experience.  Finding great movers capable of delivering on our service commitment is a constant challenge.  Regardless of the training we provide, there are some inherent characteristics that we try to identify as part of our hiring process.

• Listening: A crew chief needs to be able to quickly synthesize information emanating from his team and the client.  It is imperative that they listen, comprehend, and then act.
• Endurance: Physical strength is obviously one facet of the position, but endurance and mental toughness are much more important.  Running up and down stairs for 8 straight hours is about willpower; and the best movers are not necessarily the strongest.
• Communication: A crew chief needs to be able to maintain control of a very dynamic environment and ensure that everyone is on task and that the job is on estimate.  They need to quickly and efficiently communicate with their client, team, and dispatcher in order to ensure a smooth move.
• Understanding: Despite the pressure to complete the job on-time and on-estimate, it is also important that a crew chief is capable of understanding client concerns and, as necessary, modifying his approach in order to adequately address these concerns.  Keeping the client abreast of progress also helps to alleviate any unnecessary stress.
• Accountability: We need people who are accountable for their actions.  Ultimately the crew chief is in charge, and anything that happens over the course of the move is a reflection on his performance.
• Ambition: Taking charge of a moving crew requires leadership and quick decision making.  We look for crew chiefs that seek out challenges and want to be held responsible.
• Leadership: A good crew chief may be managing up to 25 people on a commercial job.  They need to load the truck, but also control the process and the team.  All of this while simultaneously setting and managing client expectations.

We are always looking for great people.  If you, a friend, or colleague might be interestesd in learning what it takes to become a crew chief at Olympia, please contact Josh Croteau, Head of Recruiting, at: jcroteau@olympiamoving.com.  For more information, go to: www.olympiamoving.com/about/careers/open-positions

To be clear, every moving company is going to be able to show you some positive reviews and, likewise, every moving company is going to have some negative reviews floating around in cyberspace.  This is simply a function of being in a dynamic service industry where it is impossible to satisfy all of the people all of the time.

Here are some tips and resources that might help to clear the fog and narrow down the list of potential service providers for your upcoming move.

REALTOR: If you are using a realtor, ask who they recommend and why.

REFERRAL: Talk to your neighbors and see if they have any suggestions and/or a great moving experience that they would be willing to share with you.

BUSINESS LONGEVITY: While longevity does not necessarily directly equate to service excellence, a lengthy track-record is indicative of stability.

FMCSA: Go to fmcsa.dot.gov and search for the companies that you are considering doing business with (given that moving companies often have similar names, it is preferable to search by the unique DOT or MC number instead of by name).  This search will tell you whether there have been any significant service gaps or violations, and whether the carrier’s credentials, licenses, and insurances are up to date.

WEBSITE: A company’s website is, in part, an advertisement, but it is also where they choose to tell you who they are and what their values are.  Take the time to read through the competing sites and make sure that their message resonates with you.

MOVINGSCAM.COM: Started as a platform to report on negative moving experiences, this site has morphed into a business that accepts advertising dollars.  Having said this, it still has some value.  While one negative review is not necessarily indicative of a company’s overall performance, a pattern of misleading or questionable behaviors is certainly a warning sign.

BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU: While there is no hard and fast rule as to what represents an acceptable performance score, I would suggest that it is not worth doing business with a company that maintains anything below a B+ rating.

SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES: There are countless review sites including Google, Angie’s List, Consumer Checkbook, Yelp etc.  It is worth reading through these sites to get a flavor for the reputation of the companies with whom you are considering networking.  At the risk of the obvious, I would also tell you that “you can’t trust everything you read on the internet.”  Some sites allow reviews that were obviously produced by the companies themselves, while there are also negative review submitted by and against competing carriers.

GO VISIT THE MOVER: Show up unannounced and take a quick tour of the facility.  What is the condition of the warehouse, trucks, equipment?  Is the staff in uniform?  Is there someone onsite that can answer questions about your relocation?  This is truly the best way to avoid unwanted surprises on moving day.

Although most people do not have the luxury of being able to determine when they are moving, there are, in fact, better and worse times to relocate.

Northeast Best Times to Move

If you live in the Northeast, or anywhere where inclement weather is potentially an issue, it is preferable to avoid the middle of the winter. Moving companies operate regardless of weather conditions (unless there are safety concerns); however moving in the middle of a snow storm invariably creates additional stress and may add extra time to the move. The one positive aspect of moving during the winter is that you are likely to get the best quality movers. This is because moving companies expand their labor force during the summer months to account for demand. Therefore during the winter months you are usually working exclusively with the most experienced full-time movers.

Avoid Peak Moving Times

If possible, avoid the end of the month. Moving coincides with lease dates, and therefore the end of the month is always the busiest time (especially in the summer season). Movers with a positive reputation are usually at or near capacity during this time and often they charge a small premium during the end of the month.

Best Times to Move Interstate

If you are moving interstate, June through August represents the single busiest time where capacity issues become a factor. If it is possible to move outside of these months it is preferable and, if not, we suggest scheduling your move as far in advance as possible.

So you have contracted a mover and have a scheduled moving date…what next?

Moving Supplies Delivery

If you have not already done so, setup a moving supplies delivery through your moving company. Deliveries are free (provided you are within a certain radius of the office), and obtaining materials from a moving company is usually less expensive than one of the “big box stores”. Most moving companies will also be willing to deliver materials to your residence; even if you are moving yourself. 

Ordering Moving Supplies

When ordering materials, consider the following:

1) People always underestimate the number of boxes required to complete their packing. Be conservative in your estimation.
2) Find moving supplies here to help you determine what kinds of boxes you will need. The basic rule of thumb is that heavier items (books, canned goods) should be placed in smaller boxes.
3) Order one role of tape for every 8-10 boxes.
4) Order one “ream” of paper for every 10-15 boxes (the more fragile items you have, the more paper will be required).
5) Ask whether the moving company has any used or recycled packing supplies that they could provide at a discounted rate. This is an environmentally friendly way to save money.

Organize Your Moving Boxes

Once you receive your packing supplies, keep them organized in a specific area to avoid unwanted clutter. Label each box carefully and stack the boxes in tiers against the wall so that the movers have access to all of your goods.

Small shipments are sometimes difficult for moving companies to accommodate. On a local move, most companies maintain a minimum number of hours, and on an interstate move, a minimum weight. As logic would suggest, this is simply because many of the underlying costs are fixed; whether you are transporting 300lbs or 1500lbs.

Small Shipment Options

So what are your options if you have only a small shipment?

a) Small Shipment Local Move: On a local move, identify a company (like Olympia Moving) that does not maintain a “minimum” number of hours.
b) Small Shipment on Interstate Move: On an interstate move, generally speaking, the more flexibility that you have in terms of timing, the easier it is for a moving company to make adjustments. The justification is that, if you are able to provide a 2 week window for pickup and a 3 week window for delivery, it will be easier to consolidate your shipment with other comparable loads.
c) Small Shipment Rental Truck: Consider moving these items on your own with a rental truck. Although a big time commitment, this is sometimes the most economical approach.
d) Small Load Specialist: If your shipment is not time sensitive, consider working with a small load specialist. These are companies that have carved out a market niche working exclusively with small shipments. The basic business model is that they pickup your goods and store them until such time as they have enough volume to warrant sending a truck into your market. Provided that there are no firm delivery dates, this is a good option to explore.

Improper packing is far and away the leading cause of damages during a move.  Packing is somewhat of an art form and Olympia Moving spends hundreds of hours training our crews on best practices on an annual basis.  Obviously, if you choose to pack yourself, you will need to get up to speed as fast as possible; so the following suggestions should serve as a quick primer.

Tips to Packing For Your Move

1)     Leave yourself enough time to organize and pack.  Packing and preparing for a move always takes longer than anticipated.  If you find that you are running out of time, contact your relocation coordinator and request assistance.

2)     Organize your space before initiating the packing process.  This will save you a lot of time.

3)     Setup a “packing workstation” with a flat surface upon which you can lay your packing paper.

4)     Place empty boxes that you are in the process of packing on top of a full carton so that you don’t have to bend down to pack the box.  This is both a faster approach and will protect you from back injuries.

Packing Materials

5)     The best packing material is plain white newsprint (packing paper), which can be supplied by any moving company.  It is the right consistency and, unlike newsprint, will not leave ink stains on the items you are trying to protect.

6)     Be generous in your use of paper.  Packing paper is not cheap; but it is much less expensive than damaged goods.

7)     In the vast majority of cases, paper is preferable to bubble wrap.  In addition, paper is considerably less expensive and it more environmentally sound.

Organize Your Packing Items

8)     Pack in tiers.  If you are packing breakable items, put a “cushion” of crumpled up paper on the bottom of each box.  Then individually wrap each item and place it gently and securely in the box.  Make sure that everything is packed tightly together and then add another tier of cushioning.

9)     Pack “like items” together; such as “pots and pans” or “dishes”.  This makes the unpacking process smoother.

10) Label carefully on the top and two adjacent sides of each box.  The labels should include your last name, the room that the items came out of, and a few words about the contents of the box.  This will help the movers to know where to place the carton in your new residence.

11) Do not leave any extra space in your containers.  The strength and integrity of the box is largely determined by what is inside the box.  The rule of thumb is that if you gently shake the box and hear any movement, you need to add paper.

12) When taping the box shut, use proper moving tape.  Tape securely along each seam of the box and then run your hand over the tape to make sure that it has adhered to the cardboard.

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