Why Summer Moving May be Overrated

Moving during the summertime does have its perks: the kids are out of school and the roads are not covered in snow and ice. However, for these benefits, there is a heavy price to pay. In the literal sense, that price could be up to 40% more, but figuratively speaking there are many other great costs associated with peak season moving.

The busiest time for movers is June through August, although by May most are already charging peak season rates. This means that scheduling is difficult, some delays in pick-ups and drop-offs are inevitable, and movers are less likely negotiate the additional services you may require. If you are working with a broker beware because moving companies are busy with their own customers. They will have less of a need for broker jobs, leaving your pick-up as one they will only “squeeze in” when they can. Even if you are moving yourself, most truck rental companies and DIY services charge based on the season. Of course if you are moving in or around one of the northern states, it may be worth it to deal with all this because you will probably have even more issues with the winter weather. If you live around the southern states like Florida, then winter moving deserves some serious consideration.

For example, LocalMovers.com is based in sunny South Florida. If we were to be planning a move, what sense would make to pay the extra cash and deal with all hassles just to move when it is hot, muggy, and, as summertime in Miami always is, very rainy? During the summer months we have the constant concern of tropical storms and hurricanes that can bring all Miami movers to a standstill. The only upside is that the children are out of school, but then again, Miami local movers don't mind working winter break. Winter in Florida is dry and temperatures remain favorable with lows that only occasionally dip into the upper 40’s. This is great moving weather whether you are doing it yourself or hiring professionals. Prices during these times are at their lowest, especially from December to February.

With that said, if you don’t have a need to move in the summer, don’t. So do yourself a favor, if you are looking to hire Miami moving companies or any other southern moving services, or even if you are just planning to rent a truck and do it yourself, avoid the peak season. You will only cause yourself extra stress and aggravation on top of the anxiety that naturally accompanies any relocation, and all you will have to show for it will be a lighter wallet.

Professional Courtesy and why it Matters to the Consumer

When people ask friends and neighbors for referrals on services, they are usually just concerned with the way the company in question treats its customers. They normally don’t question how they act towards their colleagues and competitors. The problem with this logic is that businesses these days are remarkably interdependent. When you work with a real estate agent to purchase or rent a home, he or she will likely have to work with another agent to get the deal done. Likewise, when you contract a moving company for relocation it is quite possible that that business will have to work with others in the field to get that job done. This can include the advertising firms that connect the movers with their customers (as in many of the online moving directories), the sales people/estimators, the dispatchers who are responsible for the logistical details, and even other agents as maybe required for special circumstances.

I bring this up because of a recent experience with a very angry and vulgar mover based out of Vermont. As you can see with our website, we post information about movers in different cities so as to assist our customers in finding local businesses. This way if you are in Florida you can find Florida local movers; if you are in Vermont you can find Vermont local movers, and so forth. One certain Vermont mover, however, was not happy to be listed without a direct link pointing back to his site. He called our office afterhours using the kind of profanity that would make a sailor blush to a female who answered the call. Despite his vulgar insults she explained that while it was not our policy to provide links for all the movers in our listing, she would remove that moving company’s listing if he so desired. His angry rant did not quite end there. She requested the page url, and he proceeded to threaten her and insist she should know it (very difficult when you have over 200,000 pages). She took the verbal abuse in stride and finally coaxed it out of him and removed the listing.

We were certainly not customers of this mover, but this ordeal made me wonder how a company with such a lack of professional courtesy treats its customers. I imagine that if everything goes smooth and the customer does not complain it is possible that everyone will walk away satisfied with the moving experience. However, if the customer does have an issue with something, how will this mover react? It seems as though he is short on patience and temper, and acts on impulse and aggression. While the importance of professional courtesy from the customer’s standpoint is just a theory of mine, I would not want to test it with the man who has all of my belongings in his truck.

Move easy!

P.Harris

http://www.Localmovers.com/

Need a Fresh Start? Some Things to Consider when Relocating to Start Over

In this difficult economy, many people are wondering if moving out of their high-unemployment-rate city would be a wise choice. Moving to the city of Dallas, TX, one of the U.S.’s top moving destinations, has become the option that many American families are considering. The act of moving itself has a significant cost associated once you consider locating new housing and selling or renting out your current residence, packing up, finding Dallas local movers, and relocating, getting set up in your new location, and of course all the time it will take to get all these things done. If you feel strongly that leaving your present town will help you and your family find new and better opportunities, then it may just be worthwhile to make that change.

Dallas, one of the largest cities in the U.S., is located in the heart of the country. Even in the face difficult economic times, Dallas has managed to maintain a relatively stable economy, making Dallas an attractive option for relocating families. The city of Dallas along with its surrounding metropolitan area provides a diverse atmosphere with a cost of living that has remained quite manageable over the years. The school system is amongst the nation’s best with 5 Dallas public schools named in Newsweek magazine’s list of best public schools in the United States in 2007. Crime rate and unemployment rate are relatively low when compared to other large cities and the climate is especially favorable; winter highs are in the 60’s and the summer, while hot, stays pretty dry.

If you are looking to make a fresh start, this may be the place for you. Be sure to begin preparations in advance and take the time to do this right. Do your research and hire professional Dallas movers who are qualified and licensed to operate in Dallas. When it comes to moving all of your personal things, do not just settle for anyone who gives you a cheap price. Find a reputable Dallas moving company by asking friends and neighbors for referrals or looking online. Check all licensing and insurance credentials and make sure you get an in home estimate.

There will be much for you to do in your moving process. You will need to find new schools for your children, make arrangements for transporting your pets, and locate new doctors, dentists, banks, etc. These things will keep you quite busy so make a list, plan in advance, and get quotes from professional Dallas moving companies to move your belongings. In the end the cost of the mover will be worth the expense once you consider the added stress of moving yourself.

LocalMovers Blog: Long distance vs. Local Relocation: What's the Difference?

LocalMovers Blog: Long distance vs. Local Relocation: What's the Difference?

Long distance vs. Local Relocation: What's the Difference?

The question of what is the difference between what movers consider a long distance move and  a local move seems like common sense. A local move means you are moving nearby and long distance means you're going far away, right? Well, sort of.

If you are relocating cross-country, then yes, that would constitute long distance moving. Likewise, if you are moving next door, then that is a local move.  What is less clear-cut, however, is how we treat all those places in between, and that it what I will discuss here.

First thing to note is that any move that crosses state lines is ALWAYS considered a long distance move. It does not matter if your destination is so close that you can see it from your doorstep, it will be treated as a long distance move and it will be subject to all regulations that apply to interstate movers.  Also, as with any long distance move, you will pay based on what you are moving (preferably by weight, not cubic feet), and not by the hour as is the case with local moves.

Now to the more grey area...

When moving within the same state, if the distance is greater than 100 miles, it is a long distance move. Your mover will be regulated by state regulations and will charge by weight preferably, although there are those that use cubic feet (not recommended). 

When moving out of state, but within the continental US, it is a long distance move, simple as that. But if you are going to Hawaii or Alaska, then it will be treated as if it were international moving because of the shipment must be taken to and then loaded in a container to be transported across water to the destination, and then transfered to a truck for delivery.

Movers usually classify moves based on needs required and regulations which must be adhered to, and not necessarily iby whether or not the distance to be traveled is long or short. Why it matters to you, the consumer, is that understanding what is invloved in each kind of move and how prices should be quoted(and then charged) can help you in your selection of the appropriate relocation company that will best be able to handle your move.

LocalMovers Blog: Reasons why you should always hire a Local Mover

LocalMovers Blog: Reasons why you should always hire a Local Mover

Reasons why you should always hire a Local Mover

The advantages of using a Local Mover are numerous. Here are just a few:

• Out-of-area moving companies cannot provide on-site (physical estimates), therefore any quote given will be a non-binding estimate. (non-binding estimate: actual cost may change. Customer is advised to be prepared with additional cash in case of overage. Payment for services due upon delivery in cash or certified funds only, which causes additional hassle for customer when actual price is unknown).
  
  • Out-of-area moving companies may not be as familiar with city ordinances requiring permits or restricting truck access or road conditions. Roadways can be very narrow, rough, steep, or be dirt roads; unfamiliar companies may have difficulty with these or may even cause damage to customers' furniture or property.
  
  
  • Out-of-area movers often subcontract their jobs to other companies when they can't service them. Customers in this case haven't gotten to check out the new carrier on BBB or FMCSA because they won't know of the change until the new guy is at their door.
  
  • Brokers only subcontract the jobs they book; they own no moving trucks or equipment. Once a job has been dispatched to a hauler (mover), the carrier adopts the moving estimate as its own, forcing the customer to deal with this new company for any customer service issues (trust us, you will hate that). When problems arise, as they often do, the broker will direct the customer to the mover and the mover will then tell them to contact the broker leaving the customer in middle with little options to resolve issues.
  
  • A job accepted by a mover from a broker is usually a low priority for that mover. If the mover comes across a better job that interferes with picking up the broker's job, he will drop the broker's job even if it is just hours before pick up leaving the customer stuck on the move date. The mover knows that the customer complaints will usually end up on the broker since the customer probably doesn't even know the moving company 's name.
  
  • Brokers and far away companies alike, tend to take large upfront deposits at the time of booking, while local moving companies charge significantly smaller deposits.
  
  • Local companies tend to try harder to please since most of their customers come from their own areas and they are concerned about a bad reputation in their hometown. A company will also act differently when it is located in a place where a customer can drop in and complain in person. Angry phone calls and emails are easy to ignore and avoid; a person walking into your place of business, not so much.
  

These are some of the reasons why using a local moving company usually results in an easier move. Even though that voice on the other end of the phone line may sound friendly, reassuring, and knowledgeable, the truth is there is no way that person can promise you everything will be fine and that your move will go exactly as planned from so far away. Only a Local Mover, with its local ties and local familiarity, can give cater to your specific moving needs.