July 20, 2005
Ask DCist: Moving About the D.C. Area
Any tips for moving companies that can help me out with my local move?
Just thinking about the moving process sends many into a nervous spin of worry. The prices usually seem outrageous and there are so many moving horror stories. So many questions and so few, or just plain confusing, answers.
The cheapest route is to recruit friends (bribes revolving around food and alcohol tend to work, but expect grumbling nonetheless) and rent a truck. If you can't seem to gather enough people power for your moving, ehem, extravaganza -- sometimes friends discover urgent family and "hair washing" commitments when they hear you have secured a new dwelling and are in need of some moving support -- consider renting a truck and trolling Craigslist for able bodies. We suggest you drive the truck yourself, meet with the people ahead of time, and perhaps ask for references, but Ask DCist considers that finding willing helpers and asking friends are basically in the same risk category. Neither is professional, neither has liability, and the high risk of friendship's demise from moving related tiffs make the risk of someone you don't know carrying your couch seem reasonable.
However, there comes a time in a person's life when a move requires more than a few friends fueled by brewskis and a truck (especially once you have established a household that consists of more than collapsible IKEA furniture). If you seek the convenience of a company and the preservation of important relationships, we have a few tips to make your choice a little more informed.
- Ask co-workers, friends and neighbors for personal recommendations. You will not only gather some useful suggestions, but they will also offer up the "do not contact" companies.
- Check up on the company. Contact the Better Business Bureau for complaints, determine if the company is member of their trade association, and ensure the company is licensed and bonded.
- Beware of any company that is grossly undercutting competition. Ask DCist isn't saying to NOT use the cheaper companies -- they may very well be a new business getting off the ground, and we love small local businesses -- just be aware and check them out carefully.
- Watch your charges and read your contract. Some contracts offer a set price for the move. Some offer hourly rates. Some have hidden charges for blankets and dollies. Be sure to note the fine print of insurance and liability, most contracts only cover breakage if boxes are packed by the company (Yes, we realize that costs more...it's a trade off.)
Movingscam.com has a resource list for further information, including organizations that offer recommendations, moving tips and support if you have a negative moving experience. The bottom line is that if you are contemplating contracting a moving company, you really must do your homework. Your moving experience is more likely to be positive if you ask questions and come to the table prepared.
So DCist readers. Since the best way to find a mover is from personal recommendations (see first bullet), what moving companies do you suggest for a local move?
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If you end up going with U-Haul, be aware that they often don't confirm truck rentals until the evening before the move--if at all... and forget about getting through to any local offices in this area if you have questions.
We found this out the hard way and when U-Haul told us at 4:30 on Saturday that we didn't have a truck for Sunday, and we had to make an emergency (read expensive--$400 to move from Oakton to Alexandria!!) reservation at Penske.
Make sure to ask up front what is included in the estimate. We recently moved from upper NW to downtown and were quoted approx. $300 (we only had the movers doing the major furniture), at the end the "manager" who was along for the ride said it was $800. They tried to charge us for a tv box, when they wrapped it in carpeting and other extras including an extra person who was there because they had come from a larger job.
Finally the man asked what we "wanted" to pay. The negotiation after the fact left a bad taste in our mouths, not to mention they broke a mirror and made it such a pain to get reimbursed that we just took it as a loss. Unfortunately I can't remember the name of the company, otherwise I would post it to steer clear.
Make sure you feed the people helping you move -- it is in the social contract.
I helped someone move once and the started dinner off by telling the waitress seperate checks. Unbelievable. I have never helped them since, nor will I.
We used BIG TRUCK MOVERS, 301-986-0877, for a local move. It's one guy, Rafael, and his helpers. They were quite good.
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD don't go trolling for bodies on Craigslist. I can't even list the number of ways getting total strangers to help you move is a bad idea. Shame on you, DCist.
I used a company called Apartment Movers to move a modest one-bedroom's worth of stuff from Columbia Heights to Adams Morgan; it was a little less than $400, but worth every penny, considering I didn't have to worry about negotiating a 10-foot truck down narrow side streets, risk getting a parking ticket, etc. The cost of the move matched the estimate to the penny, and while one of their movers caused some minor damage to a coffee table, the home office agreed to reimburse the estimated replacement cost with very, very little hassle, even after I'd turned down moving insurance. Highly recommended.
We used Reputation Movers - located in Alexandria, VA, but they move all over the place. The contact is Patrick Carr, and his # is 703-765-8997. Not super-cheap, but all charges were clearly delineated up front in the contract. Before the actual move, he can only make an estimate of the time (allowing for unforseen circumstances like weather and traffic), but in our case his estimate was dead on, maybe even a little high (he errs on the long side to be conservative, so our actual price was slightly lower than expected). Patrick and his crews are very professional and pleasant to work with, and we tipped them well. Recommended.
I had a problem with Budget rental here in DC, too. I was supposed to have a truck at 9 am from their 14th St location and they didn't end up having a truck for me, despite the fact that I reserved one a month ahead of time. I was on and off the phone with their customer service people all day as I used my car to move my entire apartment...
Finally, at 5 pm they called and said "We have a truck for you... no, we can't give it to you for free, or discount it in any way... oh, and by the way, the truck's at a location 15 miles away." Umm, yeah. 15 miles away during DC rush hour traffic the Thursday before 4th of July weekend?? Screw Budget.
I highly recommend Gulliver's Movers (http://www.gulliversmovers.com/) - we used them for our move and they were very pleasant and efficient - even having to move our heavy cabinets up four flights of stairs. They work in DC, MD, and VA. Buy your own boxes elsewhere though, it's much cheaper.
I highly recommend Gulliver's Movers (http://www.gulliversmovers.com/) - we used them for our move and they were very pleasant and efficient - even having to move our heavy cabinets up four flights of stairs. They work in DC, MD, and VA. Their prices are reasonable, but buy your own boxes elsewhere though - it's much cheaper.
We used Great Scott Moving to move from a Dupont Circle apartment to a house in Brookland and they did an excellent job and I would recommend them to anybody. I know of one case where they overbooked themselves and the offered to make arrangements with another moving company, which didn't work out quite so well, but I could imagine any local company might overbook itself so it would be wise to ask them how often it happens and what they do if it does happen.
Regarding U-Haul: be aware that a "reservation" with U-Haul is not a guarantee that they'll have a truck for you but more of a place on a glorified waiting list that presumes that everyone who says they'll turn in a truck by a certain time actually does so. When business is light, there shouldn't be any problems, but when demand is heavy you can find yourself in a real pickle.
In my case, when I moved to DC a few years ago, I made a U-Haul reservation in a college town in which half of the apartment leases all expire on the same day. I'd planned to use the truck in the AM to move my roommate's stuff locally, then pack up the truck with my stuff in the afternoon and drive down to DC. I showed up at the U-Haul office just as they opened only to find I was number 10 on the list with exactly zero long-distance trucks in their parking lot. I eventually got a truck, by going back to their office several times throughout the day and by happening to be there when someone else pulled in to return one. But it certainly threw an unneeded wrench into the plans for moving.
As far as I know, only U-Haul, and not the other truck rental companies, do this, but be sure to ask what sort of guarantee there is that you'll get a truck when they say you will, how often there aren't trucks available, and what happens if one isn't available.
I would highly recommend Olympic Moving. These are quality people who work hard and will work until the job is done; not just until it is quitting time.
See www.olympicmoving.com for more details.
Just a note - I have moved myself more than 3 times in the last 3 years and it is without a doubt part of the social contract to provide beer and pizza (at a minimum) to your friends and others who help move you. It is also part of the contract to make sure you have as much packing done as possible so that when your friends come they are only lifting boxes, not wondering what gets put into the truck and what gets thrown out...
I second the Great Scott movers recommendation. Their quickness getting us moved was simply amazing. Sure, they broke a computer desk, but the piece of crap was falling apart anyway.
Try this locally owned and operated company, Ellens Movers. I have moved with them three different times, each was affordable and efficient.
There's a local gal who does packing services that my friends and I have used: Packing Goddess. She's super fast and friendly, and we found her on Craigslist. Not scary at all!
We used Gullivers movers as well. They asked many questions before providing the estimate, so it was spot on, if not a bit higher than the actual charge. And while I had reservations about my $300 half of the price tag, it was the best moving decision I ever made. It made it infinitely easier to get unpacked, etc, without being completely exhausted. And don't EVER reserve a truck from U-Haul. I have NEVER had even a satisfactory experience with them. If you need to just rent a truck, try Budget. The location in NE off of Rhode Island has a lot of availability and friendly staff.
Jonathan Lathrop moved me twice. Highly recommended, and a great value: see http://jonathan.lathrop.com/htwh.html
If you are moving yourself and using friends, keep this rule in mind: USE A GIGANTIC TRUCK.
It makes the move go faster (less resorting), easier (less vertical lifting), and actually makes you feel like you're doing more work then you really are. I swear by it.
I would recommend Mover's Choice. They are from Gaithersburg, MD, but did a local move for me this weekend from the U Street/Cardoza area to Adams Morgan. They charge a flat trip charge of $95/hour and two men + truck is also $95 hour, and I think they have a two hour minimum. They carefully wrapped and padded all my furniture and did a great job delivering it up a narrow staircase to my new place. I found them in the yellow pages.
I would also recommend to anyone moving that you go to the DMV office on 14th & U street and get emergency parking signs to reserve a spot on the street for the date of your move. The signs are free and need to be posted at least 72 hours in advance. If people take your spot, you can call and have them ticketed/towed, and you won't run into any problems with the police if you are double parked while loading.
There are many ways to choose moving companies.? First, you need to decide if you should be searching for moving companies that are for local or nationwide moves. It is recommended that you also check references for which company is most reputable.
I have used VICTORY VAN CORPORATION many times in the past to move both my homes and business. They have been mvoing people in the area for 60+ years. I met my contact in the Alexandria Rotary, his name is Chris Patton #703-461-6466. His crews did a nice job and the price has always been right. Give them a chance, you will not be sorry.
gee, i wonder if the above comment is an ad?
UHaul in and around DC is a joke.
After using the Berkeley and Oakland UHauls on several occassions -- clean facilities, easy online reservations, lots of packing materials, clean trucks -- I was SHOCKED to deal with UHaul in DC.
Our "appointment" was for the Merrifield location. And there was supposed to be a call the night before to confirm. No call. And the local dispatcher number that UHaul gave me was down for the night. In the morning, I got on the phone and waited for TWO HOURS on hold to have them tell me to call the Merrifield location. The Merrifield location refused to pick up the phone.
I get to Merrifield and there is a line out the door. The place is dirty, the help was rude and seemingly recruited from a family of inbreeds in the Appalachians. The truck, that I finally got, was damaged. And completely dirty. And with only a 1/8 of a tank of gas.
When I returned it WITH A FULL TANK OF GAS, they acted surprised (that's standard in California) and still charged me more than I had been quoted.
I can't imagine how they stay in business. I'll never use UHaul in this area again. After almost yearly using them in the East Bay.
I have nothing useful to add beyond the suggestion that, if ever there is a DCist drinking game, taking a shot every time DC1974 mentions California will result in hangovers for all.
(Just playing with you, DC1974 - it's really quite amazing how you can connect CA to nearly every single subject).
We used Georgetown Moving & Storage. These guys were professional from beginning to end. I can't say enough about how careful they were and how quickly they worked. Will recommend them and use them again!