Tag: planning your move

What is a Cube Sheet?

Posted on by olympiamoving

InventoryWhen you call a reputable moving company, they’ll work with you to create a cube sheet (also known as an estimated inventory) for your move. A cube sheet is a list of all the furniture and boxes that you plan on including in your move.

In this article, we’ll explain what a cube sheet is, what it’s used for, and how to read one.

Creating the Cube Sheet

For most Olympia clients, the cube sheet will be created when the the sales consultant meets you at your home for the survey. He’ll do a walk through of your home, consulting you throughout on what you plan on moving. Meanwhile, the consultant will enter all your furniture and estimated number of boxes into his or her tablet. Our sales consultants can enter the information into their tablets extremely quickly using specialized moving software.

For smaller moves, such as one bedroom apartments, the sales consultant can complete the estimated inventory by going room by room with you over the phone and discussing what needs to be moved. Our sales consultants are all trained to ask the right questions to guide you through the process and ensure that we have the level of detail needed to provide you with an accurate quote.

Depending on the size of your home and complexity of your move, it can take 10 to 45 minutes for the consultant to put together the cube sheet live on site.

Our moving software contains hundreds of types, sizes, and variations of furniture pieces and boxes. So when the sales consultant adds a furniture piece to your inventory, the software knows what the average cubic feet is for that furniture piece. The software then produces a document with the subtotals and totals of cubic feet for your move. The total cubic footage is the main piece of information the sales consultant will use to plan and estimate the cost for your move.

When the walk through is finished, the sales consultant will produce the estimated inventory. This is called a cube sheet within the moving inventory because essentially what needs to be determined is the volume, or cubic feet, of all the items that need to be moved. This information is used to determine how many trucks and crew members are required for the job, and if it’s an interstate move, what is the estimated weight of the move.

Reading a Cube Sheet

Click here to see what a sample cube sheet looks like. To make it clear for the consultant and client to read, the inventory is divided by room. There are three columns. The first column is the quantity of the item, or how many of each item is in that room. The second column is the description of the item. The third column is the estimated volume, or cubic feet, of that furniture item.

The cube sheet also contains information on packing. Some boxes will say “PBO” in the description, which means “packed by owner.” That means that we are entering the box so that it’s included in the total cubic footage, but the client plans on packing the box themselves. Others will say “CP” in the carrier description, which means “carrier pack.” That means that Olympia will be providing and packing that box. A container summary at the bottom of the inventory will list all the boxes Olympia will be packing and providing for your reference.

The estimated inventory is provided to you along with the quote for your reference. Olympia recommends that all our clients check over the inventory to ensure that it’s fairly accurate. Remember, this is what your sales consultant is basing their estimate on, so if the inventory is inaccurate, that means the sales consultant didn’t have the correct information for your quote. Being on the same page as our clients for what’s being moved is important to Olympia, that’s why we take the time to create the estimated inventory with you, and give it to you for your reference. If anything changes between the time of survey and your move, be sure to let the sales consultant know so he can adjust your estimate accordingly. Major changes such as adding or removing large furniture pieces or many boxes can make a difference in our planning for your smooth move.

Do I Need a Cube Sheet?

If a moving company refuses to put together a cube sheet or estimated inventory to plan your move, that is a red flag that you are not working with a reputable company. A good moving company will take the time to understand and plan your move before providing you with a moving quote.

Also check out:

Tools to Create a Floor Plan For Your New Home

Posted on by olympiamoving

Not every part of moving is fun. One of the most enjoyable things about relocation is planning your new house and how you’re going to make it feel like home.

One useful exercise for your planning is creating a floor plan for your new home. Floor plans can help you:

  • Decide the right spot for each of your furniture pieces in the new space
  • Determine whether to sell some of your furniture because it will not work or fit at the new house
  • Figure out whether any furniture you’re considering purchasing will work in your new home

Ultimately, figuring these things out in advance can help you save money on your move!  The crew rearranging furniture until it’s in the place you want can add time and money to your bill. Spending the cash to move furniture that you end up deciding to sell is also a waste of your hard-earned money.

It can even be fun if you use one of these easy and free tools to create a floor plan:

floorplanner

Floorplanner.com

This free website makes creating a floor plan fool proof, and is probably the most robust free floor planner online. Their drag and drop tools make it easy to add rooms, doors, windows, all types of furniture and more. It’s also easy to customize the size of all the items to fit your needs. You also have the ability to add your own photos and videos to the floor plan so it feels like your real home. Floorplanner.com lets you save multiple options and designs in your account.

 

 

 

 

MagicPlan

Magic Plan mobile app

This mobile app actually works in conjunction with floorplanner.com. Magic Plan makes getting started with a floor plan even easier. All you have to do is take pictures with the app and it will draw your floor plan with measurements for you! Then, import what you started with Magic Plan into your floorplanner.com account to customize and play with it.

 

 

RoomScan

Room Scan mobile app

Room Scan is another popular and highly rated mobile app for floor planning that will automatically draw a floor plan for you. The main difference is this app automates the plan and measurements by holding your phone against each segment of wall, which reviews say create very accurate results. This app is a little more popular than the Magic Plan app, which is the similar app above that automates the plan through pictures. The drawback is that this app does not integrate with other tools like Magic Plan does.

 

 

HomeStyler

HomeStyler

Like floorplanner.com, Homestyler has a website tool and mobile component. HomeStyler has a heavy emphasis on home design. One neat feature of this tool is that in addition to the ability to drag and drop furniture, you can insert real furniture from dozens of real home design brands such as Ethan Allen and Jonathan Adler. The mobile app specializes in placing real furniture products in photographed layouts of your actual room. This tool is much sleeker than floorplanner.com, but floorplanner.com is a little more practical and easier to use.

 

 

Do I Need to Request a Certificate of Insurance for My Move?

Posted on by olympiamoving

Apartment Building MovingIt’s not uncommon that Olympia Moving & Storage has to provide a Certificate of Insurance (COI) for our clients’ moves. But what exactly is a certificate of insurance, and do you need one for your move?

Do I need a Certificate of Insurance?

This is a document that usually applies to moves in an urban city, so it comes up a lot in our hometowns of Boston, MA and Washington, DC. If you are moving in or out of an apartment building, high rise, or a property with building managers, there’s a good chance that the managers of the property require a certificate of insurance for any moving company that works on the premises. Simply ask your building’s management if this is a document they require from moving companies, and don’t forget to ask the management of the property you’re moving into as well!

What exactly is a Certificate of Insurance?

This is a document from the moving company’s insurance company. The document a) verifies that the moving company is insured and b) specifies conditions that the insurance will be used. In other words, the building management wants this document because they know that it is the nature of moving that sometimes property damage occurs. Therefore, if the moving company does damage the building, the management already has documentation to know that the moving company is insured and can pay for the damages if necessary.

How do I get a Certificate of Insurance from Olympia Moving & Storage?

All you have to do is ask! Your sales rep or moving coordinator will ask for the contact information for your building management. We’ll coordinate directly with them, and you don’t have to worry about a thing! Basically, Olympia needs to ask the building management for their fax number, the certificate holder and certificate holder address, and the additionally insured that the building wants on the document. Olympia then asks our insurance company to produce a Certificate of Insurance with this information and the insurance company faxes it over to your building’s management.

What happens if I don’t request a necessary certificate of insurance when I book my move?

You should always ask your building management whether a moving company certificate of insurance is needed at least several days before the move. Ideally, Olympia should know whether a certificate of insurance is needed at the time of booking, that way they can square away all your move details right away, and you’ll have nothing to worry about leading up to move day!

If Olympia is not made aware that a certificate of insurance is necessary, the consequences can be costly. The crew may show up on move day and your building management will not let us in! The crew then has to wait around for the building, moving company, and insurance company to sort out the certificate of insurance so they can come inside and begin the work. Not only does this delay your move, but all this wasted time is included in the crew’s chargeable hours, which are charged to you.

Extra moving tip

Even if you don’t actually need a certificate of insurance, it’s not a bad idea to ask moving companies whether they can provide one. If a moving company can’t provide a certificate of insurance, that means that they’re not insured! That would definitely be a red flag that you are not dealing with a professional moving company!

Also check out:
Olympia Apartment Moving
Moving in Apartment Buildings
Liability Information

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

Free Printable Moving Boxes Labels

Posted on by olympiamoving

Nobody likes packing, but the moving process is always much smoother if you keep organized. That’s why Olympia offers free printable moving box labels to their clients, or anyone who’s moving. These pretty labels are sure to brighten your boxes, and may even motivate you to keep packing!

We’ve designed unique, color-coded labels for every room in your home to help the movers easily differentiate the boxes during delivery. Be sure to write descriptions of each box’s contents to aid in locating specific items while unpacking. Believe us, you’ll thank yourself later!

Also included are “fragile” stickers to warn movers of breakable contents like glass, dishes, figurines, and pictures. As a bonus, we also created adorable kids’ moving box labels to help your little ones find their toys as soon as playtime in the new home begins.

All labels can be printed on standard blank Avery or shipping labels using a laser printer, just be mindful that these boxes are meant to used on boxes, as they will be difficult to remove on furniture.

You can also purchase pre-printed moving box labels from us, along with other packing materials.

Moving Box Labels

All labels are 3.33″ x 4″ and are laid out 6 per sheet. We recommend using Avery Shipping Labels for Ink Jet Printers, 3.33 x 4 Inches. However, take care to only use the labels on boxes, as they will be difficult to remove from furniture.

Click on each link to download the respective PDF, or you can download all the moving label PDFs using [this link].


Living Room Moving Box Label
Dining Room Moving Box Label
Kitchen Moving Box Label
Storage Moving Box Label
Continue reading “Free Printable Moving Boxes Labels” →

Smart Packing with Adam of Benezra Boxes

Posted on by olympiamoving

Benezra BoxesWhen it comes to moving, Adam Benezra, entrepreneur and owner of Benezra Boxes, is an expert. He was a mover for Gentle Giant for four years, but even after a back injury, Adam wasn’t ready to leave the moving industry.  Instead, he started his own business.

Says Adam “At the time, recycling was really gaining steam and using used moving boxes wasn’t anything new.  I just decided to market it more aggressively and also add my moving knowledge to help give customers free advice.”

Benezra Boxes was born.  Fifteen years later Adam still maintains his business in Winchester, MA.   Benezra Boxes focuses on picking up and selling used moving boxes.  Adam also leverages his industry expertise to offer relocation management services.  Customers who utilize Adam’s service can sit back and let Adam plan their move and procure estimates, as well as managing their packing.

When our clients ask us how to get obtain or get rid of used boxes we know to send them to Adam. It’s great to see someone conquer this needed niche in the moving industry.

How did you come up with the idea of Benezra Boxes?

“When I was a kid, I was raised by my aunt and uncle and my aunt started the recycling program in Melrose. And my uncle was always encouraging me to start my own business, they were very supportive.”

Continue reading “Smart Packing with Adam of Benezra Boxes” →

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

Adding Extra Stops to Your Move

Posted on by olympiamoving

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.

Moving in the Summer

Posted on by olympiamoving

Summer is always the busiest time in the moving industry, but this season in particular has seen a significant increase in demand. The following tips should help to ensure a smooth transition to your new home.

truck-in-summer

  1. Call Olympia as early as possible to get a quote, and do not wait too long to book your move. As schedules fill, moving companies sometimes block dates with the highest demand in order to manage resources. Dates at the beginning and the end of the month are usually the first to fill up, so be sure to book your move as early as possible to ensure availability.
  2. While there are several excellent moving companies in Greater Boston and Washington D.C., there are also a host of bad movers. Understand that when it comes to moving, price and value are not synonymous.
  3. Create a move plan and adhere to this plan in the weeks leading up to relocation. Check out our planning calendar to help you put together your move plan.
  4. Use Olympia’s moving resource page to help you fully prepare for all the details of your move.
  5. Remember that effective communication, planning, and preparation are the key elements of a successful move. Be sure to talk to your move coordinator if there are any changes to your move. Changes you would want to communicate to your coordinator include the addition of extra stops, large discrepancies (increases or decreases) in the number of items you’re moving vs. your estimate, the need for additional packing, or the addition of a bulky or fragile item to your move.