Tag Archives: moving during COVID-19

Will Movers Assemble & Disassemble Furniture?

Putting together and taking apart your furniture is no easy task, especially when many items need to be broken down before putting them on the moving truck. Therefore, this is one of the most common questions asked in the moving industry. Movers can quickly assemble and disassemble furniture because they are trained professionals. However, for the average, untrained individual, this can become quite a challenging endeavor. Larger furniture items can easily be moved without having to disassemble them. But other furniture items will simply move and travel better when they are broken down first:

  • Ready-to-assemble (RTA) furniture
  • Beds and bed frames
  • Bookshelf units
  • Dining room and office tables
  • Dressers or vanities and mirrors
  • Home entertainment centers
  • Removable appliance components (dishwasher racks, refrigerator shelves and trays, oven racks and stove burner grates, etc.)

Should you disassemble your furniture or have movers do it?

Whether you prefer to take your furniture apart before moving and then reassemble it in your new home is totally up to you. But sometimes, it makes more sense to have professional movers do it for you (depending on your budget and the specifics of your move). 

To help you decide: If you answer either of the following two questions with “no,” it’s probably best to let moving professionals handle this task for you:

  1. Are you physically capable of the lifting involved when disassembling and reassembling your furniture items?
  2. Do you have the basic mechanical skills required when using hand and power tools?

What movers may not agree to disassemble

Even though moving companies offer furniture disassembly and reassembly services, there are some exceptions to the furniture they will take apart. For example, most movers will avoid disassembling antiques, pool tables, and furniture pieces that are glued or nailed together. They won’t take the risk, as they don’t have the time and wood-specific expertise to put such complicated pieces back together.

Most furniture moving services won’t attach or detach major appliances like washers, dryers, or refrigerators due to liability reasons. However, some movers will hook up these appliances. If you’re not sure exactly sure how to do it, you might want to hire a handyman or plumber to do it. 

VMoving provides fast transit of goods for our clients

When you hire a moving company, you want a team of movers that know how to do the job and have been doing the job for many years. They need to be experienced and quick on their feet to relocate boxes and furniture to the truck with care and due diligence. Our Moving Companies have only the best staff working for us, and we like to make sure they continue to get training to provide you with a better and better service each time.

5 Frequently Asked Questions Before Moving

Much of our normal life has changed or ceased since the coronavirus crisis gripped the USA in March of 2020. But some things have to go on, like moving. Maybe your lease is up? Perhaps you need to combine your household with others in your family for financial reasons? Or maybe you were already in the process of changing homes, and you just can’t put it off anymore. Planning a move to a new home can be pretty challenging. Here are five frequently asked questions when it comes to moving.

(1) How much can a moving company full-service cost?

The costs of using a professional moving company for a complete service can vary. The main cost factor is the moving distance (is it a local move or a long-distance move?). Most moving companies will quote prices based on the load size, the distance to be traveled, the type of furniture being moved, and the number of men required to complete the job. Some companies estimate prices using the number of bedrooms you are moving. For example, a 3-bedroom property to be moved may cost around $450 on average for a local move. In contrast, a studio apartment or flat may only cost about $99 (it is estimated you will have fewer belongings and furniture to move).

(2) How to choose a moving company?

Although this seems to be an obvious answer to a frequently asked question, the answer is to not always look for the best price. It is crucial to look at other factors when moving your personal belonging into your new home. It may be better to begin looking at moving companies with good feedback and positive reviews. This ensures you are more likely to have a greater overall experience. Reviews can sometimes highlight flaws that some companies may have. It is also helpful to assess what insurance needs you may need to cover your items. If you have valuable items, you may need to use a company with a better insurance policy to fully cover and protect your belongings.

(3) How to check if a moving company is legitimate?

There are several ways in which you can confirm if a moving company is legitimate or fraudulent. From your first point of contact, when either emailing or calling for a quote, you can check whether they acted professionally. Evaluate if they quoted reasonable prices (not ridiculously cheap), and their emails seem professional in appearance. You can also ask for costings to be provided in writing. This allows you to double-check if the paperwork looks professional. Do the documents include the official company head, company VAT numbers? Are all/ additional costs that can be incurred for any aspect of the move adequately listed? You can also request for the moving company to perform an in-home survey to see how they appear (professional looks, uniform). Typically, they should leave a professional-looking business card with personal contact details, which will help confirm the company’s legitimacy.

(4) How to find a reliable moving company?

Looking at the feedback and reviews given by other customers will provide you with peace of mind and reassurance on how the company operates and how well they provide their services. You may also be able to use local trusted trader endorsement schemes, which provide lists of reliable companies in your area. An external company will use assessment processes and other administrative checks to ensure that they meet a suitable standard to be endorsed.

(5) How to hire a moving company?

Once you have found a suitable and reliable moving company in your area to use for your specific needs, start the process of hiring the movers. The first step is to request an initial quote for the move you wish to make. Once they have provided you with a price for the move meeting your expectations, you should then agree and arrange to book the removal for a suitable date. You will have to ensure that you meet all the requirements that they may make during your quote. For example, if you have stated that your items are packed securely and ready to move, this should be factual.

VMoving provides fast transit of goods for our clients

When you hire a moving company, you want a team of movers that know how to do the job and have been doing the job for many years. They need to be experienced and quick on their feet to relocate boxes and furniture to the truck with care and due diligence. Our Moving Companies have only the best staff working for us, and we like to make sure they continue to get training to provide you with a better and better service each time.

How To Move Safely During COVID-19

Movers Unloading Boxes From Moving Truck During COVID 19 Pandemic

Much of our normal life has changed or ceased since the coronavirus crisis gripped the USA in March of 2020. But some things have to go on, like moving. Maybe your lease is up? Perhaps you need to combine your household with others in your family for financial reasons? Or maybe you were already in the process of changing homes, and you just can’t put it off anymore. Planning a move to a new home can be pretty challenging. Still, now you have to worry about protecting yourself and your family from the novel coronavirus. The excellent news, staying protected and reducing your risk while moving isn’t as challenging as it seems. Here are five tips you can use when the time comes to move during the pandemic.

(1) Get a Contactless, Virtual Quote

As you begin researching moving companies online to plan a contactless move during COVID-19, look for movers that provide virtual estimates rather than in-home visits. The video estimate feature is an excellent alternative to the traditional in-person moving estimate. Using video communication via a smart device allows you to walk an estimator through your home remotely. Check with the moving company to find out how you can best prepare for their virtual quote process. Most likely, preparation instructions will include:

  • Make sure your phone or tablet is fully charged and that you have a strong Wi-Fi signal. If you are not connected to Wi-Fi, remember that data charges may apply. 
  • Turn on the lights in all of the rooms you will be showing to your moving cost estimator
  • Open all cabinets and closets for items inside you will need to be moved. 
  • Have a tape measure on hand, just in case your estimator needs you to measure an item for accuracy.

(2) Questions to ask

Make sure you ask your moving company what measures they are taking to ensure a safe moving experience during COVID-19. Quality moving professionals understand the safety of you and your belongings are critical during any move. The movers should demonstrate considerable vigilance at this time when it comes to your safety and health. Below are a few questions to get you started as you vet your movers:

  • What precautions are you taking to protect your moving crew and drivers?
  • What precautions are you taking to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 among your movers? 
  • What will you do if it’s discovered that a worker or customer has been diagnosed with COVID-19?  
  • Can you provide me with additional information, links, or documents that address moving during COVID-19 before I schedule my move with you?  

(3) Buy A LOT of packing materials – in advance

Studies have shown that the coronavirus can live on cardboard for up to 24 hours. It’s best to get packing supplies delivered to you, so you can avoid the risks of last-minute trips to the hardware store during the pandemic. You don’t want to realize the day before your move that you don’t have enough stuffing or boxes to pack and end up having to make several hardware-store-runs. Your budget, your belongings, and your schedule will thank you for spending the extra time in advance determining the number of boxes you’ll need. You can use the chart below to get an idea of how many boxes you’ll need. Do not forget to keep in mind that the longer you live in your home, the more stuff you will have accumulated!

  • Studio: 10 – 20
  • One-Bedroom Apartment: 20 – 40
  • Two-Bedroom Apartment: 40 – 60
  • Two Bedroom House: 60 – 80
  • Three Bedroom House: 80 – 100
  • Four Bedroom House: 100 – 120
  • Larger: 120+

(4) Communicating ahead (Moving and Donations)

If you are moving out or into an apartment building or condominium complex, notify your management company of your move’s time and date. Remember to make these arrangements ahead of time on both ends of the move. Ask your management team about using a service elevator for the day of your move and special arrangements needed for parking the moving truck. You should also notify your neighbors by phone or email so that they can be aware of keeping a safe distance in halls and elevators on your moving day.

Moving usually means sorting through your belongings and shedding items you no longer use. But dropping off a bag of clothes at Goodwill isn’t as simple as it was before. Wherever you donate household goods locally, check their website and call to see how and where to give.

(5) Sanitary Precautions and Cleaning

Your movers should come prepared with their face masks on and continue to wear them throughout the entire moving process. Keep your distance from movers and avoid handshakes. If possible weather-wise, you want to leave your windows opened to allow plenty of fresh air to circulate. Most importantly, you want to have enough soap and paper towels available for your movers and your family to wash your hands throughout the day. 

Thoroughly disinfect and clean your new home before you unpack and settle in. After the movers leave, take some time to disinfect any areas that are high-touch zones. Wipe down door handles, light switches, and bathrooms before you finish unpacking. Get rid of any germs that could have been brought in on foot traffic by sweeping and mopping your floors. Besides cleaning and disinfecting your furniture and belongings as you unpack, make sure to properly dispose of all packing materials. Contact your local government agency if you have questions regarding the disposal or recycling of boxes and other packing material.

VMoving provides fast transit of goods for our clients

When you hire a moving company, you want a team of movers that know how to do the job and have been doing the job for many years. They need to be experienced and quick on their feet to relocate boxes and furniture to the truck with care and due diligence. Our Moving Companies have only the best staff working for us, and we like to make sure they continue to get training to provide you with a better and better service each time.