Category Archives: high value items

A photograph of boxes sitting in the living room of an apartment on move-in day.

Why Hiring a Professional Moving Team is Best

high value items, Home Moving, long distance moving

Moving is a huge undertaking. Most people who are changing their address, whether it is making the move into a first home from a rental apartment or downsizing from a well-loved home to something more manageable, wouldn’t even consider making the change without a professional moving team to help safely get possessions from one location to the next. 

Some homeowners, however, make the choice, either due to budget or simplicity to ask friends and relatives to help them. This is a huge task. 

While this action may save a little money, in the long run it may be a dicey choice at best. Here is why…

Mastodon Moving moving boxes

Experience

How many times have your friends or cousins packed an apartment or house? Do they know how to safely pack breakables, high value items, and sentimental keepsakes? Do they understand the need to prep the floors, as our team does? Do they have the right equipment and know-how to get awkward furniture pieces into or out-of tight spaces? 

Chances are that the professional team you hire will have years of experience in packing, unpacking, prepping the house, and in safely getting items to and from the truck without damaging the home or the items themselves. 

Insurance Protection 

Professional movers have a license and liability insurance that not only protects the possessions they are moving but also the people doing the moving in the case of an unforeseen accident.

When family and friends help complete a move, instead of professionals, the damage that occurs to a home or items being moved falls to the owner. If boxes shift in the moving van and cause damage, the professionals are insured to repair or replace the belongings. 

Empty storage containers in storage facility

Proper Supplies and Equipment 

Our team here at Mastodon Moving has a wide variety of moving supplies to make your move go smoothly. This includes boxes, crates, dollys, palette jacks, lifts, wrap, packing buffers, straps, and the list could go on and on. 

By asking family members to help with a move, you could risk having boxes being overpacked or lost in the shuffle. Our team will prep your house, help you box appropriately, label, and move all of your items, whether it is across town or across the country. We have years of experience with packing items and specialty vans that can protect your valuables, furnishings, and keepsakes. 

Storage Capabilities 

Relocating can be a multistep process depending upon where you are moving and if “signing days” coincide from one location to the next. Many homeowners find that they need storage accommodations for a few days or weeks until they can settle into their new digs. 

Mastodon Moving offers storage that is safe and climate controlled to keep your items until they are ready to be unpacked. If you are considering a move in the future and are weighing whether to hire professionals or using family and friends, consider these scenarios as well as this article from Consumer Affairs. 

A photograph of an adorable puppy in a cardboard box.

Avoid These Moving Mistakes

downsizing, high value items, Home Moving, long distance moving, Move Management, Packing Tips, Storage

Moving can be overwhelming and a full-time chore, especially if you are in charge of the cleaning, downsizing, packing, and labeling of all the items that need to find a new home. As a guideline, we recommend starting as early as possible in the process and getting as much help as possible from family and friends. Even with ample time and help, there are some common mistakes that homeowners make that can delay the move, or at least make it highly anxiety-ridden. Here are a few errors we have seen over the years to be aware of in the hope that you can avoid making these moving mistakes yourself. 

Not Downsizing Enough 

A move is a great time to weed out all those items that are not needed or possibly duplicated in your home. Thin out your clothing, books, toys, kitchenware, office supplies, and seasonal storage items. The more downsizing you do, the easier the entire process will be. Donate, recycle, or trash the items that are broken, gently used, or not needed anymore. This not only can save you from extra boxes to pack, but also extra junk to unpack in the new home. It may also shave some time off the moving process. 

label boxesNot Labelling Boxes 

It may seem like a simple task of labelling what is in each box that you pack, but so many homeowners skip this step. In addition to putting a tag on each box stating which room it should be delivered to, we suggest adding a short inventory list such as: dishes, utensils, or bowls, to remind you what is in each box upon arrival. This will save you some serious time and hassle when you are looking for something you need. 

Procrastination 

You may be thinking, “I can’t pack this yet, because we may still need it.” Our advice – pack it! You can always leave the box open in case you need to access items, but start getting all those keepsakes stashed away. It takes much longer to put your items in boxes and label them than you would imagine. We suggest setting a schedule of what rooms will be completely packed and by when. Do a little each day by starting early and assigning family members to each room and area of your home. 

organize receipts Not Organizing Receipts and Contacts 

When it comes down to it, moving is a crash course in organization. Keep all of your receipts in a folder or binder along with contacts that you will need to transfer utilities, school records, and medical data. Not organizing can mean countless hours searching for the estimates you have obtained for moving companies, contacts for cancelling cable, and other odds-and-ends. 

Avoid these four moving mistakes by starting early, enlisting the help of friends, and staying organized. Check out our blog for the ultimate moving guide and other helpful articles to keep your move on track and on time. Questions and comments contact Mastodon Moving. We are happy to help.

A woman sitting in front of several cardboard boxes looking inquisitive.

Questions to Ask Your Movers

Apartment Moving, Commercial Moving, high value items, Home Moving, long distance moving, Move Management

Moving is stressful. In fact, moving is ranked as highly stressful according to the “Life Change Index.” Some physicians even put it as a top three stressor after death and divorce. Fear of the unknown is part of the root cause of this stress. That’s why it is important to ask questions when planning for your move – especially questions for the team that will be moving your precious possessions.

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Knowing the right questions to ask moving companies before committing to one is the best way to avoid stressful surprises on moving day. Asking smart questions can not only help you find the right moving company for your needs but could also remove some unnecessary stress.

Ask for References

Do your homework before you hire a moving team to take your possessions across town or across the country. Look on sites such as Angie’s List, the Better Business Bureau, and Yelp to see what people are saying about the companies you are researching. In addition to doing an online search, ask for references from past clients that live in your area.

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Ask for an Estimate

Getting an in-home estimate will not only give you a chance to meet and get to know the moving team that you will be working with but also give you an idea of the cost. Having a moving specialist come to your house and walk through each room can take some of the stress away from thinking about the enormity of the process. Remember that movers do this all the time and they know some pretty handy tips that can make things go smoothly on moving day.

Inquire About Licensing and Liability

One sure fire way to make sure that you are covered in the case of an accident, damage to your items, or injury to a worker, is to ask about licensing and liability insurance. All professional interstate moving companies should have a license number issued by the United States Department of Transportation. You can check their license number and complaint history here. Your moving team should also be insured in case of a mishap during relocation.

A photograph of a post-it note reading, "Don't Forget!"

Get Information About Packing Services

If you are overwhelmed with the prospect of decluttering, packing, and then unpacking all of your belongings, it might be a good idea to find out if the companies you are researching have packing and unpacking services as an option. Whether you need a single room, an apartment, or entire house packed and unpacked, our team at Mastodon can handle it. We can quickly and efficiently pack up so you can devote your time elsewhere.

Ask About the Long Distance Moves

Many homeowners who move long distance are pleasantly surprised to find that, with Mastodon Moving, the team who packed you up in one state is the same team who will unload in your new home. That means we know what’s in the trucks and have already worked with the homeowners at one end. It takes some of the stress off when starting the unloading process.

Learn About the Trucks

Not many homeowners facing a move think to ask about the condition of the trucks. At Mastodon Moving, our trucks are regularly maintained and cleaned out so that your furnishings are in a well-washed location during the trip. In addition, we launder the moving blankets and straps to ensure that your furnishings are kept clean. We mean it when we say that we take care of even the smallest details!

Storage Options

On occasion, homeowners find that they need to temporarily store items during the course of selling their home – before a move is even scheduled. A realtor may recommend that your home is cleared of large furnishings and/or personal items so that it can be staged to sell. Storing your items in our high-security storage can help in the weeks and months before your actual move.

Are you planning a move? Use these questions to help you choose a moving company that will relieve some of your stress. At Mastodon Moving we have been doing this for years. We can help you at each step of the process. Call us at 774-421-9004, or fill out a contact form on our website.