Boston moving company asks residents to share their moving stories

Everyone has their own moving stories that define how they feel about moving.

Whether you’ve moved with the help of friends and family or have worked with a moving company, every move faces challenges and obstacles. Let’s face it, planning a move can be super stressful!

We wanted to hear what your biggest concerns are when planning a move, so we took to the streets to ask Boston to share their moving stories.  Our team wanted to know people’s true feelings, challenges, and pain points while moving,  because the more we know the more we can help our clients have a smooth, stress-free move.

For real Bostonians’ moving stories, watch the video below:

Olympia Moving Asks Boston: How Do You Feel About Moving?

From flaky friends to broken belongings, there are many worries when moving your belongings, but Olympia Moving & Storage is here to help! Here at Olympia, we have the resources and knowledge to help you through your relocation, whether you just need an extra hand to load your Uhaul or don’t want to lift a finger. We’re a full service moving company, which means we can handle any and all of your moving needs.

We offer a number of additional services to choose from to make your move a success – including, but not limited to:

And yes, we can totally move that piano for you! We’re here to take the stress out of moving, check out our resource center for tips and tricks.

Whether you’re apartment moving down the street, moving across the country or planning an international move, our relocation specialists are here to work through your move with you and will tailor our services to fit your needs.

Ready to tell some better moving stories?

Request an estimate today!

Special Olympics Athlete Amanda Church Speaks at Boston Moving Company Sales Meeting

Amanda Church shows off her Special Olympics World Games medals with Olympia Moving & Storage Founder & President Michael Gilmartin
Amanda Church shows off her Special Olympics World Games medals with Olympia Moving & Storage Founder & President Michael Gilmartin

Olympia Moving & Storage was proud to feature Special Olympics athlete Amanda Church as a guest speaker at our bi-annual sales meeting in October. The Boston moving company was the sponsor of Amanda’s trip to compete in the 2015 Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles this summer.

Amanda gave a speech at the sales meeting, sharing her extraordinary experiences at World Games. Amanda’s told Olympia Moving about her training, staying in the Olympic village, being on ESPN during the Opening Ceremonies, meeting Michael Phelps, and of course swimming her events and the amazing moment of being awarded her medals on the podium.

She also gave Olympia Moving inspiring insights on how Special Olympics World Games is changing how the world views people with intellectual disabilities:

“The World Games showcased not just how capable people with intellectual disabilities are in athletics but also in life. I think the World Games really changed how people think about people with intellectual disabilities. That’s the whole reason for R-Word campaign. This word I believe should be removed from all books, TV, movies, everywhere. It is hurtful to not only people with disabilities but to everyone else all over the World. Some people who hear this word take it so bad that they can lose their self-esteem, not want to go to school or work, or worse. I would like everyone to stop anyone who says this to anyone and remind them what the R-Word means to them and how it affects others whether you have a disability or not. This word needs to be removed from our vocabulary.” – Amanda Church, Special Olympics World Games Athlete

Amanda also showed off her medals: a Silver Medal for the 200 meter breaststroke and a Bronze medal for the 4 by 50 freestyle relay. She was also kind enough to thank Olympia Moving for the sponsorship during her speech:

“I trained very hard to reach my goal, but I could not have done it without the support of my coach’s, family, and friends; but most importantly the support of all of you at Olympia. You gave me the best gift of all which was helping me get to Worlds with a $5,000 donation, and for that I thank you. I hope Olympia will continue to keep supporting Special Olympics, and come to Summer Games year after year.” – Amanda Church, Special Olympics World Games Athlete

Learn more about our sponsorship of Amanda.

Run to Boston Piano 5K Challenge

Piano 5K ChallengeThe Olympia Moving & Storage Piano 5K Challenge

Boston moving company challenges runners as part of the Run to Boston Race Series to benefit Special Olympics Massachusetts

When Olympia Moving & Storage, a premier Boston moving company, heard about the Run to Boston Race Series to benefit the athletes of Special Olympics Massachusetts, we wanted to try an extra challenge in the Special Olympics spirit of pushing our limits.  The Olympia Moving crew are export Boston piano movers, relocating pianos in Massachusetts daily without a scratch.  Could our team safely move a piano…while running a 5K?  It sounded crazy enough to try, so the Olympia Moving & Storage Piano 5K Challenge was born!

Team Olympia Moving & Storage collaborated with Special Olympics Massachusetts to complete the challenge.  The proof that Olympia Moving & Storage, expert Boston piano movers, can move a piano while running a 5K and keep the instrument in flawless condition is below!

Olympia Moving & Storage’s Piano 5K Challenge final time was 32:28!

Olympia Moving & Storage Challenges “Run to Boston” Runners!

Now it’s your turn to take part in the challenge!  Don’t worry, we won’t make you push a piano, but we do challenge you to beat our time during the Run to Boston 5K races!

All Run to Boston Race Series runners who beat Olympia’s piano 5K time (32:28) will be automatically entered to win a FitBit!  No raffle tickets, no pianos, just sign up for one of these three races and RUN!

All three races are holiday-themed, a lot of fun, and best of all, race proceeds fund sports training and competitions for athletes with intellectual disabilities!

There will be 3 FitBit winners total, one per race.  Winners will be randomly selected among runners with finish times below 32:28.  The winning runners will be contacted after the race.

The Olympia Moving & Storage Piano 5K Challenge is part of our year-round sponsorship of Special Olympics Massachusetts.  The Boston moving company donates logistics services to dozens of Special Olympics Massachusetts competitons and fundraisers annually, and fund raises for the organization.  To learn more about our work with Special Olympics Massachusetts visit https://www.olympiamoving.com/specialolympics

Free Moving Coloring Page for Kids

Moving with kids is never an easy task. From breaking the news to settling into your new home, there are plenty of ups and downs – including a lot of idle time for your antsy little ones.

Looking for something quiet to keep your kids busy, and maybe even quiet, while you prepare for your move?

Olympia Moving & Storage has you covered with our free moving coloring page, designed to make moving with children a little easier for your family! This free coloring page is a great way to help small kids grasp the concept of moving and get excited for their new home.

Download our free moving coloring page for your kids

moving coloring page for kids

As always, Olympia Moving & Storage is here to help with all of your relocation needs.  For more tools for moving with kids, including book recommendations on the topic, check out our blog post on moving with kids.

Have other questions about moving or looking for moving tips? We’d be glad to help, just give us a call at 800.222.4744

Ready to start planning your move with kids? Click here to request a free moving estimate with Olympia Moving & Storage.

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Boston Moving Company Offers Scholarships to Students

Olympia Moving & Storage, proudly announced the Olympia Scholars Program this week, offering scholarships to student movers. olympia scholars

The scholarship program, which is available to all current and prospective Olympia Moving & Storage employees, allows motivated student movers to earn thousands of dollars in scholarships in addition to a top hourly wage.

For many Boston-area college students, working between classes is essential to paying for tuition, books, and living expenses.  Most students get jobs swiping IDs at the gym, pouring coffee, or scanning groceries.  But for some Boston students, they earn money by carrying armoires up fourth-floor walkups in the Back Bay between classes.  Michael Gilmartin, President and Founder of Olympia Moving & Storage, used to be one of these students.

“While I studied at Northeastern University, I earned money by working at a local moving company,” says Gilmartin, who founded Olympia Moving & Storage in 1993.  “At the time, I liked working as a mover because it was a great opportunity to earn higher wages than the average student while staying in shape. Little did I know it would become a career.”

Michael Gilmartin’s company, Olympia Moving & Storage has been employing Boston-area college students for over 20 years.

olympia movers“Students who work with Olympia Moving & Storage quickly learn that working here is a
bout more than just a paycheck and lifting furniture,” says Gilmartin.

  “Movers learn valuable lessons in problem solving, team work, and client management that they will use for the rest of their careers.”

After he graduated from Northeastern University, Michael Gilmartin put the skills he learned as a student mover to use and founded his own company. Since then, he has brought hired many of his student movers as operations managers, sales managers, and more.

“It’s always been fulfilling to see our student movers succeed after graduation, either with Olympia Moving or in engineering, sales, entrepreneurship, and many other careers with other companies,” says Gilmartin. “We wanted to expand that Olympia Moving & Storage tradition by directly investing in our student movers’ education. Student movers are extremely motivated and hardworking, you have to be to move furniture for eight hours straight. These are the kind of students we want to invest in, as they have the skills to succeed.”

Up to 15 Olympia Moving employees per year are eligible to participate in the Olympia Scholars program.  The scholarship recipients will earn a $1,000 scholarship per every 1,000 hours worked and can earn a maximum of four scholarships during their education.  The scholarship is available to employees actively pursuing degrees at universities, community colleges, and trade schools.

For more eligibility details, and to apply to become a student mover in the Olympia Scholars program, visit http://www.olympiamoving.com/olympiascholars or call 617-517-9878.

Packing Don’ts for Moving

Packing is hard and tips are always welcomed.  Everyone has heard about the packing dos, but packing don’ts are just as important, and not following those guidelines could end up adding time and money to your move.

We’ve been moving families for over 20 years.  Olympia Moving & Storage provides full packing services, but many of our clients also pack themselves.  We see our self-pack clients make the same mistakes over and over again.  Below are the most common packing don’ts we see our clients disregard. These packing don’ts are moving time-savers and prevent moving damage, whether you’re moving yourself or working with a moving company.

packing don'tsLocal Moving Packing Don’ts:

  • Don’t pack books in medium or large boxes, you’ll over-pack and boxes could break during the move, or worse, you could pack a box too heavy to move.  Always pack books, CDs, and files in small 1.5 cu.ft. boxes.
  • Don’t forget to disassemble your lamps and lampshades and pack them in appropriate boxes, 6.1 cu.ft. boxes are best. Lamps and lampshades cannot be wrapped, they must move in a box or risk damage.
  • Don’t pack your fragile items or books into plastic totes. This does not securely protect fragiles from damage and will over pack the tote, making it too heavy to lift.  Wrap fragile items and pack them into 1.5 cu.ft. boxes, or pack fragile dishware into 5.1 cu.ft. dishpack boxes.  Those boxes have thicker walls for better protection.

Interstate Moving Packing Don’ts:

  • Packing artwork and mirrors can be scary, but it’s important to remember that bubble wrap isn’t enough to protect them. Artwork and mirrors must be packed in mirror or artwork boxes to avoid damage.
  • Vases and plant pots must be boxed and cannot be placed freely in your moving vehicle or they will get damaged and may cause other items to get damaged as well.
  • Don’t transport your items in trash bags. Your belongings aren’t garbage and while this seems like an easy packing cheat, your bags will rip in transit. Bags are also cumbersome and can’t be stacked to utilize space in a moving vehicle.
  • Floor lamps must be dismantled and packed in a tall lamp box.

General Moving Packing Don’ts:

  • Moving filing cabinets can be daunting.
    Large filing cabinets (3-5 drawers) must be emptied completely or they will be too heavy to carry.
    Small cabinets (2 drawers) can remain full but emptying them will be appreciated by your movers or helpful friends.
  • Dressers are best to be emptied at least halfway and should only contain clothing and linen
  • Fragile items, books, and jewelry cannot be transported in drawers of furniture items.  They may damage the furniture piece, make it too heavy, or run the risk of getting lost or damaged if not packed properly.
  • All containers must have tops to ensure items are not susceptible to damage or displacement. This will also ensure that all boxes and items can be stacked inside the moving vehicle.
  • All boxes should be filledas best as possible to ensure safe transport and loading. If the space is not used items are more likely to shift and get damaged during transit, and boxes could collapse while they are stacked in the moving truck.

Our general rule of thumb is that everything that fits in a box, should go in a box!

Have other packing questions?
Call us today at 800.222.4744 or click here to request a free, no obligation moving estimate and start planning your move.

If you’re still intimated by packing, no problem! Request an pricing for full or fragile packing services as part of your estimate with Olympia Moving & Storage.

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Video: GoPros on the Olympia Moving crew during Boston moving day

September 1st Boston Moving Day, also known as Allston Christmas, is the most hectic day to move in the city. 63% of Boston leases turn over, meaning that thousands of residents are moving, renting trucks, and hiring moving companies in the same week. Over 2000 moving parking permits were ordered in Boston for that week, and that doesn’t even include neighboring Cambridge, Somerville, and Brookline, as well as the many residents who didn’t bother to order a permit!

Many Boston residents struggle to accomplish just one move, but the Olympia Moving crew completes hundreds of moves in the Boston area that week. Some of our crews move 3 residents per day on September 1st, not to mention the fact that our tireless movers are carrying furniture almost every day of the year! We decided to give GoPros to a few of our moving crews to see if they could capture some of the moving madness for us. Even our team was surprised by the result! Clearly our crews are skilled movers and incredible athletes that can overcome any moving challenge: from parallel parking a truck on a narrow Boston street to moving out of a dizzying 4th floor walk up, our crew is made of professional moving superheros!

Check out the result in this mesmerizing video:

After watching that video, you’re probably ready to hire our incredible movers. Click here to request a free, no obligation estimate.

Be sure to also check out the rest of our Allston Christmas/September 1st coverage on our blog:

Epic Roundup of an Epic Boston Moving Day: Allston Christmas 2015

Congratulations Boston, on surviving yet another Allston Christmas! In case you’re not familiar with this move-in day of massive proportions, 63% of Boston leases turn over on September 1st due to the thousands of students returning to university. The result is the biggest moving day in Boston, traffic jams of Uhauls, and sidewalks littered with belongings deemed not worthy of new apartments. Click here to learn more about September 1st Boston move in.

2015 was the year that Boston took the tradition to the next level. Social media and the press eagerly anticipated the horde of moving trucks and chaos, trending #AllstonChristmas on Twitter well before the 1st. Local residents made the day more festive with holiday-themed signage. Local companies also marketed the event more than ever, especially new neighborhood grocer bfresh market with a series of clever marketing stunts. The city of Boston also did their part to alleviate the gridlock by putting moving permit requests online and carefully monitoring Storrow Drive to prevent trucks from getting stuck under low pedestrian bridges.

For those lucky enough to avoid this annual relocation event, we compiled the best Allston Christmas stories, tweets, and instagrams:

The streets, especially Commonwealth Avenue, were gridlocked with rental trucks, students, parents, and unlucky commuters

Continue reading “Epic Roundup of an Epic Boston Moving Day: Allston Christmas 2015”

Boston Moving Permits Made Easier

no-parking-signMoving is never an easy task and things can often be overlooked until the last minute. But getting Boston moving permits shouldn’t be one of those things, especially if you live in a city like Boston, where September 1st is basically a city-wide holiday and Allston Christmas reigns supreme. Think: free arcade games up for grabs along with some serious velvet paintings of Elvis…

Whether it’s your first move or your fifth, having a helping hand in your move is always a good idea. So, what’s the deal with parking passes? The experts at Olympia Moving are here to tell you.

Moving permits are super important and failing to get one can not only delay your move but also end up costing you in the end whether you’re working with a moving company or doing it yourself. In the past, Boston residents were required to schlep on down to the town hall and wait in a line with everyone else panicking about their own moving day. Sound like a blast? If you said no then we have GREAT news for you because starting this year you can get your parking permits from the comfort of your packed up living room!

Why get a moving permit?

Moving permits reserve spaces (standard size- 2 parking spaces) at a specific time and location to park a vehicle while moving your belongings in and out of your building, meaning no one else can park there during the times that you have paid for. If you do not get a parking pass you may not be able to park the moving truck near your home, which will add significant time and effort in moving your belongings.

Another downside of not getting a moving permit is that you run the risk of getting a ticket or even worse being towed. Yikes.

When and where do I get my permit?

One day Boston moving permits can be ordered online through both the City of Boston and City of Cambridge website and are then mailed to you. These must be obtained at least two weeks but no longer than one month in advance to your move.

Is your move closer than two weeks away? Don’t worry! You can still apply for a permit at City Hall.

Residential area permits must be obtained at least 3 days but no longer than 2 weeks in advance to the move
with signs posted 48 hours in advance to the move

Keep in mind that metered spots also require a permit to park, so don’t take any chances.

Metered area permits must be obtained at least 3 days but no longer than 2 weeks in advance to the move with signs posted 24 hours in advance to the move

How much is my permit going to cost?

In addition to your moving permit, the city also requires “no parking” signs made of cardboard to be posted in the area with the date and times of their permit. These signs must be purchased at a cost of $4.00 each with a minimum of two “No Parking” signs required.

  • For metered spaces there is an additional payment of $20.00 per meter head per day, but don’t forget to supply the individual parking meter numbers when you’re applying.
  • In Boston moving truck permits are a base fee of $61.00. For all other permits, the base fee is $20.00.
  • In addition to the base fee, there’s also a fee of $1.00 per square foot calculated against the size of the occupied area. The square footage must cover the size of the truck and space needed to load/unload.
  • So, a one day permit for a moving truck requiring two metered spaces would be approximately $80.
    This fee equals $61 (base fee) plus approximately $11 (40-feet x 8-feet x 1-day @ $1/sqft/month) plus $8 (two signs @ $4/sign).

What do I do once I have my permit?

Once you’ve received your permit and “no parking” signs you’ll have to post them within a minimum of two days before your moving date. This gives your neighbors time to coordinate where they will be parking their cars and will avoid the hassle of having to call the city to get a car moved.

Still sounds like a pain? More good news!

If you’re planning your move with Olympia we can do it for you! We’ll be sure to obtain the necessary permits specific to the area that you live in and eliminate the wait-time and stress of plastering your neighbor’s cars with notices. Plus, then you’ll have more time to pack and enjoy a glass of wine before the chaos ensues.  Get started and request a free, no obligation estimate for your Boston move.

For additional information specific your area check out their websites:
Boston
Somerville
Cambridge
Brookline

Olympia Moving Recognized at Red Sox Game for Sponsorship of Special Olympics

Special Olympics Massachusetts took Olympia Moving out to the ballgame on August 20th and we were in for a surprise during the Red Sox pre-game! CEO Michael Gilmartin and his son, VP of Sales & Marketing Piet Gauchat, and Marketing Manager Rachael Fischer from Olympia Moving & Storage were brought onto the field to be recognized for our support of Special Olympics Massachusetts. Olympia Moving was presented an award by World Games athlete Amanda Church, Red Sox CEO Larry Lucchino, and Wally the Green Monster.

L-R Rachael Fischer (Olympia Marketing Manager), Piet Gauchat (Olympia Vice President of Sales), Michael Gilmartin and his son Andrew (CEO of Olympia Moving & Storage), Amanda Church (Special Olympics World Games athlete), Larry Lucchino (CEO of the Boston Red Sox) and Wally the Green Monster!
Thank you Special Olympics for this recognition and this beautiful plaque!
Thank you Special Olympics for this recognition and this beautiful plaque!

Here’s a video of this memorable moment in Fenway Park:

After the presentation, Olympia Moving watched the Red Sox beat the Kansas City Royals 4-1! Olympia Moving & Storage has been a Boston moving company for over 20 years, so it was a very special night indeed!

Thank you Special Olympics Massachusetts for this wonderful honor – we love working with you!

Olympia Moving & Storage has been the official logistics partner for Special Olympics Massachusetts since 2013. Last year, Olympia Moving’s monetary and in-kind logistics donations totaled almost $50,000. This summer, Olympia Moving also sponsored World Games athlete Amanda Church, you can read about her experience competing with 7,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities in her training blogs on the Olympia website. You can learn more about our work with Special Olympics and make a donation to these amazing athletes at https://www.olympiamoving.com/specialolympics