Floor Planner

Floor PlannerAs indicated throughout the Olympia Site, the success of a move largely hinges upon planning and preparation.  The more prepared that you are for move day, the smoother the relocation process will typically be.

Aside from our Move Planner, we recommend a tool called Floor Planner to prepare for your move.  This tool allows you to design the layout of your new home, create 3-D maps, and play with some different ideas in terms of how and where to position your furniture.  It is very intuitive to use and, most importantly it is FREE!

This tool is also not limited to residential spaces, and can be a great resource in planning out office configurations.

Hoisting and Craning Services

With offices in Boston (MA) and Hyattsville (MD), 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 and CraningHoisting:  “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.

Moving into or out of Alexandria Virginia

Moving into or out of Alexandria, Arlington, or Washington DC requires an in-depth understanding of the streets and access conditions.  In contrast with some of the more removed DC suburbs, truck access needs to be considered and parking permits are often required.  Washington DC does not allow any tractor-trailers into the city, and therefore smaller straight trucks must be used.

Alexandria MovingWhile newer developments typically have better access for movers, some of the older buildings and row houses can be challenging.  Tight staircases and small entryways are par for the course and can make moving a piano challenging.  To address this scenario, all of our crew chiefs receive significant training with hand-hoisting and, as required, we will also use a crane for bigger pieces.

Largely owing to the numbers of government employees in the area, the DC Metro is the most transient market in the country.  In an environment in which there are so many temporary residents, storage can be a great alternative to trying to cram all of your belongings into a small space.