Tag: interstate moving

4 Moving Mistakes to Avoid During National Moving Month

Posted on by olympiamoving

National Moving MonthHappy National Moving Month from Olympia Moving & Storage! May kicks off the busiest moving season. Relocating can be tricky enough, but moving during the most popular season can add some complications.

Moving isn’t something most of our clients do very often, so it’s understandable why families sometimes make mistakes that can add stress to the relocation.

Here are the four most common moving mistakes we see, and how you can avoid them:

1. Scheduling moving dates too late.

Risk: The most popular summer moving dates can fill up a month or more in advance! If you procrastinate to call movers, you could lose your preferred date. That could complicate your closing or other relocation plans.
Olympia increases capacity every summer to accommodate as many of our clients as possible, but we encourage clients to contact us 4 weeks prior to move day to ensure availability. Check out our moving planning calendars to stay on track!

2. Hiring a “rogue” mover.

Risk: An unlicensed, uninsured company may have a lower price, but may result in a costly moving horror story. Unfortunately, we’ve all heard about movers sending untrained crews, hiking prices prior to delivery without reason or holding shipments hostage. This is all easily avoided by just checking for a few warning signs.
Olympia is a licensed, insured, full-service mover, a member of the American Moving & Storage Association, and was Wheaton World Wide’s 2013 Mover of the Year among other awards and recognitions.

3. Packing procrastination.

Risk: If you’re packing yourself, not finishing packing by move day leads to disorganization and stress. If a crew arrives a home expecting everything to be packed, they may not have enough extra supplies to finish the job for you. Worse, now that the crew has to finish your packing it could lead to your move going over estimate, as the estimator based his quote on a fully packed home.
Olympia checks in on clients’ packing progress the week prior to the move. We also provide full or partial packing services customized to our clients’ needs and budget. Use our free printable moving box labels to keep organized.

4. Not communicating with your moving company.

Risk: Planning a successful move takes time! Not filling in your mover on details or changes to your move (such as changes to your inventory, access to your home, or the addition of extra stops) results in an unprepared crew.
Olympia assigns each client a dedicated move coordinator. The coordinator stays in constant communication to ensure that both Olympia and our clients are fully prepared for move day.

Now that you know which mistakes to avoid, let Olympia deliver a smooth move for you! Request a free moving estimate, and we’ll take care of the rest.

Also check out:

Choosing a Mover: Making My Decision Easier
9 Essential Items You Shouldn’t Bring on Your Move
Change of Address Checklist

Olympia’s Lucian Tistu is Wheaton’s Driver of the Month!

Posted on by olympiamoving

Wheaton Driver of the MonthOlympia Moving & Storage is proud to congratulate our driver, Lucian Tistu, on his selection as Wheaton World Wide Moving’s April 2014 Driver of the Month! Lucian, a driver out of our Alexandria, VA office, is being recognized as one of the best in Wheaton’s Permanent Fleet.

Lucian has more than seven years of professional moving experience and is a top-rated driver in Wheaton’s driver rating program, a very prestigious status to achieve in the moving industry.

Clients who have relocated with Lucian certainly agree that this recognition is well-earned!  A client who recently relocated with Lucian from Clearwater, FL to McLean, VA sent us this feedback last month: “Lucian was fantastic, professional, efficient, considerate and careful. He went above and beyond in all aspects of the move. I can’t compliment him enough.”

Olympia would like to thank Lucian Tistu for his relentless care and effort to deliver an exceptional relocation experience for our clients. We are proud to point to Lucian as a leading example in our crew of trained moving professionals.

For his efforts, Lucian will receive a cash award, plaque, Driver of the Month uniform patches and equipment decals. Lucian is also now a nominee for 2014 Driver of the Year.

We look forward to proudly presenting Lucian his award when he returns from the road next month! He is delivering clients to their new homes in sunny Florida this week.

Olympia’s team has won several awards from Wheaton World Wide, including their most prestigious recognition: 2013 Agent of the Year.

Click here to read the full press release from Wheaton World Wide Moving.

Quality Movers are in High Demand: AMSA’s State of the Industry

Posted on by olympiamoving

Quality movers across the country look forward to the American Moving & Storage (AMSA) conference as an opportunity to share knowledge and learn how to better their companies and their industry to meet our clients’ needs.

Every year AMSA CEO Linda Bauer Darr (who Olympia recently moved!) offers big-picture insights as part of her “state of the industry” address.  The state of moving in the United States isn’t just insightful to moving companies, it also offers some understanding to changes in American life.  Here are some highlights from this year’s address:

Americans simply don’t move as often or as far as they used to.  The number of Americans moving across state lines has fallen 50% since the nineties.  This is partially due to the economy, but mainly because job opportunities across cities are more homogeneous than ever before since most Americans work in service industries.  In addition, the advent of telecommunication means that people just don’t need to move for work as much as they used to.

Quality Movers Raising the Bar

Despite this, quality movers are still in high demand.  These conditions cause the number of moving companies to decrease, which lets the quality movers who are leading the industry continue to grow.  Only by promoting the standards of ethics and accountability will keep the moving industry strong.  That’s why the ProMover brand  is so important. The program creates a high standard for moving companies and helps consumers find movers, as well as create an environment where consumers trust their movers and value their hard work.

With creativity and innovation, and by holding ourselves to a higher standard, we can work to create a future where the “values and principles of a good mover are beacon for other industries to emulate.”

 As an AMSA ProMover, Olympia Moving & Storage leads the way by adhering to to this high standard.  Every day we strive to advance the moving & storage industry by hiring staff & crew who put their clients first, going above and beyond to meet our clients’ needs, and adding value through technology.

You can watch the rest of this “state of the industry” address in this video:

2013 Total Quality Commitment Award Winner

Posted on by olympiamoving

_KES3923_resizeOur interstate partner van line, Wheaton World Wide Moving, released the recipients of the 2013 Total Quality Commitment (TQC) Award on Wednesday. Olympia Moving is proud to announce that both our Watertown, MA and Alexandria, VA moving branches are recipients of this distinguished recognition!

Additionally, the Olympia Moving & Storage Watertown, MA branch has been singled out as one of the top 20 highest-scoring agents in the TQC program across the entire van line!

This is the 10th year that Olympia Moving has been recognized by this award. Olympia received numerous other awards from Wheaton World Wide in 2013 including their top honor, Agent of the Year.

The Total Quality Commitment Award is only given to the highest-performing agents in the van line for the following metrics in the Total Quality Commitment program:

  • Packing claim frequency
  • Packing claim dollar average
  • Hauling claim frequency
  • Hauling claim dollar average
  • Warehouse claim frequency
  • Warehouse claim dollar average
  • Safety points
  • Weight estimate accuracy
  • Customer Service Ratings

Olympia will formally receive these awards at the upcoming regional meeting.

Congrats to our crew, drivers, and staff for leading the way for the quality standards in the moving & storage industry!

You can read the full press release at this link.

Manager of Newly Acquired Clark & Reid Executive Moving

Posted on by olympiamoving

Olympia Moving logoClark & Reid Executive Moving logoWheaton World Wide Moving logo

 Olympia Moving & Storage is proud to announce that it will be managing the newly acquired Clark & Reid Executive Moving; marking Olympia’s continued growth in the area of corporate relocations.

Olympia’s interstate partner, Wheaton Van Lines, finalized their acquisition of the Clark & Reid brand today, and selected Olympia to run the day-to-day operations of this new venture. The Clark & Reid brand will continue to operate independently and the combined entity will make Olympia one of the largest relocation service providers in the Northeast.

“The addition of Clark & Reid signals an operational expansion and offers new opportunities in the corporate universe,” said Michael Gilmartin, President of Olympia Moving & Storage. “For over 100 years, Clark & Reid has earned and maintained a stellar reputation for providing high end, executive relocation services. With continued investment in the organization, we are confident that we can build upon a great foundation”

Press Release from Wheaton Van Lines:
Link to Press Release

Wheaton Van Lines, Inc. acquires Boston-based Clark & Reid
Indianapolis, Ind. | November 25, 2013

INDIANAPOLIS – Wheaton Van Lines, Inc. announced it has acquired Boston-based moving company, Clark & Reid, known for corporate relocation and high-end service.

The acquisition will allow Clark & Reid to grow its scope of service and expand its focus on corporate relocation, backed by a larger network and significant resources. Wheaton will be able to further expand its ability to provide top block service to corporate clients – large and small – by building on Clark & Reid’s quality and experience in the corporate arena.

Clark & Reid will continue to operate as a separate brand under the Wheaton Van Lines, Inc. umbrella and will have offices in the Boston and Washington, D.C. markets. Boston-based Olympia Moving and Storage Company, two-time Wheaton Agent of the Year, will manage Clark & Reid’s day-to-day operations and will service Clark & Reid customers nationally.

This is the second acquisition in as many years for Indianapolis-based Wheaton Van Lines. The company purchased Bekins Van Lines in 2012, making Wheaton Van Lines the fourth largest household goods mover in the country. Privately held, the combined company produced record revenue for 2012, and is on track to do the same for 2013.

“The success of the Bekins acquisition helped pave the way for the van line to position itself for future acquisitions, giving the company both the financial wherewithal and infrastructure to grow top and bottom line revenues for our agents and drivers,” said Wheaton | Bekins CEO Mark Kirschner.

The addition of Clark & Reid will make the company even stronger and more diverse. Founded in 1902, Clark & Reid has a rich history of providing executive relocations for corporate clients, and its name has been synonymous with quality service. It was ranked number one in service by Alan Trippel’s 2012 Nationwide Relocating Employee Survey on the household goods industry. Clark & Reid received the highest overall customer satisfaction score, the highest Top Block service score, and the highest net satisfaction score in the survey.

“The transition will be seamless, and corporate clients will find they have the same move managers and personnel with whom they’re familiar and that there will be no disruption in service,” Kirschner said.

Together, the three brands – Wheaton World Wide Moving, Bekins Van Lines and Clark & Reid – will include more than 348 agents nationwide.

About Olympia Moving and Storage Company
Olympia Moving & Storage Company is a full-service moving company in Boston, Mass. and Washington, DC. Since its inception in 1993, Olympia has built an unparalleled reputation for delivering exceptional local moving, interstate moving and international moving services. Olympia Moving is the preferred mover for numerous universities, law firms and real estate organizations. The company’s commitment to excellence is reflected by its 2007 and 2013 Agent of the Year awards, from Wheaton World Wide Moving. For more information, visit www.olympiamoving.com or call 800-222-4744.

About Wheaton World Wide Moving and Bekins Van Lines
Wheaton Van Lines, Inc. is one of the world’s most highly regarded providers of transportation services. The van line is now the fourth largest household goods carrier in the country. Headquartered in Indianapolis, it offers private and corporate domestic and international household goods relocation services as well as special commodities and logistic services. The United States Military also is one of the company’s largest customers. Wheaton Van Lines, Inc. is partner to approximately 348 Wheaton, Bekins and Clark & Reid agents nationwide. To learn more, visit www.wheatonworldwide.com.

Olympia Moving & Storage Awarded 2013 Wheaton Agent of the Year!

Posted on by olympiamoving

Wheaton Agent of the YearOlympia Moving & Storage is very proud and excited to be selected as Wheaton World Wide‘s Agent of the Year for 2013! This award is Wheaton’s top honor, and is only awarded once a year to one of their 220 agents. This is Olympia’s 2nd Agent of the Year win, our first win was in 2007.

This honor is truly a testament to the great progress the Olympia Moving & Storage has made in all aspects of the company, including sales growth, involvement in the community, contribution to industry improvements, and above all, the quality of service we provide our clients.

“Owner Michael Gilmartin is committed to employee training and takes a hands-on operational approach,” said Mark Kirschner, CEO of Wheaton World Wide Moving. “His active involvement has helped foster Olympia’s rapid growth and high-quality service. Michael has also served on the Wheaton Agent Advisory Council and the Advertising Committee. We’re proud to have them as an interstate partner for Wheaton World Wide Moving.”

Congratulations to our drivers, crews, sales team, support staff, and leadership team, whose hard work earned Olympia this achievement!

You can read the full press release at this link.

Olympia wins Agent of the Month Award for May 2013!

Posted on by olympiamoving

Wheaton World WideOlympia Moving & Storage is proud to be honored as Wheaton World Wide’s Agent of the Month for May 2013.  This prestigious award recognizes Olympia’s commitment to delivering exceptional service, and is selected from more than 200 moving companies across the country.  This is the 5th time Olympia has been recognized as agent of the month, in addition to Olympia’s Agent of the Year award in 2007.

Thank you very much to all the drivers, crews, and support staff who worked hard to earn this award.  Congrats on being recognized for your dedication and professionalism!

Announcement from Wheaton World Wide

May is National Moving Month!

Posted on by olympiamoving

Olympia Moving CrewHappy National Moving Month from Olympia Moving & Storage!

May kicks off the summer moving season.  Due to school vacation and good weather, the majority of moves take place from May through September.

Movers have a lot to celebrate this May.  Over 36 million Americans relocated in 2012, and the 2013 moving season is expected to be even busier.  Thanks to organizations like the American Moving & Storage Association, the industry has made great progress protecting consumers by weeding out “rogue” movers and helping relocating Americans find not just reputable companies, but companies that will deliver a great experience.  Many movers are also planning for the future.  By integrating mobile phones, tablets, and web resources into the relocation process, moving companies are making your move more efficient and a better customer experience.

Here at the Olympia offices it’s no question that moving season has arrived!  The phones are ringing off the hook and the schedule is quickly booking up.

Every summer our staff works long hours to accommodate as many Olympia customers as possible.  As we transition into the moving season, we always like to remind our customers of a few key steps they can take to ensure their move is executed as planned:

1. Plan Early

Contact Olympia early in the process to ensure availability.  Each company only has so many trucks and crew members available, so the most coveted moving dates can fill up as far as a month in advance!  If you’re moving at the beginning or end of the month, pay special attention to this tip, as those dates are the first to reach capacity.

2.  Protect Your Move

While there are several excellent moving companies in Greater Boston & Washington DC areas, there are also a host of bad movers. Your clients should understand that when it comes to moving, price and value are not synonymous.  Make sure the moving company you select is registered, licensed, and insured on protectyourmove.gov.  You can also check that the moving company is reputable by checking out their BBB.org profile.

3.  Use Resources

To mitigate stress, utilize Olympia’s extensive moving resource center to guide you through every step of the relocation process.  You can find dozens of articles and videos on every moving-related topic, including moving tips, packing tips, choosing a mover, and protecting your move.

4.  Communicate

Effective communication, planning, and preparation are essential to a successful move.  Keep in touch with your move coordinator as you have questions and changes for your move.  It’s important to give as much notice as possible for changes in the move plan, such as shifting dates, adding extra stops, large changes in the size of your shipment, and requesting packing help.

Eco-Friendly Moving Tips

Posted on by olympiamoving

Green MovingUnfortunately, moving can be pretty bad for the environment.  Between the fuel, boxes, and materials used, moving day can take a toll on your carbon footprint. According to mymove.com, the average move uses 60 boxes, the equivalent of more than half a one-ton pine tree!

However, there are are few steps you can take to make your move a little greener.

Less is More

Moving is the perfect time to re-evaluate your possessions. Not only will you have less items to move, but owning less allows you to buy and maintain a smaller home. Getting into the “less is more” mindset also helps curb wasteful consumerism.

Before you start packing, identify which belongings aren’t going to make it onto the truck. Challenge yourself to let go. If you haven’t used that item in the past year, then it might not be worth keeping.

Don’t Toss, Donate

Instead of sending unwanted items to the landfill, give it a second life and donate or sell these things instead. Check out our articles on cleaning out belongings before a move and selling unwanted items. For the items that can’t be re-used, be sure you’re recycling everything you can. Even electronics can be recycled.

Pack Smart

Packing materials are the biggest reason moving can be so Earth-unfriendly. Avoid any non-biodegradable packing materials such as styrofoam and plastic. Use paper, packing peanuts made from cornstarch, or other possessions like blankets to protect your move instead.

Instead of buying boxes new, pack as much as you can in used boxes. If you foresee a move in the near future, start saving boxes from deliveries. Ask friends who have recently moved if their boxes are still around, they’ll be grateful to get rid of them! You can also sometimes get free used boxes from grocery stores and other retailers. Don’t forget to ask your moving company if they sell used boxes as well.

There are also services that allow you to rent plastic crates for moving. This is probably the most eco-friendly packing option. Many businesses offer these crates, including Rent a Green Box, WeGoBox, ZippGo, and Better Than Boxes.

Recycle, Recycle, Recycle

When you’re finished unpacking, be sure to recycle all your boxes and packing materials. You can find the recycling center in your new neighborhood by visiting earth911.com

New House, New Lifestyle

A new house is the perfect opportunity to jump start a greener home. Maybe your new yard is perfect for a compost bin, or the abundance of sun on the rooftop can be utilized with solar panels. Inside, install energy saving light bulbs. Even small changes, like switching to eco-safe cleaning products, can make a big difference.

Olympia’s Eco-Responsible Initiatives

Here at Olympia, we do our part to make your move a little greener:

  • Instead of wasting paper, we are ready to provide electronic estimates, invoices, and moving resources
  • Use Olympia’s debris rehttp://www.olympiamoving.com/residential-moving/request-an-estimate/moval service to pick up your empty boxes for recycling
  • We recycle all our uhttp://www.olympiamoving.com/residential-moving/request-an-estimate/sed cardboard and materials
  • All our moving cartons and packing materials are made from recycled product
  • Olympia’s trucks meet the latest Federal Emission Standards
  • We save fuel on interstate moves by carrying multiple households on each truck

The great news is that an eco-friendly move is also a cost-efficient move!

Stylish Moving / Change of Address Cards

Warning Signs of a Bad Mover

How to Pack Video Series

Who’s My Interstate Moving Company Again?

Posted on by olympiamoving

April marks the one year anniversary of Wheaton World Wide Moving’s acquisition of Bekins Van Lines.  This growing partnership created the fourth-largest household goods carrier in the country.

So what does that mean for you, the Olympia Moving & Storage customer?

Olympia Logobekins-wheaton
There is sometimes confusion around the relationship between Olympia Moving & Storage and these two van lines.

A large number of reputable moving companies are an agent for an interstate van line. Olympia Moving & Storage became an agent for Wheaton World Wide Moving in 1996. This means that Olympia has access to Wheaton resources and hundreds of agents around the country to help us perform quality and affordable interstate moves for our customers.  However, Olympia is still an independently owned and operated company, and gives every customer the personal attention their move deserves.

Last year Wheaton World Wide acquired Bekins Van Lines. This expansion added over one hundred additional dependable agents to their network. Though these van lines operate as two brands, they are all part of one integrated system of moving agents that lend each other resources, drivers, and crew members. Olympia Moving & Storage is just one agent in this great organization, and is part of the Wheaton brand.

Here’s how the Wheaton | Bekins network impacts your move:

If you book an interstate move with Olympia, our in-house coordination staff manages every move to ensure that all parties are working together to provide a smooth relocation.  We are your contact and advocate throughout the entire process.

If the distance of your move is under 600 miles, it’s classified as a short haul. In this case, your driver will most likely be an Olympia driver and your crew in Massachusetts or Virginia will be an Olympia crew. Since you are moving across state lines, you may be moving to or from an area without on Olympia office. Therefore, we will use the Wheaton network’s help if we need crews or services at your home in another part of the country.

If the distance of your move is over 600 miles, it’s classified as a long haul. In this case, there is a chance that your driver will be an Olympia driver, but it could also very likely be a Wheaton or Bekins driver. Your crew will still be Olympia employees in Massachusetts or Virginia, but your crew in another part of the country will come from other Wheaton or Bekins agents. The Olympia coordination staff also works with the coordination staff at Wheaton headquarters to manage your move.

If you’re moving locally (within state lines), then it’s simple: your coordination staff, drivers, and movers are all in-house Olympia employees.

Regardless of where you’re moving, Olympia employees will always be intimately involved in planning and managing your move to ensure your relocation is up to our high standards.

At Olympia Moving & Storage, we consider ourselves lucky to be part of such a wide network of moving professionals. It allows us to ensure that every step of the move will be handled by highly trained, quality employees no matter where you’re going.

Other common questions on interstate moving:

What is a Moving Shuttle?

When is the Delivery Date of My Interstate Move?

How Do I Read an Interstate Moving Estimate?