A Smooth Move

So Unilocal removed my former review due to it being «outside the content guidelines» so I am re-​posting. The short of it is this: Tony’s team was 6 hours late, too tired to actually do the move, dropped a dresser into the wall damaging both items, and most certainly needed my help in loading and unloading the truck. I would very highly recommend NOT using this company for any move.

This company was referred to us by our new landlord. However, after 3 phone calls on 3 different days and an email, I never heard from them once.
Would not recommend.

Moving is hell. But it can be made much worse with bad movers. I’ve yet to experience a decent moving company and I’ve come to the conclusion it’s because I can’t afford a decent moving company. I’ve chalking this experience up to poor because of my own stupidity. I’ve used 2 moving companies in my life and both were bad. This review is a review of the biz but it’s also some tips about moving:
1. Get a FULL quote up front. I was quoted «$ 100 per hour with 4 guys and $ 40 truck fee, 2 hour minimum.» This is not a full quote. This is their price. What I thought would be $ 240 in 2 hours turned into $ 450 in 4.5 hours.
2. If stuff is not going, mark it with a sticky note or a sheet of paper stating such. I didn’t and 3 times had to move furniture back into the house MYSELF that had been taken out to be put on the truck.
3. Ask details about the truck. When I first moved into the house a 17 foot MOVING truck was used and everything fit. This time a 17 foot DELIVERY truck was used with a VERY large box inside that was eventually removed but I had to throw out in the trash the next day. While they did get the heavy stuff and stuff I could’t move in my car, not everything would fit it’s going to take 5 – 8 trips in my car to get the rest of the stuff out of the house.
4. Furniture placement — mark where furniture goes with pieces of paper at the new place. I knew where things were going but didn’t mark it and ended up moving very heavy furniture myself to get things where they were supposed to be… and sprained my ankle in the process. Also, have a «storage» space for boxes in the new place that is out of the way if at all possible.
5. SUPERVISE SUPERVISE SUPERVISE — and don’t be afraid to speak up. The movers twice left important items or parts of sets that I had to go back and tell them to get. During my move the police chased on foot and on car suspects down my street. The movers were more interested in watching the police drama than in moving me.
6. Have all the pieces of furniture together and labeled. 2 drawers were left behind which will now have to be moved in my car. And don’t assume the movers can count or read. I moved several large, heavy boxes because someone couldn’t read the word «kitchen» and my bookshelves had re-​stacked FIVE TIMES (I counted) because one of the movers refused to read the numbers I had written on the inside of each section.
6. If you and the movers are in town — DON’T TIP UNTIL YOU’VE OPENED YOUR FRAGILE BOXES. Then visit the movers later and give them a tip. I tipped after they were done — and last night found a prized Christmas dish, in it’s original box surrounded by bubble wrap, shattered. Not just broke or cracked — shattered in tiny pieces.
7. If you don’t want it broken — MOVE IT YOURSELF. This is a duh but read number six. This goes for everyday glasses, Christmas ornaments, anything. And you’ll be surprised at how much glass or breakable items you own.
8. INSPECT YOUR FURNITURE. My foot board for my bed is cracked. It’s a very sturdy bed that has survived many, many moves but I will now be needing to buy a bed within the year
I had a pretty bad experience but I am chalking that up to my own inexperience. Hopefully this will help others from having the same experience.
One more thing — remember to get a receipt. I was not given one and have to call the company back to ask it to be mailed to me.