5 Qualities You’ll Find in a Great Moving Company
As a nation, we’re constantly on the move. The U.S. Census shows that about 10% of the entire population finds a new place to call home each year. That’s a lot of transition!
With that in mind, here’s five questions you should ask yourself before making your decision:
- Do they have a legitimate history of good reviews?
- Simply Google the name of the business and see how customers describe their past experiences. If the company has a long list of poor reviews, it may be time to look elsewhere. We stand by our work, so you’ll find hundreds of wonderful reviews on Google, Angie’s List, and Yelp!
- Are they accredited by the Better Business Bureau?
- Consumers have been able to rely on the BBB for decades. If a business is either unlisted or has a bad score, that should be an immediate red flag. You can check our score here.
- Is the moving company fully licensed?
- When you chat with your next potential moving company, ask them if they are licensed by the U.S. Department of Transportation. You can also visit this link to verify their credentials. If the company doesn’t have a license, they’re running an illegal operation.
- Do they offer insurance?
- You would assume it would be a given, but some companies are not insurance friendly. That means if the movers damage your items or your home, they’re completely off the hook — leaving you to pick up the tab. We offer insurance on all of our moves. Give us a call and we’ll be happy to walk you through how it all works.
- How was your experience getting a quote?
- Quality customer service is something that’s hard to find these days. If the person on the other end of the phone is brushing you off, that should tell you all you need to know about the company. If they’re not enthusiastic about getting your business, it’s probably time move on.
What You Need to Know About Packing Boxes
Packing can be a pain, but you can avoid adding insult to injury by packing the Good Guys way!
THE ESSENTIALS
- TAPE – There are several types of tape, but they’re not all cut from the same cloth. Be sure to use packing tape. It has the proper amount of adhesion and sealant properties to get the job done the first time!
- NEWSPAPER/PACKING PAPER – Packing paper keeps fragile items from breaking in transit. If you have old newspapers lying around, you can save some dough.
- BUBBLE WRAP – Newspaper and packing paper can only offer a limited amount of protection. Use bubble wrap for your most fragile items.
- BOX CUTTER/KNIFE – You’ll most likely only need a box cutter or knife for the unload, however both are useful if you need to modify a box or cut tape.
- SANDWICH BAGS – Plastic bags with zippers are a solid choice for storing smaller, loose items. They also keep containers with liquid from leaking.
- PERMANENT MARKER – A mistake we often see on moves is unlabeled boxes, which creates a real headache when it comes time to unload.
PACKING THE BOX
- PREP THE BOX: Grab your tape and secure the box. Make sure the tape runs at least half-way up both sides of the box and completely covers the underside of the box where it folds.
- PAD THE BOTTOM: Line the bottom of the box with a layer of newspaper of packing paper. Crumple it up, otherwise it doesn’t offer much protection. An old towel works too!
- PACK YOUR ITEMS:
- SMALL BOXES – It may seem counter-intuitive, but you want to pack heavy items in small boxes. Because if you load down a large box with heavy stuff, it’s more likely to collapse. Items like books, dishes, and canned goods should definitely go in a small box.
- MEDIUM BOXES – Bigger items (not necessarily heavy) can go in a medium-sized box. Think of them as a catch-all for things like electronics, cords, remotes, etc.
- LARGE BOXES – Lighter, bulk items are great for large boxes. For instance, blankets, towels, CD’s, pictures, etc.
- WARDROBE BOXES – These boxes are designed specifically for your closet. You can line the bottom with shoes, ties, or belts. A bar across the top allows you to store your clothes with ease. You don’t even have to take them off of the hanger!
- GLASS BOXES – These boxes protect oddly-shape items like TV’s, mirrors, and artwork.
- LABELING: Take a few seconds to jot down what’s inside the box. Typically, our crews label boxes based on the room where it was found (kitchen, living room, master bedroom, etc.)
If you follow these simple steps, packing will be a breeze! But, if you don’t want the hassle of packing boxes yourself, Good Guys offers packing services! We also have a wide variety of boxes, packing paper, bubble wrap, and tape. So whether you’re going the DIY route or want a more hands-off approach, we have you covered from A to Z!
OUR COVERAGE AREA
