Modern Day Moving

Hi Everyone!

So... what's different nowadays in moving?

The stress is still the same, the headache, the hassle, not to mention the hair pulling out, but really... what's different?

Technology!

Here at Fairprice Movers Inc. we use technology to make moving easier for our customers.

We start with an online quote through our state of the art moving system.

On our website you can submit a request to get a quote so that one of our sales associates can call you.

After we speak to you on the phone we send you a professional quote for your move through email.

If you have questions about the size of your move vs. the size of our trucks, we can even send you a link to fill out the inventory for your move to ensure we're showing up with the right size truck!

Booking is made easy with online contracts you can e-sign as easy as clicking a button!

We also use our system to send you reminders before your move day, receipts and follow ups afterwards!

Cell phone use has also helped making communications with our clients easier! Here at Fairprice Movers Inc. our staff is text-friendly. This means if you need a quick answer, we've got it for you!

Of course email is still a fabulous tool for explaining complicated situations to us, sending us photos of odd-shaped things you're moving, and asking questions of course.

We love technology and how much easier it makes it to service you and your move day!

E-Signed,

Nancy=) 408.621.8530 (texts welcomed!) or nancy@fairpricemovers.com (emails will be answered promptly!)

How to save money moving!

Dear friends, family, and clients,

It's been a while!

Since we last chatted, Thanks to our fantastic crew and awesome clients Fairprice Movers Inc. has experienced it's busiest year yet!

I'm going to try to do a little blogging for you again=)

We all know the saying "money makes the world go round", well here's a way to save some money on your next move!

1.Pack up your own boxes! It's not only more expensive per hour for us to pack the boxes, but it takes more time, and there's the cost of the materials to pack you.

2.Purchase your own materials for the move. The movers are going to supply you with the free use of reusable materials such as cloth furniture pads and wardrobe boxes. But they'll need some shrink wrap and tape to hold the furniture pads in place, and a few other things. Here's a list of what to buy:
-shrink wrap
-tape
-bubble wrap
-boxes
-packing paper
-mattress covers

You can purchase these items at any home improvement store, storage place, UHaul center, or office supply store. Also check Craigslist free section for people giving away boxes they used.

3.Choose a slower weekday for weekday rates like a Monday through Thursday. Everyone wants to move Friday through Sunday, so take off a day of work or move around your schedule to beat the crowds and high rates.

4.Move smaller things yourself. Move anything you can move yourself on your own, especially valuables and electronics. Moving TVs yourself is not only safer for the TV because it's not being subjected to the vibrations and bumps of a big moving truck, but we also don't need to crate your TV to move it if it's just going for a smooth car ride.

5.Clear up your clutter. Call Salvation Army for a pick up of donation items that you don't need anymore. Why pay to move stuff you don't want?

6.Call a junk hauling company to clean up trash, or items you can't donate.

7.Feed the movers. It's not required, but remember, they aren't robots, they have to rest, drink, and eat, and the easier you make it for them to do that, the faster things will go.

8.Be nice to the movers. Our employees are hard working and kind. They'll always be professional with you no matter how stressful the situation, but being nice goes a long way in getting things done.

9.Notify the neighbors! If we have to block a driveway, or double park to move you, let the neighbors know so they aren't grumpy and make us move the truck a million times during your move.

10.Empty out the dresser drawers. Make sure you don't have stuff in your dresser drawers, it's better for your furniture, and a lighter dresser moves faster than a full one.

11.Pay in cash! We offer cash discounts, ask us about it!

12.Purchase a voucher on Yelp.com! We offer some great savings there! But remember, just one discount per move!

Hopefully these helpful tips give you some insight to saving green this holiday season!

More to come!

Love,

The One And Only Nancy=)

Dear Nancy...

"Dear Nancy"

 

This morning I was greeted by an email from a potential customer looking for a little help with his pre-packing planning.

 

I felt very nostalgic as I answered his questions carefully today, coffee in hand, cool morning air coming in from my office window...

 

I might not be Dear Abby, but this morning I took on the persona of Dear Abby of the moving world, lol, it's not much, but it's something.

 

Well, enough of my babbling on, here's the gentleman's email, and my responses. Maybe you have some of the same questions about your packing too? Take a gander, you never know what you're gonna learn!

 

HIS EMAIL:

 

"Hello Nancy,

 

I am in the process of looking for a house in Livermore (I currently live in Fremont). When I find a property there, I will need to move from my current residence in Fremont to the new one in Livermore.

 

In order to ensure that packing doesn’t turn into a serious stress inducing experience, I am doing a bunch of pre-packing before I have found a home. This has led to a bunch of questions. If you could answer them, it would help me select the best moving company for the job. These questions are:

 

1. Do I need to box pictures?

2. How do I pack computers, keyboards and monitors?

3. How do I pack printers?

4. I have a midi keyboard, which is 38” long. I don’t have the box it originally came in. How will it be handled?

5. Do I need to box table lamps?

6. Can my dresser and chest of drawers have clothes in them?

7. Do you supply a wardrobe box?

8. What about a guitar in case, a sewing machine, and a reel-to-reel tape player?

9. What about luggage?

10. Will you disconnect and reconnect my washer and dryer?

11. Will you disconnect and reconnect my refrigerator?

12. How do you handle microwave ovens?

13. How do you handle stereo equipment?

14. I have a free standing glove of the earth. How do we handle it?

15. How do you handle floor lamps?

16. How do you handle garden tools (shovel, rake etc.), a awn mower, a wheel barrow?

17. Will you disassemble and assemble my desk (this requires only removing a couple of bolts that connect the top to two base units?

18. Will you disassemble and assemble beds?

19. I have some lumber (redwood), some of which is 8 ft. long. Will you move it?

20. Can you give me a list of things you will not move?

 

Once I have a house purchased, I will be asking for companies to bid the move and I will contact you for an estimate. Thanks for helping me with this.

 

Regards,

 

Potential Client"

 

MY RESPONSE:

 

"Hello!,

 

Thank you for your questions. I wish you all the best in your house hunt! I'm happy to help answer your questions for you!

You may also find my blog helpful: www.fairpricemovers.blogspot.com where I share a lot of helpful moving tips!

Here you go:

1.We can wrap pictures in the free quilted blankets, shrink wrap and tape for you, or we can sell you a picture box, or these are sometimes best moved in your own personal vehicle since they are so delicate.

2.Again, computers, keyboards, and monitors are best inside a personal vehicle for a softer ride.

3.Same thing with printers, although they tend to be a bit sturdier than a glass monitor, you can either pack them up in a box with padding, marked fragile, or move it in your car so that electronics don't get jostled around by the truck.

4.The keyboard can be crated for $30 and put into it's own special box, or if it goes in your car, it's safe too.

5.Table lamps if the base or shade is breakable, are best wrapped up in a box marked fradgile, or put in your vehicle. Or we can sell you a lamp box to protect it. Taking out the light bulbs is a good idea too.

6.If you need us to carry a dresser or chest of drawers up or down any stairs, it must be emptied, not only for the safety of the dresser drawer tracks, but it makes it easier for the men to move these big pieces of furniture carefully through your homes without causing accidental damage to walls or floors due to the furniture being unruly and heavy.

7.We do supply up to (10) wardrobe boxes to use during the move free of charge, each box is about 6' tall and 2.5' wide, had a cross bar across the top where you can hang your clothing. Each box depending on the thickness of the clothing (i.e. puffy sweaters vs. thin houses) can carry about 20-30 pieces of clothing each. If you need more than (10) they are $15 a piece. We do not bring them to you prior to the move, we put them up in front of the closets right when we arrive so that you can fill them with clothes while the men disassemble furniture, wrap it up, and move it into the truck with the boxes, then at the new place the wardrobe boxes are the first thing off the truck so you have plenty of time to unload them into the new closets while the guys put the beds back together, unwrap the furniture, and put the boxes where they belong.

8.Guitar in case is fine in the truck. A sewing machine I suggest you pack up in a box with padding and mark it fragile, or move in your car. Same thing with reel-to-reel tape player.

9.Luggage is fine how it is, you can even fill them with the clothes from your dresser.

10.Yes we can disconnect and reconnect your washer and dryer. If you have a gas connection, please turn off the gas for our safety, and have all supplies available for the connections.

11.Yes we will disconnect and reconnect your refrigerator. If it has a water hookup, and the set up is easy, we can do it. Keep in mind for both the washer, dryer, and refrigerator, that we aren't handy men, but we'll do our best, and we do have experience, but if you are really concerned about it being done properly, please hire a professional.

12.Microwave ovens are fairly sturdy, just pack them up in a box with padding, and mark it fragile.

13.Stero equipment packed up in boxes with padding is fine.

14.We will wrap the globe up in padding quilts, shrink wrap and tape, and if it's really fragile we can suggest a little bubble wrap as well to protect it for an additional cost.

15.Floor lamps are much like table lamps, if the base is breakable, we need to wrap it up properly, take off the shade and wrap it separately, take off the light bulb. We can sell you a lamp box, or you can have us use quilts and shrink wrap and tape, or you can take it in your car for extra security. Loose items bouncing around the truck aren't safe, so we have to properly secure it somehow.

16.Garden tools should be boxed up or put into tool boxes or bins prior to our arrival. Wheel barrow can just go in the truck on it's own, it won't break. Lawn mower too, but it can't have fuel in it, we can't transport flammable.

17.We will disassemble and reassemble any furniture that needs it, free of charge, including your desk.

18.See 17, yes, especially the beds.

19.Yes, we can move the lumber.

20.Only things we can't move: Live plants that get soil inside the truck, plus their breakable pots don't tend to stand up well to the vibrations and bouncing of the truck, flammable like propane tanks, and fuel for mowers and such, and livestock=)

Thank you, I'm happy that you plan to reach out to me for a quote. I promise to give you a thorough quote you can depend on, and the best customer service you've ever had. We are an exceptional company, and we plan on doing a great job for you just like we do for all our customers.

Warmest Regards, Happy hunting,

Nancy Jensen
Director of Sales"

Have a happy weekend! Happy Spring!

Warmest Regards,

Nancy and Team

 

 



Pianos and Pool Tables Oh My...!

Dear Family, Friends, and Clients,

Hope the week is treating you well!

Whether you are moving from San Jose to San Jose, or from Palo Alto to Los Angeles, if you have an upright piano, baby grand piano, grand piano, or pool table, this is information you need to know about moving those items!

A lot of customers purchase pianos and pool tables from others on Craigslist and EBay, but they don't consider how they will get the piano or pool table to their new home. Sometimes the cost of moving the piano or pool table will exceed the cost of the piano or pool table, so buyer beware!

First of all, not all movers are professional Piano or Pool Table movers, so be sure you ask if they have experience with this! Fairprice Movers Inc. is very well versed in moving these items.

Movers that can also do Piano and Pool Table moves, can do them alone, or as part of a larger move.

Moving a piano can cost anywhere from $125 to $500 and up depending on the size of the piano.

If you live in a tricky parking place like San Francisco, there are also fees for long carries, as well as if the piano needs to be transported up or down any stairs or elevators, in some cases and fee for a piano crane is needed in order to get it to the level of your home or apartment/condo you need.

Smaller upright pianos can be moved in one piece, baby grands and grand pianos will have some disassembly and reassembly.

All pianos will be wrapped with quilted blankets, shrink wrap and tape to protect them during the move. Professional movers will use dollies, blankets, shrink wrap and tape, and either professional lift gates, or ramps to move your piano.

Most pianos will need retuning after being transported.

Make sure that the company you hire is a professional piano moving company that has the proper insurance to cover the piano should anything happen to it.

Pool tables are very similar to pianos, pool tables can take an hour or two to dismantle properly, and another hour or so to reassemble at your new home. They often cost about $200 to $600 to move, plus fees for long carries, and stairs just like a piano.

Fairprice Movers Inc. has a lot of experience moving both pianos and pool tables throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, and beyond.

So before you purchase one of these beauties, be prepared for the cost to move them!

Warmest Regards,

Nancy and Team



Of Course I Know How To Tape A Box Shut!....Or Do I?...

Hi Everyone!

It's been a while since I've blogged, sorry for the radio silence! It's been busy busy here at Fairprice Movers Inc.!

So, you're no dummy right? You know how to tape a box shut....or do you?

Here are some helpful tips on how to do something that seems really easy, the right way, so that your stuff is safe inside those boxes you worked so hard to pack!

1st: Fold your flat box into a cube shape

2nd:Flip the box upside down and tape the bottom first

3rd:Fold the flaps on the bottom in

4th:Tape 1 long strip of tape down the middle of the box where the 2 flaps meet

5th:Tape 2 long strips of tape down the width of the box on either side of the box, the tape will resemble an "H" shape when done

6th:Carefully wrap and fill your box with your personal belongings

7th:Repeat the same steps 3-5 for the top of the box

Best Wishes,

Nancy and Team

How Wardrobe Boxes Work

Hi Everyone! Nancy here! I've been off blogging for a bit, but don't fret I'm back!

So, today's topic is the thrilling world of wardrobe boxes!

What are they, and how do they help you move?

Well, here's a photo of one, they are about 2' wide, 4-5' tall, and they hold about 20-30 pieces of hanging clothes in them depending on how thick the pieces are. i.e. more thin dress shirts will fit vs. puffy jackets, etc...

All movers provide a certain amount of these beauties free of charge to use during the move.

They will set them up in front of your closets the day of the move first thing! That way as they work on disassembly, reassembly of your furniture as needed, wrapping the furniture, and moving the furniture and boxes into the truck, you'll have all of that time to place your clothes from the closet into the boxes with your own clean hands.

The guys will then seal them up, put them on the truck last, so that they are the first thing off the truck at the new house. Then you'll have plenty of time to unload them at the new house while the guys unload the truck, unwrap, and reassemble the furniture for you.

If you need some to keep in a storage unit, or just to keep, they can purchased the day of the move of course.

It sure makes moving hanging clothes easier! Easier than laying them flat in the back seat of your car with all of the hangers tangling together!

Happy moving!

Nancy and Team

You only have 1 item to move...so why is it so expensive to find someone to move it?!?

So...you have a beloved recliner chair in storage, and you only need it moved to your garage at your house 5 miles down the street...you don't have a vehicle large enough to do this, plus the recliner is heavy! You don't want to bother friends to help, and you feel stuck figuring out how to move this beast of an item. So why when you call around to professional moving companies is it so expensive to get help?

Here's why:

1.Minimums: Professional moving companies need to charge hourly minimums to stay in business, most have 2 hour, or 3 hour minimums. Moving the dear old recliner may take about 15 minutes of real labor to load and unload, so you can see why this is already a bad fit for your needs.

2.Double drive time: Yes, professional moving companies do have to add on travel time aside from the labor, whether it be 5 minutes down the street, or 30, and this will add to your costs, and if this is a longer haul, gas surcharges may apply as well! Eeek!

3.Materials: Maybe you're moving a large round piece of table top glass that is 600 lbs or so, if it wasn't already crated (wrapped up properly to withstand the bumps and vibrations experienced by items in a moving truck while being transported), the  movers will need to charge for the materials to do so.

Here's your other options:

1.Bug a friend with a truck, and friends to help lift

2.Rent a UHAUL truck and some helpers who may or may not be professional

3.Leave it in storage and keep paying that huge bill each month to keep it there

There are a few problems with these options, 1.Friends can get worn out when you ask too many favors, plus do you have friends who can lift heavy items?, 2.Renting a UHAUL truck to move something is fine, but it costs money too! A simple pick up truck is $19.95 plus mileage and fuel per day for local moves, and it goes up from there. Plus the truck won't have a professional lift gate to help you with this heavy item. Then you have to pay the helpers you hire, and if they aren't professional, there are issues with legality, insurance, and liability you'll have to face, plus your item could be damaged during moving and you'll have no recourse. 3.Leaving it in storage is fine, but it'll cost ya! With prices of $100 and up per month, it could be an expense you don't need to make.

Here's why hiring a professional moving company like Fairprice Movers Inc. is worth it:

1.We are licensed and insured, so your items will be covered.

2.We are professionals, therefore your items will be moved safely.

3.We can install your item for you properly into your new home.

So what does it cost on average to get 1 item moved? Let's say the item is heavy, so we'll need 3 men, that can range on average per moving company, per season, and date, from $95 per hour and up to around $149 per hour let's say. That's about $300 to about $450 for just the labor, not including travel or gas or materials.

Suggestions to make the move more cost-effective:

1.Move something else! Have us  move the 1 item, and then use us to move things around the house you've needed help with, or purchase a piece of furniture you've been wanting from a store or person on Craigslist, and we'll pick that up and deliver it as well!

2.Share the move! Ask a friend if they have any items they need moved at the same time, we can make multiple stops, and use up more of that 3 hour minimum for you!

3.Be mindful of the day you're asking us to move it. First of all, don't be a last minute nelly! Then, pick a Monday through Thursday, and be really flexible with your time!

Hopefully this helps!

Happy moving!

Nancy and Team

Staging your home, and how movers can help!

Happy New Year to our family members, friends, and clients! We wish you a healthy, happy, and prosperous new year in 2014!

For some of us, a new year means a new home! But how do you get rid of the old one? Besides just placing your home on the market, you may also want to consider staging your home so that it sells faster, and for a higher price.

Staging is a lot like ringing in the new year, purging the old, or excess, and bringing in the new!

Moving companies like Fairprice Movers Inc. can help you take all of your excess or old items from the home, and place it in your storage unit or pod, so that everything looks orderly in your old home. Purging items also makes your home look larger to potential buyers.

Another way a mover can help with staging your home for sale is bringing in the new! Why not purchase a few new key pieces for your new home that you can first use in your old home for staging purposes? For example, want the home to look more established and high end? Always wanted a piano? Fairprice Movers Inc. can move one from the person or place you purchased it, to your home!

After your old home has sold, and it's time to pack up the rest of your items and move everything to the new home, Fairprice Movers Inc. can also help. We will start with the items at your old home, then stop at the storage unit we placed the purged items in to pick those up, and then deliver and install everything into your new place.

We hope these helpful tips were useful! Check out more staging tips on Nancy's favorite website http://www.hgtv.com/decorating-basics/15-secrets-to-selling-your-home/pictures/index.html?soc=share

Best wishes for this new year to you and yours!

Nancy and Team