Tag: local moves

Boston Moving Company Partners with Flutter to Give Away Free Allston Christmas Move

Posted on by olympiamoving

The notorious Boston moving date, September 1st, is just around the corner. Nicknamed “Allston Christmas,” September 1st is the date when 79% of Boston’s leases begin. This move date is infamous in Boston, the roads are jammed with moving and rental trucks and the streets are flooded with abandoned belongings. In an effort to make this miserable moving day a bit brighter for one Boston resident, Olympia Moving & Storage is teaming up with Flutter, an online fund-raising platform. A $8 donation to Special Olympics Massachusetts via Flutter gives Bostonians the chance to win the Allston Christmas gift of a free move on September 1st.

Enter to win a free move on Allston Christmas!

Click here to enter to win the free move on Allston Christmas September 1st!
Click here to enter to win the free move on September 1st!

“Having run the @BostonTweet Twitter account for 8 years I know how popular and dreaded September 1st is in the city,” says Flutter founder Tom O’Keefe. “I thought partnering with Olympia Moving to make moving easier for someone would be very timely and help raise a lot of money for the Special Olympics Massachusetts.”

Flutter was created by Tom O’Keefe last year as a way to get more people involved with charitable donations, regardless of their income. The idea was to create the opposite of an auction and give everyone the chance to win a prize for donating to charity regardless of their financial wealth. So far they have raised almost $70,000 for Boston-area charities.

“We’re very excited to be partnering with Flutter for this Free Move for Allston Christmas contest,” says Michael Gilmartin, President of Olympia Moving & Storage. “Flutter has raised thousands of dollars for local charities, and it’s an innovative way to raise funds for another partner of Olympia’s, Special Olympics Massachusetts.”

Special Olympics Massachusetts was the natural choice to benefit from this campaign, as Olympia Moving & Storage has been a corporate sponsor of the organization since 2013. Olympia Moving & Storage provides free logistics services for Special Olympics’ competitions and fundraisers, and contributed over $50,000 in monetary and in-kind donations to Special Olympics athletes last year.

Boston residents can enter to win the free move via Flutter’s website, at https://www.experienceflutter.com/experiences/merry-allston-christmas.

In case you don’t win, you should reach out to Olympia Moving & Storage for a free Boston moving estimate online or by calling 800-222-4744.

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Questions To Ask A Moving Company

Posted on by olympiamoving

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Either during your in-home survey or over the phone, taking the time to thoroughly discuss your move with a potential moving company is the key to accurate pricing and a successful move. After all, the company will be coming into your home and handling everything you own, so it’s important to find a company you feel comfortable with, especially since there are unfortunately bad or rogue moving companies providing poor service.

When you’re discussing your move, be sure to ask questions about the company. How the company answers will tell you a lot about the quality of the moving company you are considering.

Olympia Moving & Storage compiled a list of questions to ask a moving company that can help you navigate through the mover selection process. By asking the following questions you can select a mover that will treat you and your home with respect.

Questions About Moving Costs

This is probably where customers have the most concern. Always make sure you get a written moving estimate for the costs of your move. Here are some questions that are good to clarify about the quote:

  • Are supplies such as mattress covers, extra boxes, tape, and moving blankets included in my quote? How much do they cost?
  • Is this a binding or non-binding moving estimate?
  • What insurance is included? How much does it cost for additional insurance?
  • If a deposit is required, is it refundable?
  • What forms of payment are accepted?  (A company that only accepts cash is a red flag!)
  • What are factors that could change the cost of the move? Would changing my move date affect the estiamted cost?

Questions About Moving Pick Up and Deliver Times

  • If the company charges an hourly rate ask, when does the chargeable time begin and end? Is travel time included in my estimate?
  • If the company does not charge by the hour, how long does the company anticipate being there each day?
  • Will my delivery be on a specific day or a delivery spread?
  • What happens if I’m not available to receive my delivery?

Questions to Ask About the Moving Service

About the Moving Company

  • Who will be my point of contact leading up to and during move day?
  • Are your movers trained and background checked? Are they on the company payroll or hired from a third-party or day labor?
  • Is your company licensed and an AMSA ProMover?
  • If needed, could your company provide a Certificate of Insurance?
  • Can you provide me with references from previous clients?
  • What makes you different from other moving companies? Why should I choose your company?

Asking these questions will give you the confidence you need to know you are choosing a great moving company to take care of your relocation!

If you are looking for an exceptional moving company for your upcoming move, contact Olympia Moving & Storage for a free moving estimate at 800-222-4744 or request an estimate online.  We are happy to answer any of your questions about the company and service!

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Confusing Moving Terms Definitions

Posted on by olympiamoving

Moving is hard enough without all of the confusing industry moving terms that can be thrown around.

Here are some common moving terms defined to make your search for the perfect mover a little bit easier.

Click on the links throughout to learn more about each topic.dictionary

COI – A COI, or a certificate of insurance, is used to give proof of insurance to commercial and residential buildings in case damages to the property occur during a move. *Always make sure your moving company is properly insured to protect yourself from personal loss.

Access – Access refers to how the crews will be entering/exiting the property at origin and/or destination. Long walks, narrow stairs, and parking are all things to consider when telling a surveyor about your move in order to give you the most accurate estimate.

Shuttle – A shuttle might be used to transport your goods if the planned truck is unable to make a normal pickup or delivery because of geographical or urban planning (think: low bridges, narrow roads) constraints. The shuttle is the smaller truck used to complete the pickup or delivery. There are separate charges for this service, depending on the size and location of the shipment.

Binding Estimate – If your mover gives you a binding estimate they are guaranteeing the total cost of the move based on the quantity of items and services shown on the estimate. This type of estimate means that you will pay the agreed upon amount regardless of the difference between the estimate and the actual cost of your move.

Non-Binding Estimate – Non-binding estimates charge you based on the actual cost of your move, regardless of the initial estimated cost. This means you could end up paying less or more based on the actual amount of work necessary to complete your move.

Bill of Lading – If you hear the term bill of lading don’t get nervous! The bill of lading is an important part of your move that is actually a service agreement detailing terms and conditions of your move and the receipt for your goods. All moving jobs have a bill of lading attached making it easier to review services agreed upon.

PBO / PBC – here’s an easy one! PBO / PBC just means that the items were packed by owner (you, the customer) or packed by crew. No sweat.

OA/DA – Everyone loves a good abbreviation but they aren’t much fun when you’re stressed! Don’t worry if a salesperson mentions an OA or DA during your conversation. These abbreviations refer to the origin agent (the company at the origin of your move who will service the first half of the move) and destination agent (the company at the destination address responsible for completing the move.) If the company you’re getting estimates from is part of a van-line then the agent on the other end of your move will also be a part of the van-line and you can rest assured that your goods will be handled in the best way possible.

Class 1 Move – A Class 1 move,  also known as crate and freight, have your belongings move from one dock to another in shipments. Crate and freight may be a better option for those with smaller moves and can be handled by preferred agents outside of a company’s regular van-line network due to travel restrictions during peak season.

Hoist – In the case of large or heavy items that need to be handled in or out of homes through windows, you may need to use a hoist. Hoists are auxiliary services offered by movers using specialized equipment, such as a hoisting crane and a moving platform.

Valuation – The amount of cash value assigned to the items in a shipment is called valuation in the moving world. When purchasing valuation, the customer will pay a certain amount of money for their items to be covered at the assessed value in the event of damage. There is a required $0.60 per pound minimum for all moves, but for an additional charge you may purchase other levels of valuation options.

Full Value Protection – Full value protection is a valuation option where the moving company is liable to repair or replace any lost or damage items at their full value minus any deductible amount on the valuation option.

Not seeing the moving term you’re puzzling over? Check out the ultimate moving terms dictionary, which includes definitions for over 458 moving terms, from our friends at Olympic Moving in Washington state:  http://www.olympicmovers.net/moving-terms/

Have more questions about moving terms, or want to book your move? Call us today at 800.222.4744 and we’ll get you started or request an estimate online.

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Olympia Moving Donates Heavy Lifting to Special Olympics Massachusetts Summer Games

Posted on by olympiamoving
Olympia Moving at last year's Special Olympics Massachusetts Summer Games Move-In
Olympia Moving at last year’s Special Olympics Massachusetts Summer Games Move-In

On Friday, the athletes of Special Olympics Massachusetts will be greeted by the professional movers of Olympia Moving & Storage as they arrive at one of their most anticipated events of the year: Summer Games. The Olympia Movers cheer the teams as they pull in before unloading the buses and moving them into their dorms for the weekend, bellhop style.

The move-in to Summer Games is just one part of Olympia Moving & Storage’s role as the official logistics sponsor of the event. This is the Boston moving company’s fourth year donating services to the competition for athletes with intellectual disabilities.

Special Olympics Massachusetts Summer Games takes place June 3 – 5 at the Harvard University Athletic Complex and Boston University. Over 2,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities across Massachusetts will come to Boston to compete in sports including track & field and athletics. The event strives to promote the athletes’ abilities instead of focusing on disabilities and encourages their health.

“Our movers look forward to greeting the athletes at Summer Games each year,” says Michael Gilmartin, President of Olympia Moving & Storage. “During our past four years of sponsorship with Special Olympics Massachusetts, we’ve found that the athletes’ determination and positive attitudes inspire our team.”

“Special Olympics Massachusetts is grateful to the great staff of Olympia who volunteer their time to give our athletes a great weekend every June and for all they do year round to support our program,” says Matt Ruxton, Vice President of Sports at Special Olympics Massachusetts. “Their great staff that is willing and ready to do anything to make our events go as easy and smooth as possible.”

In addition to athlete move-in, Olympia Moving & Storage provides equipment transportation, move-out, and break-down assistance to Summer Games. The donation is part of the company’s year-round sponsorship of Special Olympics Massachusetts. Last year the Boston moving company donated over $50,000 in monetary and logistics donations to the organization

To learn more about Olympia’s sponsorship of Special Olympics, visit olympiamoving.com/specialolympics

Introducing The Video Move Survey

Posted on by olympiamoving

cd14221f-bb58-47f2-9105-50b0ddbe876fSo you’ve made the decision to relocate. You’re doing your due diligence by getting estimates on what it’s going to cost to move. Let’s be serious, you’re busy. You don’t have time to put your life on hold to plan your relocation.

Olympia Moving & Storage knows that, so we made move planning easier with the option of getting a free moving estimate via video surveys. If you can’t change your schedule and turning your week upside down to meet with one of our moving consultants in-person, we can easily connect with you at your convenience and do a move planning walk through with just a few clicks on your phone or tablet.

As a premier moving company, Olympia Moving & Storage is always looking for ways to reach our customers in innovative and creative ways and what better way than to make your survey fit more easily into your schedule?

Sounds hard? Think again. If you opt for the video move survey option to inventory your home it’s as easy as a Facetime:

1. Intro call with an Olympia moving consultant to get an idea of the nature and specifics of your relocation
2. Our moving consultant will offer to review your move and belongings in person at your home, on the phone, or through a video survey Olympia
3. The Olympia consultant sends you an email invite to your video move survey via a link
4. You download the Crater app & connect with your Olympia consultant
5. Your Olympia Moving consultant will guide you through the walk through to discuss the specifics of what you’ll be moving

The other option for those interested in a video move survey option is to request your video survey directly from olympiamoving.com. Use the request an estimate form in the right-hand header of this page and click “request a video move survey” to schedule a video survey for a time that is convenient for you.

1. Choose your home type apartment video estimate
a. (studio, 1 bedroom, 2 bedroom)
    b. single family home
2. Preferred date of video survey
3. Preferred time of video survey
4. Some basic contact information so we can contact you
5. The option to add the video move survey to your personal email calendar

The video move survey option gives you the freedom to get your move-specific estimate at your convenience instead of re-arranging your life to meet with a sales representative. The best part is that the entire survey is recorded and saved, so you won’t have to worry about forgetting anything – you can easily review your survey and inventory afterward.

In the event that you aren’t able to set a time that works with both you and your salesperson, you can also do a self-survey that will also be saved and accessible by both you and your salesperson. Getting an estimate has never been easier!

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Olympia Moving and Storage Reviews: Client Satisfaction 2015

Posted on by olympiamoving

Olympia Moving Customer

Olympia Moving & Storage moved almost 5,000 families in 2015, and our clients continually review Olympia Moving via client satisfaction surveys they receive after their move. These reviews help our leadership and staff carefully track our quality quickly respond to outstanding issues. Here’s how Olympia Moving & Storage performed in 2015 as reviewed by our clients.

Olympia Moving and Storage Reviews 2015 Results

Click here to view the full report.

Highlights from the 2015 report

  • 94% of our clients were satisfied with their sales representative
  • 94% of our clients were satisfied with their move coordinator
  • 95% of our clients were satisfied with their crew
  • 97% of our clients said our staff and crew was professional and courteous
  • 94% of our clients would hire us again for their next relocation

The Olympia Moving team is proud of the consistently high scores we receive from our clients. It’s no secret that the moving industry has a reputation for inconsistent or sub-par customer service, but our clients’ satisfaction with Olympia Moving far exceeds not only the moving industry’s standards for customer service, but most service industries’ standards. Moving is a challenging service to provide. Olympia Moving goes into clients’ homes and handles their precious possessions under sometimes emotional, stressful, and overwhelming circumstances where a lot can go wrong. Despite these obstacles, our clients’ satisfaction with their moving services with Olympia Moving is exceptional.

How Olympia Moving Uses the Client Satisfaction Survey

Our clients’ satisfaction is the result of the Olympia Moving team’s hard work and dedication and our leadership’s commitment to constantly challenge mediocrity. The client satisfaction survey is just one part part of Olympia’s Total Quality Management program. Olympia’s managers meet to review the results of the client satisfaction survey and implement action steps to improve our weaknesses. The client satisfaction scores are also analyzed by employee to inform training and personnel decisions. The moment new Olympia Moving and Storage reviews are received from a client, they are immediately disseminated among all staff and crew members involved in the move and their managers, either to boost morale or resolve outstanding issues.

In addition to our clients feedback in these reports, you can also read out recent clients’ comments about their experience on our testimonials page, or view our ratings on review websites such as the Better Business Bureau, Google+, Angie’s List, and Yelp.

If you’re ready to move with a well-reviewed Boston or Washington, DC moving company, click here to request an estimate, or give us a call at 800.222.4744.

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Announcing Olympia’s New Mansfield MA Moving Company Location!

Posted on by olympiamoving

Mansfield MA moving companyOlympia Moving & Storage, a premier Boston moving and storage company, is proud to announce the opening of Olympia’s second Boston area location in Mansfield, MA.

“We are proud of our hard-earned reputation,” says Michael Gilmartin, Founder and President of the company. “The growing demand for Olympia’s services is built on our reputation, and is really what prompted the expansion.”

Olympia Moving & Storage chose Mansfield because it provides better access to the South Shore, and towns such as Franklin and Medway. The Mansfield facility is located at 290 Forbes Boulevard; with easy access to I-95 & I-495.

Olympia Moving's new Mansfield MA storage facility
Olympia Moving’s new Mansfield MA storage facility

The 80,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art warehouse is the company’s largest facility to date. “We exceeded capacity in our Watertown location” says Michael Gilmartin, “Mansfield will feature 2,000 additional storage units along with a comprehensive training facility for our moving teams. This is a big step for us and reflective of past success and our commitment to responsible growth. Over time, I also believe this location will create a lot of jobs.”

The training center in the facility will be for both current and new employees. The Mansfield facility has a seminar room for classroom training and a model home inside the warehouse where crew members can practice their technique in a realistic setting.

Since acquiring the warehouse, the Olympia Team has been working hard to ensure that the Mansfield location is up to standard. This includes a 24-hour security system, climate control, a dedicated warehouse staff, and an immaculately clean space.

Olympia Moving is exciting to bring their premier moving and storage services to the families and businesses in the Mansfield, MA area!

Are you moving in Eastern Massachusetts or Rhode Island and looking for a Mansfield MA moving company? Click here to request a free, no obligation moving estimate or give us a call at 800.222.4744.

Helpful Moving Apps

Posted on by olympiamoving

Moving is tough and apps are convenient so it makes total sense that developers would create a moving app to help you through your relocation. We went ahead and reviewed 3 free moving apps that might help make your relocation easier…in addition to using Olympia Moving & Storage, of course.

anthropoligie platesortly folders

Sortly:

Aesthetically pleasing and easy to use, Sortly is an app that helps you do exactly what it sounds like.. sort your life! The moving app offers folders to narrow down your needs and work from specific lists in order to keep you more organized. Even better, within each folder you can create sub-folders for each room in your house, making it easier to sort and eventually find your belongings.

When adding items to your folders, Sortly gives the option of adding the quantity of items as well as value AND a photo.  So, if you’re worried about keeping track of the condition of your belongings in the case of damage or missing items, you’re all set!

Sortly also includes a great moving checklist with the option to mark tasks as “irrelevant” or “done,” so you can be sure to get all of your prep work done before moving day. Handy!

If you’re feeling fancy, another added bonus of using Sortly is the option to make your own QR labels. If you aren’t the tech-type and this doesn’t appeal to you you can always stick with our free printable labels and still stay organized.

A moving app like Sortly would definitely be helping when planning your move, think estimating the number of boxes you’ll need and putting together an inventory to get a quote, and would be a huge help when unpacking your belongings once you’ve moved into your new home. Learn more about Sortly here.

MoveAdvisor:

MoveAdvisor is different than Sortly, but it’s a great moving app option if you’re looking for moving companies in your area. It’s user friendly and is sort of like playing a Sims game with your belongings.

By clicking and dragging items, you can easily obtain a general idea of the weight of the items you’re looking to move, and everything you need to plan is in the palm of your hand. MoveAdvisor can be found here.

moveadvisor appmymove inventorymove details

My Move:

mymove menu

It seems like the developers of this moving app haven’t quite worked out the bugs. MyMove does ask for your origin zip and destination zip, but the app bases your approximate weight on the type of house you live in but doesn’t take your actual belongings into account, which means you’ll want to give a more detailed idea of your belongings when speaking with moving company.

Unfortunately, the “calculate moving cost” button brings you to a secondary page asking for your origin and destination again but doesn’t allow for destination state selection so this moving app isn’t the most useful if you’re looking for an accurate estimate for moving services.

The MyMove moving app would be most useful if you’re looking for moving checklists and  moving tips.

After checking out these three moving apps, we would suggest trying both Sortly and MoveAdvisor. Each moving app carries their own list of benefits and helpfulness but a mixture of the two could be even better. When planning a move it’s always better to speak to a professional about questions that are specific to your relocation. Moving apps are certainly helpful when organizing, but more information is better to get an accurate idea of your moving costs. Find more resources on MyMove here.

Ready to plan your move? We’re here to help.
Call us at 800.222.4744 today for your free estimate or request an estimate online.

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Fun Housewarming Gifts

Posted on by olympiamoving

Housewarming gifts should be fun, so why are you giving the same bottle of wine to all of your friends? If you’re looking for a fresh, new idea you’re in luck. Olympia Moving & Storage has compiled a list of our favorite housewarming gift ideas and where to find them!

Feel like sticking to tradition?

According to Norse tradition, it’s considered good luck to bring bread, a broom, candles, coins, honey, a knife, olive oil, plants, rice, salt, wine, or wood as a housewarming gift. Each gift symbolizes different good vibes, but none of these “traditional” gifts have much of a wow factor. We suggest putting a twist on it!

Bread & Oil Housewarming Gifts

According to the Norse tradition a housewarming gift of high quality or infused olive oil symbolizes  health. Add a loaf of crusty bread (according to folklore, this ensures your loved ones will never go hungry), throw it in a pretty basket, and you’re good to go!

We recommend doubling up with a set of unfiltered Greek olive oil from Food52.

Candle Housewarming Gift

Another traditional housewarming gift sure to be a crowd-pleaser is a candle. Representing light and warmth, we’d suggest a simple scent that won’t overwhelm. You might like something seasonal, like our favorite Balsam & Cedar scent from Yankee Candle.

Home Decor Housewarming Gifts

anthropologie throw

Be careful when choosing housewarming gift items to help get the decorating process started.

We would suggest steering clear of playing a guessing game when it comes to your loved one’s style decisions but a nice throw blanket is always appreciated. 

We love this Knit Confetti throw from Anthropologie because of it’s classic style that can fit any color scheme!

whiskey rock

Kitchen & Dining Housewarming Gifts

For the entertainer we suggest getting them some staple items that they’ll love using themselves but also to entertain you in the future

Wine pearls or whiskey stones are a great gift that most people wouldn’t buy for themselves. We like this set by Sparq (available at Bed Bath & Beyond) because they have both small and large stones included.

If your pals are into cocktails, you might look into getting them a bitters kit. These are awesome projects that also educate about types of cocktails and spirits. Hella Bitters has kits for every type of cocktail aficionado and are sure to please. We’ll take one of each!

rifle paper co

If you happen to be giving a housewarming gift to your favorite chef, you might consider getting them a recipe box paired with some recipe cards. We absolutely love Rifle Paper Co.’s recipe box and card options. Actually, we just love Rifle Paper Co. in general. (Fun fact: the Olympia Moving & Storage marketing team has matching Rifle Paper Co. notebooks… I smell a sponsorship!)

No matter what you decide to get your loved ones for a housewarming gift, the truth is that your presence in their new home is probably gift enough, but giving something awesome never hurts.

Have your own go-to that we missed? Let us know, or check out our other picks on our Pinterest!

Planning your own relocation in need of a little housewarming?

Give us a call at 800.222.4744 or request an estimate and start planning a great move today! We’ll give you our best tips and advice to make your transition as smooth as possible.

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Olympia Moving at Touch-the-Trucks Events

Posted on by olympiamoving

Boston Moving Company Participates in Touch-the-Trucks Events in Watertown and Dedham

The Olympia Moving crew enjoyed showing kids around the moving truck at two recent touch-a-truck events. The crew returned to Watertown Family Network’s Touch-a-Truck in Watertown, MA and joined the first Touch-the-Trucks event at Legacy Place in Dedham, MA.

Touch-the-Trucks events are a great opportunity for Olympia Moving & Storage to connect with families in the community. The kids enjoyed running up and down the ramp, seeing the boxes and moving equipment, and jumping on the bubble wrap that we laid on the floor of the truck. The Olympia Moving crew members gave kids tours of the truck cab, took photos of the kids posing at the wheel, played box toss games, and handing out coloring pages.

Check out this video of the kids enjoying the truck!

If you have a Touch-the-Trucks or another community event event in the Boston-area or Washington, DC-area, let us know at [email protected]. We’d love to attend!

Does your family need a moving company? Call 800.222.4744 or request a free moving estimate online.

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