Questions To Ask A Moving Company

Posted on August 4, 2016June 10, 2020 by olympiamoving

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

Are there any items that are prohibited from being shipped?
Will I be packing or will the movers?
How many crew members will arrive on move day?
Will our belongings ever be transferred onto another truck?
What happens if something is broken or lost during the move?

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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Olympia Opens New Philadelphia Moving Company Location

Posted on June 13, 2016December 22, 2016 by olympiamoving

Philadelphia PA Moving Company — *Olympia Moving & Storage is now open in Philadelphia, PA*

Olympia Moving & Storage, a leading moving company in Boston and Washington DC, announced the opening of their newest Philadelphia moving company location.

“We are looking forward to bringing the Olympia Moving experience to families in Greater Philadelphia,” said Michael Gilmartin, President and Founder of the Boston-based moving company. “We chose Philadelphia as our newest location in response to the demand from area relocation and real estate professionals. Philadelphia’s historic homes, new condos, and universities are a perfect fit for Olympia’s 25 years of experience.”

Olympia Moving & Storage uses highly-trained moving experts, technology, and an extensive a-la-carte menu of services to provide families with a move that goes far beyond lifting boxes.

In addition to local, interstate, and international moving and storage, the new Philadelphia moving company offers relocation concierge services, designed to assist families in the luxury market with every aspect of their move. Olympia’s moving consultants recommend services to make the process smoother or accommodate for high-value items or antiques. Olympia’s concierge services include building custom crates for art, professional organizing, maid cleaning, car, and even pet relocation.

Olympia uses a combination of personalized customer service and technology to ease pre-move jitters and ensure a seamless move. Each client is assigned both a dedicated move consultant and coordinator to plan the move, guide families through the process, and be responsive to client needs. Olympia Moving customers can also track and manage their move online via the Olympia Move Portal, where they can sign and download documents, review details, access moving resources, and more.

Most importantly, Olympia Moving & Storage employs the best full-time moving professionals in the industry. Olympia’s movers practice their skills in the fully furnished Olympia Training House before stepping foot in a client home for the first time. The crews’ extensive training includes packing, furniture and home protection, moving, furniture assembly, and customer service.

“Our goal is to redefine the moving industry. We work with families to eliminate the stress and intimidation from the move so they can concentrate on enjoying their new home,” says Michael Gilmartin. “We’re excited to show Philadelphia that there’s a better way to move.”

If you’re in need of a move in Greater Philadelphia, Southern New Jersey, or Northern Delaware, request a free, no obligation moving estimate online or by calling 610-651-6090

Introducing The Video Move Survey

Posted on March 16, 2016June 1, 2017 by olympiamoving

So 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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Helpful Moving Apps

Posted on January 19, 2016December 6, 2016 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.

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.

My Move:

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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Boston Moving Company and Northern Virginia Moving Company Trends 2015

Posted on January 12, 2016December 6, 2016 by olympiamoving

Olympia Moving was proud to move thousands of happy families in 2015! We decided to take a look back at the year’s moves and dig out some interesting moving trends in the numbers. Here are some infographics and observations on our findings:

2015 Boston Moving Trends

We started by taking a look at trends among the families we moved in our Boston moving company branch in Watertown, MA.

Boston-area families seem to be seeking warmer climates, as California, Florida, and Texas are among the top states we moved families to last year.
Bostonians also look to move to bigger metro areas in states such as California, Virginia, and New York. The high number of families we move to Virginia might also be influenced by our second location in Alexandria, Virginia.
Most Boston-area moves occur in the summer, due to the good weather and the summer school break. The most popular month to move is July, but due to the influence of universities and rental turnovers, the popularity of August moving days is higher than in other parts of the country.
Olympia Moving & Storage moved families all over the world in 2015, and 94% of our clients said they would choose us for their next relocation.

2015 Northern Virginia Moving Trends

We also looked at trends among families we moved in our Washington DC moving company branch in Alexandria, VA.

The most Northern Virginia families we moved interstate were relocating to the nearby states of the District of Columbia and Maryland. A large number of Northern Virginia families shipped up to Boston and moved to Massachusetts. One reason we moved so many NOVA families to the Bay State may be due to the location of our Boston branch.
Many Northern Virginia families also looked to escape the cold by moving to California and Florida.
Moving in Northern Virginia starts to pick up in April, peaking in June.

Are you moving in 2016?

If you’re looking to move from Boston or Northern Virginia to these states, or any other states, we’re looking forward to guiding you through every step of the relocation! Get started by requesting a free, no obligation moving estimate or give us a call at 800.222.4744

Olympia Moving at Touch-the-Trucks Events

Posted on November 18, 2015December 12, 2016 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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How a Moving Company Can Help You Survive TRID

Posted on November 16, 2015December 12, 2016 by olympiamoving

It’s been just over a month since the new TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosures rule, or TRID rules were put into effect, but what that means for those it affects is still unclear.

So what is TRID?

The TRID guidelines require residential real estate transactions to have new loan documentation, including two new forms.

Loan Estimate- Taking the place of the Good Faith Estimate (GFE) and the initial disclosure required under the Truth in Lending Act (TILA) This, three page, form must be provided to the buyers in a timeline similar to the previous GFE

Closing Disclosure- Taking the place of the HUD-1 Settlement Statement and the final TILA forms, the closing disclosure creates some new delivery date requirements.

This document must be issued to the borrower at least 3 days prior to closing. If this does not occur, the closing will be delayed up to 7 days.

Lenders require that the information contained in the closing disclosure (fees, taxes, closing cost, insurance, etc.) be finalized no less than 7-14 days prior to closing in order to give them enough time to generate the new closing disclosure in a timely manner.

Borrowers will have three days after receipt of the Closing Disclosure to review the form and its contents. Starting upon “receipt” of the Closing Disclosure form by the borrower, and unless there is some receipt confirmation of the form, the form is “deemed received” three days after the form is mailed. As a result of this, the review period may be six business days from mailing to loan signing.

Any changes made to the Closing Disclosure after its delivery to the buyer may trigger a new 3 day waiting period or additional disclosure or review periods, which is why accuracy is very important.

Why should you care?

The new TRID regulations are meant to benefit borrowers by simplifying documents and making loan terms more clear, but as lenders and borrowers transition into the new TRID rules, delayed closings are bound to occur.

Prior to the TRID rules, it took approximately 45 days from the loan application submission to the time of closing. Post-TRID regulations impose new waiting periods where lenders must submit disclosure forms to borrowers, and inaccuracies in paperwork by the lender or borrower as well as strict re-submission timelines will lead to delays in closing.

How can you protect your move?

To try to avoid any unforeseen issues that could delay the closing, the National Association of Realtors is recommending completing the walk-through seven days prior to the scheduled closing.
Make sure the information you provide is accurate and read documents thoroughly. TRID regulations aim to protect the buyer from surprises, so use it to your advantage.
Hire professional moving services who can anticipate your needs and expectations. If your move date changes you’ll want to work with someone who can facilitate the need for a schedule change without issue.

Olympia Moving & Storage’s TRID Protection Program

Strict TRID timelines and delays in closings will affect the entire relocation process. Most moving companies don’t have the capacity to handle move date changes, leaving families without a mover.

Olympia Moving & Storage has the manpower and infrastructure to work with you through the transition and delays by offering:

No fees for move date changes– as long as we have available crews we have the flexibility to accommodate unexpected changes that may occur.

$150/night sealed truck storage– Your belongings are important. If you can’t move into your home right away, don’t worry. For just $150 per night per truck, Olympia will hold your belongings on a locked and sealed truck until your new home is available.

Our goal is to be a resource to our clients during their relocation, no matter what TRID throws our way.

Are you ready to get your moving estimate?

Call Olympia Moving & Storage at 800.222.4744 or request an estimate and discover all of the ways that Olympia Moving & Storage can make your relocation easier.

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Boston moving company asks residents to share their moving stories

Posted on November 9, 2015December 12, 2016 by olympiamoving

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ready to tell some better moving stories?

Request an estimate today!

Free Moving Coloring Page for Kids

Posted on October 14, 2015September 20, 2017 by olympiamoving

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

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

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

Download our free moving coloring page for your kids

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

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

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

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Resources for Moving Senior Citizens

Posted on August 10, 2015October 27, 2021 by olympiamoving

Olympia Moving relocates hundreds of senior citizens every year. Whether our clients are moving interstate to their retirement destination or downsizing locally, arranging a seamless move for seniors has its own unique challenges. Our move consultant Ben Knowlton discusses some of these challenges in this video. When Olympia Moving works with senior citizens moving we adjust our process to work patiently with the client and stay in constant contact to reduce worry and stress.

We’re always exchanging ideas with other thought leaders in the relocation industry. Bill Mulholland is the Founder and CEO of one of Olympia Moving’s partners, American Relocation Connections. ARC works with top service providers like Olympia Moving to deliver corporate and individual relocation from top to bottom. As an expert in relationship-based relocation, Bill shares his tips for relocating seniors:

By Bill Mulholland, Founder and CEO of American Relocation Connections

Are you or a loved one moving homes as a senior citizen? The moving process can feel overwhelming and exciting, and there’s a lot of work to be done. All moves take careful planning and execution, but luckily, with the proper foresight and resources, you can make your relocation smooth and painless.

Use this five-step resources guide to help you tackle that big To-Do list.

1. Arrange for support throughout the move

Do you have an adult child who will help you with the moving process from beginning to end? Moving as a senior citizen can be complex because adult children may be too tied up with jobs or obligations from thousands of miles away.

If this is the case, never fear – you can always hire a “senior move manager”, or a professional who will take you through the steps of moving from packing the first box, up until making sure the phone lines at your new home are connected!

To find a senior move manager in your area, check with the National Association of Senior Move Managers.

2. Economically dispose of your unwanted items

Chances are, if you have been living in the same home for many years, you have accumulated treasure and junk alike. When you relocate, make this an opportunity to clean away the stuff you don’t really need. Be selective when choosing what to take with you to your new home – the more you decide to bring, the more it will cost you in time, money and valuable space. Rather than throw everything out, you can sell goods to antique vendors, tag sales or auctions, or even recycle some items for cash back!

To find an estate sale near you, look on EstateSales.net, where you can find a company to sell your items for you, or you can hold your own yard sale and advertise on the site. If you’re not sure how to price your goods, check out this infographic for some basic tips to holding a successful yard sale.

3. Pre-arrange your new floorplans

Now that you have thrown away your unwanted items, you can start to plan how you want everything to look in your new home. If you have hired a senior move manager, they will happily sit down with you to discuss how furniture will be arranged in your new home. The benefit of pre-arranging your floorplan is that you can arrive at your home and happily find everything already where you expect it to be.

For free online software to help you plan your new arrangements, consult these recommendations by Apartment Therapy. If you are feeling overwhelmed by the detailed aspects of the software, you can always draw a floorplan out by hand and show this to your moving team.

4. Organize travel plans and travel partners

If you are relocating across town, getting to your new home could be as short as a 20-minute drive on the freeway. However, if you are moving across the country, you might be flying out to your home – or even taking a train all that way. It may be helpful to consider if you would like someone to travel with you.

When you are planning your move, be sure to ask your travel partner far in advance so they can block out their schedule. You might choose your child or a close friend to accompany you to your new home. Senior moving managers can also travel with their clients from the old house to the new to make sure the trip goes smoothly.

If you would rather hoof it yourself, be sure to check a few travel tips so you can be as prepared as possible for your trip.

5. Unpacking and settling down

Don’t forget to plan for what comes after the unpacking! Do a bit of research about your new home. What are some nearby community events? If you are moving to be closer to your family, arrange a pre-set schedule to spend time together, whether that is every Tuesday or every other weekend – whatever you need to feel at ease in your new home.

If you will not have a car, look for travel arrangements. Most public transportation systems have senior discounts, and if you prefer to use a taxi system, research which cab companies are the cheapest and most reliable. There are also specific transportation services for senior citizens available. Find a transportation program in your new city with Eldercare’s service locator.

Moving as a senior citizen can sound like a tiring process, but it doesn’t have to be. Plan ahead and don’t be afraid to ask your friends and family for help; that’s what they are there for!

Use the resources in this guide and look for services that you can utilize to make the moving process easier on yourself. Oftentimes, if you simply ask your moving company for their tips and insight, they will have some great advice for you. Before you know it, you’ll have moved into your new home and all settled in!

Bill Mulholland has been in the relocation industry for 15 years and is the founder and owner of American Relocations Connections (ARC), an innovative third-party relocation company operating both domestically and globally.

If you need a relocation partner in everything from real estate to moving to mortgage contact American Relocation Connections to get started. Are you a senior citizen moving soon, or are you ready to assist a loved one with their relocation? Call 800.222.4744 for a free moving estimate from Olympia Moving & Storage, or request an estimate online.

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