Tips for finding a Better Mover

There's a great report out of Dallas, Texas today filled to the brim with advice on choosing a trustworthy moving company. As we head into the New Year and people start planning their Summer moves . . . finding a name you can trust is more important than ever.

According to the article:

"If you're planning to hire a moving company, do some checking first. Don't just hire the company that sends you a brochure in the mail. Ask other people about their experiences. Get estimates from multiple companies and do some research. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has a Web site, where users can search for complaints and company safety ratings. You also can make sure the company is insured and can check the number and type of complaints filed against it. FMCSA also provides tips for choosing a moving company. "

And I have to agree. Researching a company and finding people who have used them in the past is the easiest way to feel comfortable with your decision. There are also some helpful tips for choosing a mover (and even one specific to New York) on Moishes.com. Feel free to peruse at your leisure. Happy New Year everyone. See you in 2009!

Movers and Football Training

I just stumbled across a great article in The Providence Journal about NFL football player Sean Morey. Morey was an all-star player at Brown University, got drafted into the Pros and then, after a few years in the league, didn't make the cut for his team's squad. Not sure what to do, he signed on with a moving company, joining the ranks of thousands of strong, physically fit movers across the country. He used the day-to-day work to stay fit, keep working out . . . eventually it earned him a chance to get back in the game.

According to the article:

"But Morey wasn’t ready to let go of his dream of playing pro football. By working for a moving company, he had time to work out — to run; to lift weights; to stay in shape, just in case anybody called. “I took jobs that were temporary,” he said, “so I wouldn’t have to start a career. I love playing football.” Morey knew there always would be guys who would be bigger, stronger and faster. But he was determined that there weren’t going to be any who would work harder. And so, when a call came from the Eagles in January as they were about to start the playoffs — they’d had some injuries and needed help on special teams — he was ready."

This year he was voted into the Pro Bowl. Pretty cool.

Happy Holidays

Well, the Holidays are finally upon us. If you can believe it, it's even colder in New York than it was last week (temp. of -2 degrees with the windchill this morning), and my last day of work before the holiday break. So, from Moishe's and everyone that works here - have a safe and wonderful celebration.

Moishe's in the News

Well, it's almost time for a brief Holiday vacation and the snow is coming down in New York. Weather.com is currently telling me that we should expect almost six inches before the day is out . . . so I hope everyone remembered to bundle up today. It's a light news day as far as the industry goes, but I did want to point you in the direction of a blog hosted on National Geographic's website.

The blog, titled The Green room, focuses on green and environmentally-relevant issues. Today the writer posted tips for moving the Obama's to the White House, suggesting a number of environmentally friendly movers. Midway through the post, they gave a brief mention to Moishe's green moving services. Well, we do have a Chicago location, and I'd like to go on the record of saying we'd be happy to move the President-Elect, if he's interested. Follow the link for the full post.

Our CEO

Did you know that Eugene Lemay, the CEO of Moishe's keeps a weekly blog? If you didn't, you should definitely check it out. Not only does it provide a lot of helpful information about the culture at Moishe's and the many services we offer - but he also uses the blog as a way to directly interact with our customers. To give you an idea of what to expect from the CEO Blog, here's an excerpt from his first entry back in April.

"This blog serves as a place to find knowledgeable and experienced advice, but I also hope to see it become a place for questions and discussions. The latest idea we’d like to render out-dated at Moishe’s is that finding answers to questions should be a hassle. If you’re looking for the solution to a moving and storage-related question don’t hesitate to ask. I’m always taking questions via email at askgene@moishes.com. Thank you for visiting The Storage Expert, and I look forward to answering all of your questions soon."

Packing Made Easy

One of the many complicated aspects of moving house is determining how many and what type of packing supplies you'll need. How many boxes will you need? How much tape should I buy (and what kind)? What sort of supplies are the best for making sure that none of my belongings break in transit?

They're all legitimate questions, and Moishe's has a simple solution for all of them. Moishe's "Packing Packs" take all of the guesswork out of buying supplies. All you have to do is visit our website, select the size of the home you're moving out of or into and buy. 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!

Seattle Movers in More Hot Water

A few weeks ago I mentioned a Seattle moving company in trouble with state officials over botching a number of long-distance relocations. Well, it now appears that that same company continued to handle residential moves even after the state had demanded that they halt all business. To make matters worse, not only did they continue to do business, but they also continued to drop the ball.

According to one account from a news report in Seattle:

"Jessica Chitoubol hired the company. What she didn't know was that the company was under a cease and desist order for residential moves by the state. The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission accuses All My Sons of unfair and deceptive business practices. 'It certainly illustrates that the company does not plan to comply with the commission order,” said the UTC spokesperson. The business shouldn't have done the job, and according to Jessica, didn't do it well."

Ouch.

The Moving Biz and the Housing Market

There was an article on Ocala.com this weekend about a start-up 4-employee moving company and how they're being affected by the struggling housing market. As it turns out, the two industries couldn't be more inter-twined. Sure, there are going to be a lot of downsizing relocations in an economy like the one we're currently living in . . . but the number of moves in general has significantly dropped off in the past twelve months.

When you're a larger independent business with an established customer base and reputation like us, you'll be able to get by. But if you're a newer company with just a handful of employees, you may find yourself going weeks without a single move.

According to the article, "Januszyk knows the housing market and the moving business won't likely be what it was three years ago, but wants his business to be based on a healthy housing market, not foreclosures. Januszyk and others tied to the housing market are counting on government intervention in the market and most recently on word that the U.S. Treasury Department is working on a plan to reduce mortgage rates to historic lows of 4.5 percent to coax more home buyers into the market."

Pretty scary stuff. Let's hope that things start looking up in the new year.

International Moves

Making an international move can be a complicated process. In addition to the usual worries of planning and packing, now you have to deal with passports and paperwork. If moving from state to state isn’t difficult enough, moving overseas adds even more stress. But, a qualified international mover will help alleviate it by providing important resources and guidance. As you plan your move abroad, worrying about packing and shipping technicalities should not consume your valuable time. Moishe’s provides International mover services which are tailored to lessen your load by helping you plan and execute your move overseas.

As the most reliable International mover New York has to offer, Moishe's is prepared to live up to your expectations by providing our customers with peace of mind during their move abroad. We are waiting to advise you in your packing and to guide you through international transport regulations and inventory tracking. When you move with us, you are entrusting your belongings with a reliable New York based international moving company. We take your trust in us seriously and strive to live above and beyond all expectations. We offer quality service to give you more time to dedicate to your move and your life. Your time is important and we take pride in giving it back to you.

Special Rates Calendar

As the economy continues to slide further into a recession, Moishe's is always looking for ways to help our customers save. One of the ways we've helped take the sting out of moving day for hundreds of customers this year is the Special Rates Calendar on our website. This calendar is for folks with a fairly lenient moving schedule, who can afford to schedule their move just a week (or even a few days in advance)

All you have to do is follow the link, see which days we're offering specials, and fill out the forms. The way it works - on days or times when we're only handling a few moves, we can offer lower rates to keep our workers moving all day long. The calendar is updated each week, and the savings windows are separated into morning, noon and afternoon. If you're preparing to move house and need to do it on the cheap, this might just be your best bet.

Using a Wardrobe Box

One of the best tools for a residential move is something a lot of people have never even heard of. Wardrobe boxes are made for transporting your clothing - think a portable cardboard closet - but they can also be used for most of your household's bulky and lightweight items during a move. These taller boxes come in a variety of sizes, which gives you the freedom to basically transport an entire closet without separating or un-hanging any of the clothing.

Before the moving company delivers the wardrobe boxes, start filling large, handled paper backs with other clothing items that don't need to be hung up like jeans and tennis shoes. These bags can go into the bottom of the wardrobe box, getting the most room out of each box. They are also perfect for transporting bulky lightweight items like comforters and pillows.

Moving 101

It's been awhile since I mentioned it in a post, so I'll say it again - have you seen the Moving 101 section of Moishe's website? If you're gearing up for a holiday move, it's the best place to start all your packing and planning. With a little help from the pros, we promise your move will be as simple as 1,2,3.

As you navigate the tedious process, let Moishe’s be your guide for professional quality moving techniques. Allow our experienced moving professionals to work for you and your relocation will be accomplished safely, swiftly and professionally. Whether you’re moving across the street, across town or across the country, leave the work and the worry to us.

Jacksonville Movers in Hot Water

There's word this week out of The North Florida News Daily that the Attorney General there has reached a settlement with a company of shady movers. I've reported a lot on this blog about moves gone awry - reminding you to always check with AMSA or the Better Business Bureau before scheduling a move with a company you're unfamiliar with. This story has somewhat of a fairy tale ending for the customers taken advantage of. Many of the clients were actually payed restitution for lost items and over-priced bills.

From The News Daily:

As a result of the Attorney General’s investigation, the company has already provided over $3,000 in restitution to consumers. Under the terms of the settlement, Father & Son Moving and Storage must modify its marketing practices and alter its contracts, which will now include providing a full price itemization of the services provided and information on how fuel surcharges are calculated. Additionally, the company will reimburse the state $10,000 for fees and the cost of the investigation, with which the company fully cooperated.

The Oregon Moving Cartel

I can't even begin to explain how interesting this article is. It's got intrigue, mafiaesque themes, back stabbing and, well . . . moving companies. Sounds strange, right? The article in question was published on OregonLive.com, and discusses the rather strange set of laws in Oregon governing who gets a moving license and how the process works. According to the introduction of the Op-Ed piece:

"Police officers in Fairview took a break from fighting crime last week to shut down some unlicensed moving companies instead. They ran a sting operation that netted 15 companies for moving people's belongings without having their competitors' permission. You read that right. Under Oregon law, any time a person applies for a license to run a moving company, the department of transportation notifies all of the existing moving companies, and gives them the opportunity to object to the new license. In short, the law creates a cartel of moving companies who enjoy the special privilege of keeping up their prices by shutting out competition."

Crazy! Anyway, follow the link for the complete article, and most importantly, have a great weekend.

A few tips for getting your deposit

Moving out of your apartment soon? Worried that your landlord is going to try to weasel you out of your security deposit? This is a common story in New York, but it can be avoided! I just came across a great little checklist of things to do when preparing to leave your old place. According to this guide, the first step is remembering to let your landlord know that you plan to leave.

"Just because you know you're planning to move at the end of the month doesn't mean your landlord does! Look at your lease to see how many days notice you must give your landlord before you actually leave. Once you've determined this, you will need to provide your landlord with a written notice of your intentions. If you do not let your landlord know you're leaving, you could end up paying for another month's rent."

To learn all the other helpful hints, feel free to follow this link.

The Bad Move Blues

Another day, another story of a family in dire straits at the hands of a poorly planned move. A Maryland ABC News affiliate is running a story today on a couple who moved to the area from Arizona more than three months ago . . . and are still missing half of their possessions. According to the report, "the couple says it paid the Green Movers more than $4,000 in money orders to transport their goods, and when the company’s owner allegedly called recently trying to settle with them, his offer fell short of settling anything."

I know that we've been over this before on this blog, but I think it's really important to reiterate that you should never move without checking out a companies credentials beforehand. Speak with the better business bureau and AMSA. Check out online ratings systems like Citysearch. Ask friends who've used a company in the past. You really don't want to end up in this position.

A Moving Checklist

I just stumbled upon a helpful moving guide and checklist on Moving.com. It's in the same vein as a number of other guidelines posted here at the Moishe's blog . . . but you can never have too much of a good thing. This one covers you before, during and immediately after your move - taking all of the guesswork out of the planning process. The introduction reads:

"Please take advantage of our moving tips and moving advice. Print this page and carry it with you before and several days after the move. Moving tips that may seem obvious can be easily over looked. Take our moving advice and utilize this checklist before and after you have moved."

Follow the link for all the helpful hints.

Moving New York's Art Scene

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.