Friday Moving Resource

News in the industry is a little slow today, so i thought I'd provide another resource to help prevent getting scammed on your move. Moishe's website offers a slew of tips on choosing a moving company, but if you feel like you need a little bit more information . . . head over to Moving Company Guide's website. From their homepage:

"Choosing a good moving company is difficult. We've all heard horror stories from friends and families about disreputable companies and it's vital to sort the good from the bad as soon as you can. Wherever you live, you can guarantee that there will be various moving companies just waiting to help you out. Your hardest task is choosing one that's right for you - it's vital that you get this choice right. Getting it wrong can cost you time, money and heartache. Choosing a moving company is very much an individual choice and your decision should be tailored to your actual needs."

Moving.com

I may have mentioned this before, but I think it bears repeating. Moving.com is a great resource for anyone who's planning a commercial or residential relocation. It provides users with a list of trustworthy moving companies around the country, and even organizes them into helpful categories like full service, last minute moves and auto transport.

Whether you want to compare quotes, find a truck rental or look for a storage facility - moving.com has everything you need. I've provided a link near the top of the post, so check it out!

Long Distance Relocations

Moving your family across the country can be a difficult process. The packing and planning is bad enough, but when you add in interstate moving laws, transporting automobiles and finding new schools, doctors offices and neighborhood friends - the whole process can become a logistical nightmare. Thankfully, Moishe's offers customers a comprehensive, step-by-step long distance moving service that can take a load of weight off your shoulders.

Let us handle the complicated stuff so you can focus on what's important - acclimating your family and staying happy. Moishe’s has been moving New York based customers around the country for over 20 years. Our highly trained moving consultants and Moishe’s expert movers have handled almost every moving day issue under the sun, and are ready and able to help you plan, pack and execute your upcoming long distance move.

From the moment our consultant arrives at your home to assess moving costs to the second the last of your family and belongings arrives safely at your new household – Moishe’s stands with our customers through ever step of their long distance move. Day by day, mile by mile, we guarantee to provide you with the resources you need for your long distance journey, and to provide them with a smile. just head over to our website for full details on how we can help with your Long Distance Move.

Cheaper . . . Not Better.

Sigh. Yet another story out today of someone trying to cut some corners with a moving company and ending up burned for it. I'm not trying to say that moving companies can't be affordable (they can, just look at Moishe's Prices), but the fact of the matter is - if a price looks too good to be true . . . it probably is. This Story, out of Washington DC today, is a perfect example of what can happen if you take the bait.

A woman moving from Washington DC to Los Angeles hires a moving company, pays them, and then is shocked when only half of her belongings make it to her new home. It's becoming an increasingly more familiar storyline. This one, however, has a very scary twist. The owner of the moving company was supposed to place the items in storage, then ship them a bit later on. Well, that part happened, but the storage fee was never paid. So NOW, this poor woman's items might be auctioned off - no fault of her own. It remains to be seen, always check with the BBB and AMSA before trusting any company with your cherished belongings - no matter how great the price looks.

Tips for Moving an Office

Moishe's has been the better business mover for more than twenty years, and our team of experts has answers to just about any questions you could have. But planning your commercial move takes more than just our help. There's planning and organizing to be done before a moving company even gets involved.

MovingCompanyGuide.com has a great breakdown of what to think about, do, and organize when planning an office-to-office move. If you're currently gearing up to relocate your offices to a new space, or find yourself upgrading from a home office to a commercial location, this guide is the perfect place to start. Once you've gotten the ball rolling, be sure to follow the link to the Commercial Moving section of Moishe's website, will you'll find even more helpful information for moving day.

LI Movers Accused of Stealing by MTA

The New York Times ran a story yesterday about the MTA bringing charges against a very, very shady Long Island Moving company they'd been working with. The tale is pretty complex, but it bears mentioning as another example of always doing your homework on who you trust to move your belongings . . . even if you're a large business or government organization. The full article is linked to above, but here's a small sample of the tangled web:

"When officials with New York Transit were deciding whether to renew their contract with a moving company last year, they knew that a man once listed as its owner was convicted in 2002 of federal racketeering charges.

When they approached the man, Robert Villano, they were told that the company’s new owner was a woman named Roxann Nelson, an investigator said on Tuesday. What they did not know was that Ms. Nelson was Mr. Villano’s wife, according to the investigator, and because the company itself was not named in the federal conviction, transit officials decided to renew the contract.

On Monday, the Manhattan district attorney announced that Mr. Villano, Ms. Nelson and the company, Roselli Movers, had been indicted on charges of falsely billing New York City Transit $258,000 on 11 invoices for work it never performed."

Office Moves

Moving to a new house or apartment can be a headache . . . but moving your entire office to a new building is a nightmare. Thankfully, Moishe's Commercial relocations team is one of the best in the business, and we're here to help. Commercial relocations are complicated endeavors that require strategic planning, organization, and expert execution. We’ve been one of the most trusted business movers in the New York tri state area for more than 20 years, and personally handled office moves for high profile New York based clients like the Howard Stern Show on Sirius radio and the Elie Wiesel Foundation.

Our qualified staff of business relocation experts, qualified movers, and knowledgeable moving consultants allows Moishe’s to guarantee that your upcoming business move is handled smoothly and effectively. Whether your office is moving across the country or across the hall, Moishe’s has the technology and the specialists to make sure your equipment, data, files, and furniture are completely secure.

Moving Tips Contest

Wow, I wish I'd know about this before it was over . . . but you can't win them all right? I just finished reading a press release about a recent moving tips competition that I would have been a shoe-in for. As it turns out, a military wife from North Carolina took the top prize, along with the $2,500 worth of prize money. Without further ado, here's the award winning advice:

"Packing all the essentials in one box and labeling with numbers helps in the first few days after the move when you're exhausted, Rath said. "A veteran military wife advised me when I moved for the first time to pack 'breakfast' items in a box and label it #1 ... This way you can at least prepare breakfast for everyone.""

Another Moving Horror Story

The Chicago Tribune posted a story last week that highlights the hundreds of reasons to ALWAYS BE CAUTIOUS when hiring a moving company. I know that it might seem gratuitous, but the best way to protect yourself from getting burned is to check a companies background with AMSA and the BBB, as well as to speak with friends who have used them and look at online reviews.

The woman involved with the Tribune story was practically robbed blind, and it really could have been avoided. Follow the link for the complete story.

Another Moving Checklist

I know I've offered a ton of these since I began keeping the Moishe's Moving Blog, but today I'd like to share another moving checklist. It may seem redundant (and I know that a lot of them share tips and steps), but there really is nothing more important for ensuring a move goes smoothly than being well organized. Having all of your ducks in a row, boxes packed and belongings labeled is the easiest way to take the headache out of moving day.

I just came across this Moving Checklist on Moving.com, which happens to have a ton of great moving-related resources. Notable on this list is the last step, which basically says to relax and let the pros handle the heavy lifting. I know, as a guy, how easy it is to think "Well, I'll just handle it myself," but the fact of the matter is - moving an entire household is more work than almost any one person can handle. You may think it's best to save a little cash, but honestly, hiring a professional moving company like Moishe's will be more than worth the extra money.

Boxed In

An AP report by Mike Obel gave a prominent nod to Moishe's today. The article, which focuses on the rising cost of box prices and the solutions the moving industry are providing to combat them, mentions our Box Exchange Program as a good way to off-set costs. From the article -

"Moishe's Moving and Storage, a New York City moving company that sells boxes to the public, said it had a 12 percent box price hike in June and another 12 percent increase in August. That contrasts with all of 2007 when Moishe's had just one price increase, also of 12 percent.
In an effort to find alternatives for customers, Moishe's is starting a Web-based box exchange service for finding people with boxes to sell or give away."

Pretty cool stuff. Follow the link above to read the entire article.

Tips for a Smoother Move from UW

I just came across a pretty comprehensive and helpful list of tips for making your moving day go a whole lot smoother. I found the guide on the website for the University of Wisconsin, of all places - and it covers everything from what to do with your jewelry to how to handle auto transport.

The list of tips is geared toward people at the university moving to Wisconsin, so there are a few bits at the bottom that won't do you much good, but the vast majority of the content is simple, direct and easy to understand. If you're looking for a few ways to keep everything running smooth on moving day, this is actually a pretty good place to start.

Moishe's Packing Packs

One of the most frustrating parts of moving into a new home is deciding how many supplies you need. What's the right amount of boxes? How much tape should I buy? What sort of supplies do I use to ensure none of my belongings break?

They're all legitimate questions, and Moishe's has a simple answer for all of them. Moishe's new "Packing Packs" take all of the guesswork out of buying supplies. All you have to do is visit our website, select the type of home you're moving to/from and check out. It's that simple. We offer packs for everyone from dorm residents to office dwellers - and everyone in between. So what are you waiting for - the sooner you start packing the better!

Moishe's Many Locations

Here at the Moishe's Moving Blog, we talk a lot about what's going on in the New York tri-state. But what I probably don't mention enough, is that Moishe's has moving and storage locations all over the country. From New York and New Jersey all the way to Los Angeles, we've got your moving and storage needs covered from coast to coast. We may have been founded in New York, but we're growing in cities across the map.

For full details on Moishe's other locations, please check out the Locations Page on our website. It's got more than enough info on our homes away from home - and I think you'll like what you see.

Moving Art

One of the many services Moishe's offers customers is fine art relocation. Moishe's sister company, Mana Fine Arts, is one of the premier businesses in the New York Tri-State for handling, moving and storing fine art for both commercial and non-commercial clients. We've moved some of the biggest museums in town, and greet every one of our customers with the same enthusiasm and meticulous attention to detail as if their collection was worth millions.

All over the Tri-State, priceless masterpieces are trusted to Mana Fine Arts. We even provide an “Exclusive Use” service for clients who wish to exert complete control over the scheduling, routing, and shipping of their fine art move. New York art owners trust MFA and Moishe's as their mover for our superior quality and ability to be involved in productions and exhibitions- not to mention because we're the best around.

Moishe's on the West Coast

Moishe's official West Coast agent, NorthStar Moving, was applauded by The San Fernando Business Journal recently as being one of the best places in the Los Angeles area to work. According to the Press Release,

"NorthStar announced today that it was named to the Top 30 Best Places to Work in the San Fernando Valley at an award ceremony hosted by the San Fernando Valley Business Journal. NorthStar Moving ranked an impressive #4 on the list of medium sized businesses."

Congratulations to our friends on the West Coast. A job well done, indeed.

A Cool Moving Tip

Seattle PI.com columnist "Heloise," provided a write-in reader with a really cool moving tip I hadn't heard before. I think she explains it pretty well, so I'll just quote her:

"On our last move, I went to the new residence and used non-damaging tape to attach a photo of the furniture I wanted placed in that spot. The movers also had a map of the house to help. I stayed at the old residence to do all the last-minute cleaning so it would be perfect for the new owners. When I arrived at our new home, all the furniture was placed exactly where it was wanted. The movers told me it was the easiest job they had ever done."

I never really thought about it, but taping out where furniture goes before movers arrive in your new home is a simple, cost-effective way to help make sure everything gets where it's supposed to go without a lot of headache.

Moving Green

We've talked a lot on the Moishe's Moving Blog about our work to become the first Green moving company on the East Coast. We take a lot of pride in being able to hold that distinction, and we feel it's our responsibility to set an environmentally conscious example for our competitors. But now that we've successfully helped make your moving day greener, what can you do once you get home?

The Green Guide Section of our website offers customers a few simple steps to make their new homes more energy efficient. From purchasing energy-saving fluorescent light bulbs to installing an efficient programmable thermostat - there's a lot of things you can do to help the environment. Follow the link, check out the site, and help us to make a difference!

Moving 101

Moving day can be one of the longest in your life. The packing and planning take forever, there's heavy lifting involved, and the entire process is just sort-of painful. Thankfully, being prepared and knowing what to expect going in can make the entire process a whole lot easier. We've designed a section of our new website to help you along with the process.

The Moving 101 page is written to help you through the entire moving process. We've got guides and helpful tips that are sure to streamline your next move and teach you how to get the most out of your money. If you're planning a move of your own, our 101 section is a feature that shouldn't be missed.

A Greener Moishe's

It's been quite some time since Moishe's rolled out their plan to become the first Green mover on the East Coast, and things have been going well. We've cut back significantly on our carbon footprint at corporate headquarters, encouraged a number of our employees to switch over to mass transit or carpool and are in the process of integrating our new, enviro-friendly packing products.

One of the most exciting things about the Going Green campaign, however, was the introduction of our new box exchange website. The site, which can be found - HERE - has already started to catch on. If you're in the market for packing supplies like boxes, tape etc . . . look no further. It's totally free, and the more people that sign up, the more boxes their are to go around. As we head into winter, let's all make an effort to make sure that come spring, New York is greener than ever.