Olympia Moving & Storage on Town Talk 3/13/2013

Dennis, who is also a local realtor, interviewed sales manager Frank Landino and marketing manager Rachael Fischer about their experiences in the moving & storage industry.

Thank you to Dennis Ready and the Town Talk team for inviting us on the show! Town Talk airs Wednesdays at 8:30 on CTM TV in Chelmsford, Lowell, Westford, and Dracut (http://chelmsfordtv.org/).

Olympia Moving & Storage is a professional moving company operating out of Greater Boston & Washington D.C. area.  Request a free estimate for your upcoming move.

Moving Appliances & Special Furniture

Moving a front load washerSome appliances and furniture need a little extra TLC in transit.  Olympia can either service and prep these special pieces, or we can bring in one of our experts to make sure these items are 100% ready to be safely moved to your new home.

If you have any of the appliances or furniture called out below, be sure to bring them to the attention of your moving consultant during your in-home survey.

If you’re looking to save some money, here are some things you can do yourself to prep these items:

Refrigerator & Freezer

First, remove all the contents and either pack them in a cooler to bring to your new home or throw the perishables away.   Unplug the fridge and freezer and let the freezer defrost over night.   If your freezer has an ice maker, turn off the water supply, disconnect the water line, and turn the ice maker off.  Wipe the fridge and freezer down in the morning and remove and pack all the interior shelves.  You can see our video on how to pack a refrigerator here.  The moving crew will properly wrap the fridge before they move it.

Washer & Dryer

For the washer, turn off the water hook-up, unhook the hoses, and unplug the washer and drain hose.  Be careful of excess water.  For the dryer, remove the metallic hose, unplug the dryer (electric), or turn off the gas then remove the hose (gas).  If you have a front load washer, then you will need to use transit bolts in order to lock the washer for damage-free movement.  If you do not have these bolts from when you purchased the appliance, ask your mover to bring in an expert to prepare the washer for the move.

Grandfather Clocks

The pendulum and weights must be detached from the clock before it can be moved.  Additionally, we highly recommend crating this fragile piece before moving in order to avoid damage.  Because grandfather clocks are so complex, it’s probably best to ask your moving company to bring in a clock expert to prep the timepiece, but you can also learn how to move your grandfather clock yourself.

Waterbeds

Your waterbed should be completely drained, the heater should be unhooked, and the mattress should be properly rolled or folded before moving.  Then, disassemble your bed.  Read about how to drain and move or store your waterbed.

Televisions

Use a special TV box to move flat screen and plasma TVs without incident.  You can find detailed instructions on how to pack a television for moving in our guide to packing and moving electronics.

Pool tables

The pool table will need to be completely disassembled before it can be transitioned to your new home.  This includes removing the bumpers, felt, slate, and legs from the table.  Since pool tables can be both complex and heavy, we highly recommend not moving it yourself, but you can learn more about the steps to moving a pool table.

Pianos

Only the bravest would attempt to move a piano without professional help.  Fortunately, our vanline is the official mover of Steinway and Sons, so we’re experts! Check out our essential guide to piano moving.  Again, we highly recommend hiring movers, but you can learn more about how piano moving is done on your own.

6 Essential Tips for Packing Fragile Items

Our How To Pack Video Series

Stylish moving / change of address cards and e-cards

So you’ve sold the house and booked the moving company.  Now you’re ready to announce your big move in style!  Whether you want to use old-fashioned snail mail or the speed of e-cards, there’s a variety of cute moving cards and moving e-cards on the market or for free!

Moving cards and moving e-cards are a great way to show off your new home or announce your change of address to your friends and family.

Paper moving and change of address cards

We put together this Pinterest board to inspire the creation or purchase of your own moving cards:

 

"We're Moving" cards on Pinterest

 

“We’re Moving” cards on Pinterest

Moving and change of address e-cards

If you want to go the cheaper route, these free e-cards will brighten your friends’ and families’ inboxes.

E-cards from Punchbowl

Moving e-cards

E-cards from U-Pack

Animated e-card

Animated e-card from Hallmark

Your friends and family aren’t the only ones who need to know about your move!  Double check against our list of agencies and institutions to inform of your address change.

Once you’re happily moved in, learn how to host the perfect housewarming party.

How to Prep and Protect Furniture for Moving

A new Olympia crew member in training to learn the right way to wrap furniture

Before you start bringing your furniture out to the truck:  stop!  There’s still a few steps you need to take to make sure your home and furniture will get through the move damage-free.  Here are some precautions the professionals at Olympia Moving take every time to prep and protect furniture for moving.  You can adopt these tips like a pro if you’re moving yourself, or you can make your life much easier and get an estimate for full-service moving.

– The first step is to make sure you have the right materials.  You can purchase shrink wrap, bubble kraft,  disposable furniture pads, and tape from many moving companies.  You can find the order form for free materials delivery from Olympia Moving here.

– Disassemble as much furniture as possible, including beds, futons, and dining sets.  This will make your furniture less bulky and easier to move.  Keep organized by putting all the corresponding bolts and screws in a plastic baggie and tape it to the furniture piece.

– Shrink wrap your furniture.  Not only is this a cheap way to keep your furniture clean in the truck, but it keeps drawers shut in transit.  Alternatively, tape drawers shut so they don’t fall open.

– For fragile items and furniture with sharp corners, wrap the furniture in old blankets or furniture pads.  This prevents damage to the piece and protects your new or former home if the furniture bumps into floors and walls on its way out.

– Also consider taping furniture pads to walls and railings inside your home.  This is especially relevant in tight spaces like stairwells where furniture can scratch or gouge the walls as you move it through.  Maybe you can get your security deposit back!

– Once your furniture is in the truck, prevent large pieces from shifting in transit with straps and bungee cords.  Some rental trucks already come with these supplies, or you can request them.

Also be sure to check out these articles to prep for your move:

Tips on Packing Pictures and Mirrors

6 Essential Tips for Packing Fragile Items

When is the Delivery Date for My Interstate Move?

Wheaton Moving Partner Olympia Moving and StorageCoordinating the timing of deliveries for interstate moves is often the trickiest part of the relocation process.  Many moving newbies often imagine the truck and crew driving directly from their origin home to their new home.

When your moving consultant gives you the estimate for your interstate move, the delivery date will always be listed as a delivery spread.  The truck will arrive at your destination address between these dates.  Delivery spreads can range from 1 to 14 days for interstate moves.  This is standard practice across the industry.

Your moving company cannot guarantee a delivery date because there are almost always multiple customers’ shipments on each truck.   Moving would be much more expensive for both the customer and the moving company if a driver was bringing just one customer’s things from Virginia to California.  If a driver also picks up a customer going from Virginia to Arizona and another from Arkansas to New Mexico, the move is much more cost effective for everyone.

However, the timeline of moving can be unpredictable.  Between the day you book your move and your delivery day, the vanline could add more customers to your drivers’ itinerary, or the pick up or drop off of another customer’s items could take more time than expected.  Therefore, it is very difficult to know the exact day of the driver’s arrival in advance.

There are many factors that affect the length of your delivery spread, the most common being:

  • The distance between your old and new addresses (the more the miles, the longer the spread)
  • The time of year (delivery spreads tend to be longer and more unpredictable in the busy summer months)
  • The weight of your shipment (the more things you’re moving, the shorter the spread)

The driver will call you 1-2 days in advance to let you know the exact date of your delivery.  Meanwhile, your moving coordinator will do their best to keep you updated on the delivery date.   However, even the coordinator often does not know the exact day of delivery, even after the crew has picked everything up from your former home.

The best way to control your delivery date is by changing the date you can control:  the loading date.  If you change the loading date, the dates of the delivery spread will also change correspondingly.  However, it is not advised to change your loading date after you book your move.

It is also a good idea to remain flexible during the delivery spread dates so you are free to accept the delivery on any of those days.  If there are any days in the delivery spread that you will be unavailable to meet the movers for whatever reason, always make a back up plan at the time of booking for someone else to meet the truck on those days.

Click here to read more tips for interstate moving.

Moving in the Cold and Snow

Avoiding the snow is one of the reasons most choose to move in the summer.  As year round movers in Boston, MA and Washington, DC we’ve seen our share of Nor’easters and chilly days.  Our crews are tough and always persevere through whatever Mother Nature throws our way, but customers can take a few simple steps to make the movers more comfortable, expedite the move, and even save a little money while moving in the cold and snow.

Keep in touch with your movers.  If you know some brutal wintery conditions are coming your way, feel free to call your moving coordinator with your concerns.  If you have the flexibility, it might be possible to shift the dates of local moves and services to avoid the snow.  It is extremely rare for Olympia to close the office due to weather, and we will certainly contact you with as much notice as possible if this is the case.

Shovel before the crew arrives.  Our crew members are more than happy to do all the necessary shoveling for you, but adding the task of shoveling adds time and money to your move.  If you want to avoid those charges, it’s best to get rid of the snow before the truck arrives.  Be sure to clear a spot for the truck to park, either in the driveway or street, as well as pathways for the crew between the truck and the entrances.

Salt the pathways.  It is extremely important for the crew to keep their balance while they are carrying your precious furniture in slippery and icy conditions.  The crew will bring salt, but the sooner the pathways are salted, the sooner it is safe for the crew to start loading the truck.  Therefore, like shoveling, it’s helpful to put salt down prior to the movers’ arrival.

Turn down the heat.  As the crew comes in and out, the door will be open to the cold air for a good portion of the move.  Additionally, it’s uncomfortable for the bundled up movers to come into a toasty house from the cold.  By putting on a jacket and turning down the heat, you’ll save a little money on wasted heat and put the crew at ease.

Floor protection.  Snow, mud, slush, and salt can lead to a mess under movers’ boots.  Therefore, in the winter, we always put down extra floor protection to protect your home from a mess.  If you have extra mats, put them by the door to help the crew clean their boots before entering your home.

Go for a Dunkin’ Donuts run.  Chilly movers will never say no to warm coffee!

Adding Extra Stops to Your Move

Sometimes moving isn’t as simple as going from point A to point B, and there need to be a few extra stops in between.  Common pick-up or delivery extra stops include self-storage units, a friend or relative’s residence, or an office.  Adding more elements to your move does not have to add confusion as long as you’re prepared.  Here are a few things you should keep in mind:

If you have extra pick-ups in your move that are beyond a few furniture pieces, let your moving company know while you’re setting up a survey appointment.  Your moving consultant may want to view the extra stop during the survey.  Seeing the rest of your household goods and the access at the extra stop location will help him give you a more accurate estimate and prepare the crew for the move.

For extra deliveries, give your moving coordinator a list of the items and boxes to be dropped off there before move day.  This will help the crew better organize and avoid delivering items to the incorrect location.  If your extra delivery is more than a few pieces, ask the crew to bring different colored stickers to label the items before they’re put on the truck, a separate color for each delivery location.

If your extra stop is a self-storage facility, call the facility beforehand for hours and moving truck rules.  If you are not accompanying the crew to the storage facility, let the facility know beforehand that you are sending a moving crew, and be sure the crew has any necessary keys or combination codes.

Adding extra stops is relatively easy for both local and interstate moves providing that the extra stop is relatively close to the origin or destination address.  However, adding extra stops in different cities during an interstate move can add complexity and expense.  Be sure to discuss thoroughly with your moving consultant and coordinator.

Be sure to confirm with your move coordinator which stop the crew should arrive to first on moving day.

How to Read an Interstate Moving Estimate

Olympia238_resizeThe moving industry has, over time, developed a vernacular that is exclusive in nature.  It takes years to become fully acquainted with the terminology and the surplus of unnecessary acronyms. 

The practical manifestation of this reality is that moving estimates can be extremely difficult to comprehend.  This is especially true on interstate shipments, where many of the movers themselves would be hard-pressed to define all of the specific line items referenced on a given quotation.

Having said this, ultimately you need to relocate your personal property from point A to point B, and therefore you should focus on the following common elements/questions in evaluating a potential service provider.

  1. Weight: How much weight is being estimated? If you are comparing quotes, ask the competing companies to provide you with a quote based upon the highest estimated weight.  If you rececive any quotations based upon cubic footage, simply eliminate those companies (while there are some subtle workarounds, it is technically illegal to provide interstate pricing based upon anything other than weight).
  2. Packing: How much packing and how many containers are included in your estimate?
  3. Services: Nobody likes surprises when it comes to moving.  What (if any) are the potential additional charges?  Make sure to ask about “shuttle charges” at the delivery residence.
  4. Estimate Type: Is this a non-binding, binding, or not-to-exceed estimate?
  5. Who is conducting the move?  Will the company that you are speaking with actually transport your shipment directly, or is the salesperson that you are working with representing a larger van line?

In the interest of helping prospects and clients to navigate the industry terminology, Olympia has included a glossary of terms on our website.

The bottom-line is that, while all interstate carriers are required to have some “legalese” in their document, if your representative is not able to fully explain the estimate, or you have concerns that the estimate is intentionally nebulous, simply cross that company off your list.

How To Move A Piano

Probably the most important facet of moving a piano is communication.  The type of piano and the access at both the origin and destination locations will determine the equipment and staffing required to transport the piano safely.  Critical information that needs to be communicated to Olympia Moving includes:

Wheaton Moving Truck

1)     What type of piano are you moving (upright, spinet, baby grand, concert grand)?

2)     What is the access like at your origin residence (stairs, elevator)?

3)     What is the access like at your destination residence (stairs, elevator)?

4)     How the piano was moved in originally; i.e. was a crane required?

The bottom line is that when moving a piano, you want to avoid the potential for any “surprises.”

It would help if you also considered whether you want to take out any additional liability coverage for your move.  There are two options that Olympia makes available to our clientele.  The first option is at no additional charge and comprises the legally mandated 60 cents per pound article.  The second option is called or “Replacement Value Coverage” and allows you to increase the level of coverage for your relocation.  A detailed explanation of these options is available to you here.

Along with our partner, Wheaton World Wide, Olympia has been named as the official mover for Steinway and Sons.  Our movers receive specialized training in transporting pianos of all sizes and are supplied with the newest and latest equipment.

Click here to learn more about Olympia’s piano moving and storage services.

9 Essential Items You Shouldn’t Bring on Your Move

While we are certainly happy to move boxes of old newspapers from one basement to another for you, this is often not a particularly economical approach.  Relocating to a new home is a great opportunity to purge unused and unwanted items.  A good rule of thumb is that if you haven’t opened a box or used an item since your last move, it may be time to get rid of it.

Items Not To Pack
Items Not To Pack

On Local Moves, which are based upon an hourly rate, additional boxes of books and papers simply add to the total amount of time to complete the job.  The addition of 10 – 20 additional boxes typically will not add any significant time or cost to the move.

On Interstate Moves, which are based upon weight, eliminating excess boxes of papers, magazines, or books can have a significant impact upon the final cost of the move.  Before you start packing, it is certainly a good idea to sort through what items you want to take and what items you can discard or donate.

In addition to the above, there are several items that Olympia simply cannot transport for legal and/or liability reasons.  These include, but are not limited to:

1)     Fire extinguishers

2)     Any gas in tanks; such as propane or oxygen

3)     Aerosol cans

4)     Paints, varnishes, solvents, thinners, oils, heating agents

5)     Ammonia, bleach and household cleaning agents

6)     Auto batteries

7)     Lighter fluid

8)     Ammunition

9)     Any combustible products

For more check our full list of items not to pack.