Since 1978, Professional Movers.com has been helping Michigan Seniors and their families relocate to the Detroit Area’s top retirement communities. In fact, Professional Movers.com is the preferred provider for moving services to over 15 senior communities here in Southeast Michigan. Our movers are compassionate men who have a vested interest in making sure you have a positive moving experience. After all, we know that if we do a good job, you will share your experiences with other seniors, family members, and the move-in department at your new retirement community.
You’ve probably seen our moving trucks unloading new residents into Fox Run Retirement Community or Henry Ford Village. Or perhaps we came highly recommended to you by a friend who’s used our services before. Regardless, of how you have learned about our company we want to help further educate you about our company and the many services we offer seniors.
Table of Contents
- What is Local Senior Moving?
- 5 Simple Steps for Successful Local Senior Move.
- What Can You Expect During a Local Senior Move?
- The Cost for Local Senior Moving Services.
- How Many Hours Does it Take to Perform a Local Senior Move?
- Services that are Included in Every Local Senior Move.
- Local Senior Moving Frequently Asked Questions.
What is Local Senior Moving?
A local senior move is a move performed for someone over the age of 50 that takes place within a 40-mile radius and stays within the state of Michigan. For example, if you were 55 years old and needed to move your household items from Farmington Hills, Michigan to Novi, Michigan, you would be requesting Professional Movers.com to perform local senior moving services. Most of our local senior moves involve moving seniors to a retirement community, independent senior living, assisted living, or a long-term care community. Many factors determine the cost of a local senior move. Luckily, many of those factors are within your control. For example, would you like us to help sort through items and assist you in downsizing? Would you like assistance packing your belongings? Would you like us to help you develop a new floor plan? Do you know what floor your new senior living unit is on? Do you have any extremely heavy items to move? Are there any items that may require disassembly or reassembly services?
These and many more questions will help our Certified Senior Moving Consultants develop a custom move plan that will allow us to coordinate and supervise all aspects of your upcoming move. Our strategy is to take you through a step-by-step process, explain your options, and develop the best pre-move plan for the most cost effective relocation. We begin with advanced pre-move counseling where our dedicated Certified Senior Moving Consultants will visit your home and provide you with a written in home estimate. Our Certified Senior Moving Consultants will be there every step of the way to make sure that everything that was promised during your estimate was fulfilled on moving day.
5 Simple Steps for a Successful Local Senior Move
Step 1 – Your Decision to Move
There are many emotional steps involved in your decision to move, change is not something to take lightly. Your existing home may hold many memories. However, that same home may become too big, and keeping up with maintenance and repairs may not be something you are willing to do.
Here Are Some Questions You Might Want to Consider
- Is it time for a move?
- What will be my family’s reaction?
- Where is the best place for me to relocate?
- What is my timetable?
- What do I need to bring with me to the new location?
- How do I take inventory of possessions?
- How do I prepare for downsizing, what do I do with the excess?
- How do I make the move – packing, utilities for the old and new home, unpacking?
Step 2 – Initial Consultation with one of our Certified Senior Moving Consultants to establish an understanding of your needs and outline our services
Once you have made the decision that you are ready to move, please give us a call at 248-926-9999 to make an appointment for a meeting in your home. There is no fee for this service. We will schedule an appointment based on your availability. We can visit in the morning, afternoon, evening, or even weekends. Depending on the size of your move and the services you have selected, we will generally recommend that you schedule your consultation 1-2 weeks prior to your desired move date. This will allow our Certified Senior Moving Consultants enough time to prepare your floor plan, assist in downsizing any excess items, and make arrangements for packing, moving, or storage services.
When the Professional Movers.com Certified Senior Moving Consultant visits your home he will focus on the following:
- Determine what help you need with your existing home to prepare for moving?
- Determine if and how much packing may be needed?
- Identify which items you may wish to downsize or give to family members?
- Identify which items you would like to move to your new home?
- Identify your packing and moving date
- Confirm your move plan and pack/move dates with the coordinators at your new retirement community.
Two days or within 48 hour after our Certified Senior Moving Consultant visits your home, he will provide you with a customized move plan and estimation of total moving costs. The estimate will be a very detailed document that will be easy to read. It will be typed in large font and either hand delivered or e-mailed. Our Certified Senior Moving Consultant will either schedule another visit or call you on the phone to review our proposal and see if you have any questions.
Step 3 – New Home Review (Optional Service) (provide a floor plan & help you decide what you need)
Our Certified Senior Moving Consultant will provide the floor plan of your new home to help you visualize and evaluate your new living area.
A detailed layout will show room dimensions including:
- Location of electrical outlets, phone and cable connections
- Location and dimensions of doors and windows
- Prospective locations where your furniture could be placed
This critical step will allow us to help you arrange your belongs into your new location, help you determine what possessions should be taken and what needs to be downsized. Please note, many of the Detroit Area retirement communities have move-in coordinators that may perform these services at no cost. When this option is available we will work with the move-in coordinator to aquire your new floor plan layout before your move date.
Step 4 – Preparing for the Move (Optional Services)
Sorting – We will help you organize your current home and sort your items to help determine which items to move. This can take a few hours, or as long as a few days depending on how much help you need.
Taking Inventory – We will take photographic and written inventory of the condition of your items to ensure they are unpacked and placed in your new home in their original condition.
Downsizing – Help you determine what is needed in the new home, make arrangement for family heirlooms to be shipped to loved ones, arrange estate sales, appraisals for antiques, and make charitable contributions.
Packing – Help pack your home and prepare it for moving day. We will supply a senior packing team who is experienced in packing fragile or delicate items. Our pack team will use the specialized packing materials including, boxes designed for dishes and pictures. Depending on the services you have selected, and the size of your move, preparation and packing will generally begin 1-3 days prior to the scheduled move, leaving selected necessities for your use until the scheduled move date. If you are transferring from one room into another room within a facility, we will lightly pack your items on the day of the scheduled move.
Labeling – All boxes will be labeled for the new room location.
Step 5 – Moving Day (supervising your move, unpacking, resettling)
On moving day Professional Movers.com will be present to supervise your entire relocation. Your moving team will be chosen based on the exact specifications of your move. Your hand picked team of movers will complement each other’s job capabilities and create a manageable, efficient and cost-effective relocation. For example, if your move requires a lot of disassembly, then we will send a mover who is experienced in providing disassembly services.
Moving – On your scheduled moving day, we arrive on-time to finish packing the selected necessities, break down the beds, and began loading the truck. By early-afternoon our movers will arrive at your new home. Since we perform so many moves into many of the areas top local retirement communities, we know the best places to park the truck so we can efficiently unload your belongings.
If your original home needs to be cleaned prior to the sale of the home we can arrange to have a cleaning crew perform a concentrated effort at making your home look its best.
Unpacking (Optional Service) – Our original packing team will begin unpacking boxes that our movers deliver. All items that were packed will be placed in their predetermined locations. The packers will also direct our movers where to place your furniture. Our packers can also help organize your kitchen and closets, make your bed, hang your pictures, and ensure that your cable and phone are connected. All of the empty packing materials and boxes will be removed from your new home. When our unpacking team leaves your new home, we want you to feel as if you have lived in your new home for years.
Step 6 – Follow-up and Post Move Evaluation
Undecided where to hang the pictures on moving day? Or, decided you didn’t like the flow of the furniture and would like to move the couch? Not a problem. Take your time to think about it, when you are ready we will schedule time to come back and make the necessary adjustments.
We understand there are times a medical or personal situation can be the driving force of the move and time lines can be tight. We will be there every step of the way, go the extra mile, and address all the details, ensuring the transition is smooth and the new surroundings are familiar.
Post Move Evaluation – At the close of each move, you will be asked to complete an online service questionnaire, used to evaluate our workmanship. This questionnaire helps to distinguish areas of strength and weakness. This assessment is a vital tool, which allows us to listen, learn, and provide continuous improvement on our award-winning senior moving services.
What You Can Expect During a Local Senior Move
Exceptional Customer Service is Guaranteed – At Professional Movers.com we have received numerous awards for our dedication to providing senior citizens with outstanding customer service. Including a 2008 Customer Service Hero Award from Corp! Magazine and a featured chapter in the customer service book, “Who’s Your Gladys?” From the moment you first contact Professional Movers.com until your last piece of furniture is placed exactly where you like it, you can rest assured knowing that our representatives will work tirelessly to make sure you are completely satisfied with your entire move.
Certified Senior Moving Consultants – We assign a Certified Senior Moving Consultant (CSMC) to each local move. Our Certified Senior Moving Consultants have a minimum of 5 years consulting experience within the senior moving industry and have passed a nationally accredited industry certification examination. Your CSMC will be your personal moving expert throughout your relocation. He/She will create a customized move plan that will layout the foundation for a successful, stress free, and affordable move. At any time, your CSMC will be available to answer questions, update you on the status of your move, and make sure that all the promises made during your estimate are kept on moving day.
Specialized Movers Based on Your Needs – Your moving team will be chosen based on the exact specifications of your move. Your hand picked team of movers will complement each other’s job capabilities and create a manageable, efficient and cost-effective relocation. For example, if your move requires a lot of disassembly, then we will send a mover who is experienced in providing disassembly services.
Working Supervisors on Every Move – We assign a working supervisor on every senior move. All of our working supervisors have worked a minimum of 100 local senior moves before attaining the title of working supervisor. Prior to your move, your working supervisor will have a meeting with your Certified Senior Moving Consultant to review your move plan. Your working supervisor will be onsite to direct the moving team and will be there to assure total accountability.
Superior Protection Plan on Every Move – Professional Movers.com prides itself on the safe and secure transport of your household goods. Although your items may be going a short distance during a local senior move, we still take the necessary measures to protect your valuables. Our professionals pad and stretch wrap furniture to help ensure no damage is incurred during the transport. Our 15 Steps of Home & Furniture Protection is unique in the industry. We promise to pad protect your entryway doors, stair banisters, in addition to covering any walkway flooring. To further protect our customers, we offer exceptional options for valuation coverage.
A Positive Impact on Our Local Community – Our world headquarters is based right here in Michigan. Our employees are Michigan residents and a majority of our truck fleet consists of American-made nameplates like GMC, Kentucky Trailer, and Ford. We take great measures to go out of our way to spend our dollars with local Michigan based companies. After all, we know how important it is to help support the local economy and people who use our services. So when you hire Professional Movers.com you can rest easy knowing that you too are helping keep Michigan families working, and you too are doing your part to stimulate the local economy by hiring a local senior moving company who will pay it forward and spend their money here in Michigan. Point-to-Point Service – The same moving professionals that load your goods at your place of origin will be the same persons that unload your goods at your new destination. This seamless service fosters a better relationship between you and our movers and provides you with the satisfaction of complete accountability.
The Cleanest Moving Trucks – At Professional Movers.com, maintaining our moving fleet and ensuring dependable fleet transportation is a significant part of our commitment to our customers. Our delivery vehicles are serviced by professional mechanics on a regular basis and comply with all state regulatory, transportation and emission standards and codes.
Post Move Evaluation – At the close of each move, you will be asked to complete an online service questionnaire, used to evaluate our workmanship. This questionnaire helps to distinguish areas of strength and weakness. This assessment is a vital tool, which allows us to listen, learn, and provide continuous improvement on our award-winning moving service.
The cost for Local Senior Moving Services:
Professional Movers.com would like to help you understand the way local senior moving charges are determined. We want to help you get an accurate estimate so there are no surprises on your move day. Here is how we base the pricing for local moving services:
- The number of movers required to perform the move
- The amount of time it takes the movers to load your belongings into the truck
- The drive time between your old residence and new residence
- The amount of time it takes to unload your belongings into your new residence
In addition, a travel charge is assigned to all local moves. Typically, the travel charge is a one hour fee depending on where you live. Ask your Certified Senior Moving Consultant to find out what the Travel Charge would be for your zip code.
The travel charge covers:
- The drive time it takes your movers to drive from Walled Lake, Michigan to your old residence at the beginning of the day.
- The drive time it takes your movers to drive from your new residence back to Walled Lake, Michigan at the end of the day.
Additional senior services are available such as packing, unpacking, home review and layout, and cleaning. Check with our Certified Senior Moving Consultants for pricing on these additional service.
How many total hours does it take to perform a local senior move?
We are realistic when it comes to providing an estimate of your move time. The moving time may vary depending on many factors such as, the size of your shipment, the distance we have to carry your items from the truck, the number of stairs going up and down, availability of an elevator, special care items, and the number of movers you need.
The chart below will help give you an idea of how many hours and movers it may take for your move. This chart was created to help serve as a rough estimate of how much time your move may take. Each move however, is unique to its own set of circumstances. For a more accurate estimate, please call one of our Certified Senior Moving Consultants at 248-926-9999 and schedule an appointment to have him/her visit your home.
| . | Employee Time Loss | Professional Movers, Inc. Certified Senior Moving Consultant | Total Time Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Packing Old Home for Move | 40 hours | 5 hours | 35 hours |
| Truck Loading, Unloading | 12 hours | 6 hours | 6 hours |
| New Home Setup | 24 hours | 3 hours | 21 hours |
| Prepare Old Home for Yard Sale | 120 hours (Less $ return) | 40 hours estate sale (higher $ for items) | 80 hours |
| Charity Delivery | 3 hours | 1 hour ?liquidation buyer | 2 hours |
| Sort and Clear Old Home | 40 hours | 6 hours | 34 hours |
| Clean Old Home | 8 hours | 3 hours | 5 hours |
| Total | 207 hours (26 days) | 64 hours? (8 days) | 143 hours (18 days) Savings |
Please note: Factors that may effect this chart include: stairs, elevators, long carry, distance between new and old residences, packing services, your own unique size/amount of belongings, and travel time assigned to your locations.
Services Included on Every Local Senior Move:
- Free on-site visitation by our Certified Senior Moving Consultant
- All furniture is wrapped in premium moving blankets at no extra charge
- Furniture placed & set-up in your new home where you want it
- We do not require all drawers to be emptied (excludes antique furniture)
- Courteous & quality trained personnel on every job
- Quality service at competitive rates
- Complete packing & unpacking services offered
- Packing and crating of glass, pictures, and mirrors as needed.
- Supervisor on every move.
- Detailed inventories provided upon request.
- No additional fees for stairs or long carries.
- Classroom-trained, uniformed drivers, packers and movers
- State of the art sanitized fleet of various sized moving trucks
- Alarmed, climate-controlled, sanitized warehouse storage available
- Same rates 6 days a week, no extra charges on Saturdays or evenings
- Pre-move box and packing instructions or demonstrations
- No additional charges for assembly and disassembly
- Free use of wardrobe boxes on local senior moves
- We haul away any unwanted items and donate them to charity
- We provide limited liability coverage at no extra charge
Local Senior Moving Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is a Certified Senior Moving Consultant?
A. A Certified Senior Moving Consultant is a professional who specializes in assisting older adults and their families with the emotional and physical aspects of relocation. Our Certified Senior Moving Consultants have extensive knowledge about the costs, quality and availability of community resources. One call to a Certified Senior Moving Consultant can connect you with the services older adults and their families may need for a smooth and successful move.
Q. What does Senior Moving consist of?
A. Professional Movers.com approaches senior moving into 5 distinct phases: Planning, Downsizing & Packing, Moving Day, and Settling In.
Q. Are your services available for anyone?
A. Yes! We primarily assist older adults who are down-sizing from their home to retirement communities or condominiums; however, our services are for anyone with moving in their future.
Q. I don’t live in your area but my parents do. Can you help me move them?
A. Yes. We can coordinate the move with you over the phone and via email. Mutual communication is key to our relationship. We have capabilities of delivering certain concierge services should you travel into town to maximize your time here, or we can conduct phone consultation as needed to include other family members from around the country. Keeping you in the loop during the process will give you peace of mind, and your parent(s) secure in the knowledge that they are not alone in the process.
Q: What can I do to keep moving costs down during my move?
A: If you’re engaging Professional Movers.com, you should mention your cost concerns during your initial call with a sales person. Similar to airlines or hotels, most moving companies have a sliding scale of prices that reflect supply and demand on a particular day. Generally, the summer months are the busiest. Saturdays and the beginning and end of each month are busy year-round. Monday through Thursday, in the middle weeks of the month, tend to be less busy and therefore less expensive. Flexibility with your move date or an overlap between when you need to be out of your old home and are able to get into your new home can both allow you to get the best value. Additionally, your Certified Senior Moving Consultant can provide advice on other cost-saving measures, including efficient preparation in advance of move day.
Q: Can I keep moving costs down by having a family member or friend help with the move?
A: Many people enlist friends and family to help keep move cost down. While this is a good solution for certain situations, if items are damaged during the move, it’s generally difficult to get an insurance carrier to replace them. If you choose to hire Professional Movers.com, your friends and family can be most helpful in preparing for the move – packing boxes, shoveling a pathway in the snow between the moving truck and the door, or caring for your pets or children. On move day, you should let the professionals handle the job entirely – they are highly trained and therefore best suited to carry the weight and negotiate the difficult access ways. Remember that you’re paying your moving crew by the hour, and generally speaking, having non-professionals on the job alongside them slows things down and costs you more in the long run.
Q: How is the cost estimate determined for a move?
A: We base our local senior moving services on an hourly rate, which includes drive time on each leg of the move: from the moving company to your original home, then to your destination, and back again to the moving company’s home base. Some customers are surprised by the extent of the drive time costs, which result from the fact that moving trucks can not travel as fast as passenger cars on the highway, and are often excluded from non-truck routes, resulting in longer trip mileage and travel time.
Q: Is labor the only moving cost I will experience?
A: Labor represents the majority of the moving expense. However, you should also budget for packing supplies, such as boxes and tape, and for additional valuation as needed. These costs can represent as much as 20% of the cost of labor. Professional Movers.com prefers to take special precautions with delicate or oversized pieces, such as plasma televisions and chandeliers. This type of item is typically custom-crated, which will incur an additional fee. Your Certified Senior Moving Consultant can advise you on these and additional questions you may have regarding costs associated with your move.
Q: Are there any “unexpected” moving costs I should be aware of?
A: Unexpected moving costs often result from a breakdown in communication between the customer and the moving company. Rushing through the initial booking process can be detrimental to the success of a move. By taking the time up front to talk to your sales person, both parties will be fully aware of the specific circumstances they will find on moving day. For example, if you have remodeled your house since moving in, some of the furniture that went in originally may not come out the same way, and may require additional labor or equipment. Similarly, if you have assembled furniture within your home since moving in, special considerations will need to be made to move it out.
Q: How accurate will the cost estimate for my move be?
A: The best way to ensure that your move comes in on-target with your estimate is to offer as much information as possible at the time of the estimate – this includes reviewing the inventory taken by the Certified Senior Moving Consultant for accuracy. Neglecting to mention an ancillary piece of the move at the time of the estimate does not mean that your move will cost less, but rather that your moving crew will be less prepared to do it. They may show up with too few movers or trucks for what the situation requires, which may, in the end, escalate costs.
Q: Should I tip my movers?
A: As in other service industries, you may wish to thank your moving crew for a job well done by offering a gratuity. While the crew does not expect a set amount, we suggest that you tip based on your satisfaction with your crew and the move overall; with the general guideline of $4-6 per man, per hour. If you feel that your crew went above and beyond in their efforts, you may certainly increase the amount accordingly. When tipping, please be aware that whatever amount you offer will be divided evenly amongst all movers and packers who worked on your move. You may give the entire tip to your Move Supervisor, who will later disperse it to the crew. Should you have additional questions or concerns regarding tipping, your Certified Senior Moving Consultant can provide assistance.
Q: If I’ve hired the “professionals,” is there any point in purchasing valuation?
A: Although Professional Movers.com takes every precaution on a move, damage can occur and it is important to make sure that your shipment is protected. We recommend first checking with your homeowner’s policy. If your insurance provider does not cover items while in transit or in someone else’s vehicle, or if they only cover against major disasters versus minor damage to individual items, you should consider purchasing valuation coverage from www.MovingInsurance.com . Your Certified Senior Moving Consultant can help you make a decision about the appropriate type of moving insurance coverage for your move.
Q: Can our grandkids “hang out” and watch the move?
A: We recognize that the moving process fascinates children, but for their own safety, we recommend that they stay with family or friends on moving day. If you do prefer to have them present, be prepared to have someone available to supervise them carefully to ensure their safety on moving day.
Q: Can the movers transport my pets?
A: Unfortunately, there is no safe place in the moving truck for pets to ride. They cannot be transported in the cab for liability reasons, and the box of the truck is inappropriate due to lack of climate control and the danger posed by potential shifting of heavy objects. Move day is traumatic for most pets. The best way to ensure their physical and emotional safety during the move is to secure them at a neighbor or friend’s home, or in a professional kennel if necessary.
Q: I’m having difficulty arranging transportation on moving day. Can I ride in the cab of the moving truck with my movers?
A: Unfortunately, we cannot transport customers for liability reasons. You may wish to arrange a ride with a friend or a cab service on move day.
Q: I think my home will close by the first of the month and would like to move as soon as possible thereafter. Can I move that same day?
A: Because a complicated process such as a home closure or completion of construction is often delayed due to unforeseen variables, we don’t recommend scheduling your move for the same day. Save yourself the stress and schedule your move date for several days after your closing date. Consider booking your move 5-7 days after the estimated time your new home should be available.
Q: Our new home is still undergoing construction. Can we still move in?
A: Professional Movers.com understands that the challenges of packing and moving are often amplified by the unpredictable timeframes of construction or renovation. First and foremost, it is critical to inform your Certified Senior Moving Consultant as soon as possible of any situation that may affect your move. While our crews are highly adept at taking optimal precautions for care of new floors, walls, etc., a move can be significantly more difficult for all involved if there is wet paint or construction still actively occurring. If it is necessary to keep a move scheduled for a particular date, we can effectively work with your needs by grouping boxes in one room or bringing some pieces into storage until your home is ready. If you prefer to reschedule your move, please contact your Certified Senior Moving Consultant as soon as possible at 248-926-9999.
Q: I want to do some packing and moving of small items before the movers arrive. What areas would be most helpful?
A: Focus on packing, not moving. You’ll be amazed how quickly many helping hands – either Professional Movers.com or your friends – can carry all of your boxes. Don’t spend time trying to move these items yourself. Rather, focus on packing boxes, so when the help arrives, you’re ready. You should prioritize your preparation into three areas:
- Sorting and disposing of unneeded items through garage sales, donations to charitable organizations, or give-aways to friends and family. While it may be time-consuming, getting rid of items prior to your move is time well spent. Keep in mind that it isn’t worth paying the movers to move items that you’re only going to throw away later.
- Pack non-breakables and areas that you don’t use often, such as basements, garages and attics.
- If you have time remaining to move some items yourself, focus on plants, pictures, collectibles, and highly-sentimental items.
Q: I have some items I’d like to keep, but they won’t fit in my new home. Should I store them?
A: Discuss this with your Certified Senior Moving Consultant. In general, storage is appropriate when you have a plan for the future of your items. If your items don’t fit in your new home but you are only living there for a finite period and then have plans to move to a larger home, storage may be appropriate. Or, if your items are high-value, you may wish to store them. If your items are older or less valuable, consider the monthly cost of storage versus the replacement cost of the items. It may be more cost-effective to donate or discard them now.
Q: I’m on a limited budget, and can only afford to hire professional movers for a portion of my move. What should I ask them to do?
A: You’ll want our movers to carry heavier, larger items such as bureaus, desks, and sofas. Also, should any items need to be hoisted into or out of your home, it is essential to leave that to trained movers versus risking serious injury to yourself. We also recommend that you have the movers pack fragile items such as china and artwork.
Q: What can I do to ensure that my belongings end up in the correct room?
A: Pick a labeling system and use it consistently. You can either color code your belongings based on the rooms at your destination (bedroom red; living room: blue, etc.) or label the boxes with consistent shorthand to denote their location (DR for dining room, MBR for master bedroom, etc.). If possible, boxes should be labeled on 3 sides. All of these and many more tips will be provided by our Certified Senior Moving Consultant.
Q: Should I pack my breakables?
A: Many people feel that they should move their breakables and heirlooms themselves. However, if you’ve chosen to hire professionals, let us do what we do best, including assuming the liabilities associated with heavy lifting, negotiating stairs, and maneuvering fragile items. Our moving crews have daily experience packing delicate items such as crystal and collectibles. Also, insurance providers to the moving industry will only cover boxes packed by the moving company, not the customer. In a worst-case scenario in which your valuables break on a move, they will be covered as long as you have purchased valuation and that the movers have packed the items in question.
Q: I’ve got a lot of paperwork in my home office. Do I need to empty out my filing cabinets?
A: When the cabinets are made of metal, 2-drawer filing cabinets can be left full. The top two drawers of a 4-drawer cabinet need to be emptied. All lateral file cabinets need to be completely emptied. All drawers need to be emptied in wood cabinets.
Q: What do I need to do to prepare my appliances for the move?
A: The moving crew will wrap these items in moving blankets to protect them on the truck. However, you should make certain that your dishwasher, microwave, and washing machine are empty. Additionally, movers are not electricians or plumbers – you need to arrange for the appropriate professional to disconnect your washer, chandeliers, and refrigerator from any electric and/or water connection. Most importantly, movers are not licensed to disconnect gas.
Q: What should I do with my household plants and garden shrubs?
A: Such items can be moved if properly packed, but Professional Movers.com cannot ensure the safe transport of live plants, which can be traumatized by motion, temperature extremes, or the time in the moving truck. Plants cannot be stored or taken on interstate moves. If you are moving overseas, please note that most countries will not allow the import of agricultural items.
Q: What should I do with hazardous items?
A: Even Professional Movers.com can not move hazardous or combustible items such as propane tanks, firearms, paint, and aerosols, as the pressure in the back of the truck could cause these items to explode or catch on fire, risking enormous damage to the rest of your items. It may be better to dispose of such dangerous items than to try and move them to your new home. Additionally, be certain to empty the fuel out of any gas-operated items (such as a lawnmower or snow blower) prior to moving.
Q: How will the movers know what items to take and what to leave behind?
A: Keeping the lines of communication open with your moving crew is critical during both the packing and moving process. If you have some items that should stay behind at your old home and some that go to your new home, you must clearly mark which is which. In order to avoid inadvertently leaving something behind or discarding a valuable item, your moving crew will move ALL items in your home, unless instructed otherwise. It is your responsibility to walk through your old home and do a final check for any overlooked items before the moving truck departs for your new home.
Q: What should I do with last-minute kitchen items?
A: Decide up front with your Certified Senior Moving Consultant if you or the movers will be packing your kitchen. Based on the agreement you have arranged, either have your kitchen packed before their arrival or have items neatly stored in cabinets if the crew is packing for you. This may necessitate eating off paper plates or dining out for the final few days leading up to your move.
Q: What should I do with the food in my refrigerator and other perishables?
A: Arrange for a cooler to transport such items. Your refrigerator cannot be moved with food in it.
Q: What if I haven’t finished packing by my scheduled move day?
A: It’s very common to underestimate the volume of items that need to be packed for a move. Frequently, people simply overlook many of their possessions until it is time to dig into the far reaches of the basement, attic, or garage. Other times, you may anticipate having more time available to pack or more helping hands than is the actuality. For the above reasons, we strongly recommend following an organized packing plan and leaving significantly more time than you think you’ll need for packing. Convenient delivery of high-quality packing supplies from Professional Movers.com is a great way to start your move preparation efficiently. If your move day is rapidly approaching and it becomes clear that you will not be fully packed, it is critical that you inform your Certified Senior Moving Consultant as soon as possible. He or she can work with you to make the best possible “plan b” for packing. This may mean having a Professional Movers.com crew finish up your packing or, if you have the flexibility, pushing back your move date in order to allow more time to pack. If you have only a small quantity of items left to pack, your crew can often complete this on move day; however, it is important to understand that this will add time to the job and, therefore, add to the total cost of the move.
Q: Can the crewmembers arrange the furniture to my liking in my new home?
A: Absolutely. However, please remember that on local moves you are charged by the hour, so a significant amount of time spent rearranging the furniture will add to the total cost of the move. Having a plan in mind before arriving at your new home can save time and money.
Q: I’ve got a few prized possessions that I want treated with extra-special care. How can I guarantee this?
A: For your own peace of mind, you should consider moving jewelry and other small valuables yourself in your personal vehicle. As for larger valuables, point these items out to your moving crew. Awareness breeds care and you should feel confident that your movers will pay special attention to any items you have designated as having high monetary or sentimental value. At Professional Movers.com we have a “high value declaration” form and we will request that you itemize all precious items to ensure that they receive VIP attention and that, in the event of breakage, the crew is aware of their value. Completing these forms up front will also streamline any claims you may have following the move.
Q: If I have items that I absolutely need on move day, should I point them out to my crew?
A: You may wish to transport essentials that will be needed immediately (such as medication, cosmetics, toiletries, a change of clothing, bed linens, towels, and toilet paper) in your personal vehicle. Alternatively, mark these boxes and draw them to the crew’s attention, giving them specific instructions as to where to place the boxes in your new home.
Q: Do the movers take time off for lunch? Do I need to provide lunch for them?
A: Moving is a physically taxing job and the crew needs time to eat during the day. On a local senior move, they will often grab a quick bite to eat in route to your new home. As for providing lunch, it is certainly not required, though it is very much appreciated by the moving crew. Having the crew stay in your home for lunch may also make for a slightly shorter move day.
Q: I’m scaling down to a smaller home. I know my furniture will fit. Does that mean I’m all set?
A: Unfortunately, possibly not. Many people overlook the space that smaller items such as knickknacks, photos, CD collections, books, spare clothes, etc., will take up. If in doubt, you may wish to consult our Certified Senior Moving Consultant.
Q: Can the moving company dispose of excess trash?
A: Yes, but there is a charge for items taken to the waste disposal location, which includes the labor involved in driving to and from the location as well as a fee imposed by the management of the waste disposal location.
Q: Can my movers clean my home after the move?
A: While moving companies may vary, at Professional Movers.com we clean up any clutter we make during the moving process, we also offer general house cleaning.
Q: Is it possible to move during inclement weather?
A: While it may be more pleasurable to move on a warm, sunny day, Professional Movers.com is prepared to move during rain, sleet, or snow. We come equipped with supplies to keep your belongings safe from the elements. However, in order to keep costs down, we recommend that you shovel or rake or otherwise clear the access ways in preparation for their arrival, rather than paying your moving crew for the time it takes to remove such obstacles.
Q: Do I need to be there for the entire move?
A: You or a representative on your behalf needs to be available for the entire move. Often times questions come up that the movers need someone available to answer. They will also need someone to verify that everything that needs to be moved is loaded and unloaded.
Q: Do I need to empty out drawers?
A: In most cases, clothes can be left in dressers. However, limit it to clothes only. Overly large dressers and armoires should be completely empty. Standard 2 drawer file cabinets can be left full. Standard file cabinets larger than 2 drawers should have all drawers above the bottom 2 drawers emptied. Lateral and fire proof cabinets should be empty. All other furniture should be emptied.
Q: Can the movers disconnect and reconnect gas and water lines?
A: We recommend gas technicians for gas lines. Due to rust and corrosion we prefer to stay away from water lines. We can assist with a signed liability waiver.
Q: Will the movers disassemble and reassemble furniture?
A: Certainly. Just inform your Certified Senior Moving Consultant of what you want disassembled and reassembled and we will include that in our guaranteed move price. There are some exclusions such as ready to assemble furniture, pool tables and some home gyms. We can refer you to well qualified companies if we can’t help.
Q: Do you provide protection for floors and doorways?
A: Definitely. The biggest protection you can have is good movers and we have great movers. But to take the extra step, we use neopreme floor runners and door jam protectors on every move.
Q: How many men will I get for my move?
A: Every move is different. Our Certified Senior Moving Consultants are the best in the business. With over 30 years of experience they will align a staff of movers and trucks catered specifically to each move.
Q: How far in advance should I reserve a date for my move?
A: That is up to you. Some customers book 6 months in advance and others with minimal notice. A general rule of thumb is Fridays and Saturdays are very busy. The same can be said for the 1st and last week of a month. If choosing dates in these time frames, try to schedule at least 2 weeks ahead.
Q: How much time does an in-home estimate usually require?
A: Usually an in-home visit requires between a ½ hour to an hour of your time.
Professional Movers.com can accommodate any of your local moving needs, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We combine the most modern and updated equipment with the most elite of manpower in our industry. For your next local senior move in the Metro Detroit area contact Professional Movers.com at 248-926-9999 and schedule an appointment to have one of our Certified Senior Moving Consultants provide you with a FREE MOVING ESTIMATE.
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