Movers in Vancouver: When Deception is King

                 ”If you want to swim with the fishes, you must get used to the water”

- Chinese Proverb

What is the most vague word in a Vancouver movers’ advertisement? “Professional.” And if you were to scratch at this thin veneer of competence, you will expose a more authentic identity. An identity, based on deception in a variety of guises, from multiple websites and phone numbers under single ownership to bait and switch, overcharging, counterfeit testimonials, website content theft, concealed company ownership and more. Why is this?

The moving business is a rara avis. In an age of government over regulation it stands out as a refractory and unregulated industry with no defined professional standard. Yet it is precisely a professional standard which could bring about much-needed change to our industry. For example, I worked overseas for a government department that mandated mover testing before a contract was signed. The test was a simple one; you were asked to pack properly 45 cubic metres of furniture into a 40 cubic metre space, in a specified amount of time*. This scrutinizes the spatial recognition and time management skills of a mover; precisely the skills which should be benchmarks of a professional standard in Canada. These benchmarks wouldn’t clean up the industry entirely, but they would be a significant step toward allowing skilled movers in Vancouver to differentiate themselves from the masses, with government accreditation.

*The trick was to put boxes inside wardrobes or large cabinets!

Storage Facilities or Storage Containers?

Movers in Vancouver can guide you through a trifecta of choices when it comes to storage requirements. From a locker at a storage facility to a container delivered to your home or a moving company’s in-house arrangement, there are many choices. Each option brings different levels of convenience and price points. The question becomes; what is best for your moving needs?

A big box storage facility has many features. There are many locker sizes, price points, and security provisions. Additionally, a competitive market place has induced some facilities to offer 1st and sometimes 2nd months for free. Generally you can visit your locker to add/remove items at your convenience and the contract can be canceled with one month notice. The downside concerns double handling. Your movers deliver the goods to the storage facility and the bill is paid. When you leave the storage facility your movers will again charge an hourly minimum besides travel time to retrieve your goods. If you were to choose a portable storage container you may be able to avoid double handling costs – the container is loaded and unloaded once.

Portable storage containers delivered to homes are more limited in their size range v. a storage facility. A storage facility may have lockers up to 20ft by 20ft whereas the largest portable container I’ve seen is 16ft by 7ft. Additionally it is prudent to understand the spatial requirements for delivery of the containers. Companies use different mechanical devices to drop off the storage box at your house/apartment and some are better suited to working in tight areas. Also, portable storage containers generally have no tie down positions to secure your cargo, therefore it is advisable to pre-pack your goods with extra care. Remember too, once the container is loaded and picked up you will not have access to it until it is re-delivered.

Some moving companies in Vancouver offer in-house storage at their base. At first glance it may seem like a good option, however like all things the devil is in the details. For example, do they allow you access to your goods while in storage and at what cost? Is there a pick up and drop fee for the container? Additionally, you may want to visit their facility when you do the paperwork.

Each choice has its advantages. The key is to be objective about your requirements and do your homework. If you clearly establish how much is to be stored and for how long, you can get a better idea of the total costs and which option is best.

For more information and a no obligation phone estimate, contact us toll-free @ 1-866-CITYMOVE (1-866-248-9668).

How To Hire Movers in Vancouver – Redux

Hiring a mover in Vancouver is like going to the dentist, no one enjoys the process. But in the same way that preventative maintenance lessens dental pain, a thorough and pragmatic search can lessen chances of a poor move. All movers in Vancouver advertise their services in various media. Some for example rely on the print medium, internet or both. Within these advertisements are the clues required to begin solving the question; how do you find a good mover?

The first question a consumer should ask themselves is this; do I need a professional mover? If the answer is yes, your search has already cleared one hurdle. The next question: who are the true professionals?  The clues begin within their advertising and use of words like licensed. This is a good start as it shows the company has registered with City Hall, providing a mailing address and an owner’s name.

Second, does the company offer insurance ? This is a bit of a tricky issue in terms of assessment. Many companies will advertise they offer a ‘free basic insurance of .60 cents per pound,’ for your move. If they were to drop your 80 pound flat screen tv you will receive $48.00 compensation (.60 cents x 80 lbs ). The difficulty with this coverage is that it doesn’t cover things of value, and a deductible might be assessed too ( you may have to pay a $200+ deductible). Insurance for you move is best understood by an insurance broker. Your needs combined with their experience can help show if your moving company has the right coverages.

Third, the Better Business Bureau. Many companies draw attention to their membership or rating at the BBB, but what does it mean to the consumer? A positive aspect of being on the BBB`s files relates to transparency. Customers know who owns the company, and where they do business. Additionally the BBB keeps a list of complaints against a company, and there lies a valuable clue. A significant number of complaints (BBB member or not) should serve as a warning that all is not well. Remember too, the BBB has no skills assessment category, for members or non members. When you see a company ’A' rated, it is not their furniture moving skills being exhorted.

Fourth. If you found your prospective mover on the internet, it is likely you will discover more than just advertising, as every company has testimonials too. While we have covered this issue in a previous article there are a couple of points worth mentioning. 3rd party review sites which feature testimonials are businesses. And like all businesses based on the web, they need new content to stay relevant on search engines. This combined with the hyper competitive nature of the moving business has led to testimonials as a growth industry. So how do you separate the wheat from the chaff? My suggestion is to look at testimonials as you look at BBB complaints; scrutinizing the negative ones closely, as they are more likely to contain grains of truth.

The points above, besides earlier posts give you a comprehensive outline to finding a good moving company. Remember, you can learn a terrific amount about a company through attention to their advertising, followed up with the resources of the internet.

Is Three a Crowd?

Hiring a moving company is a daunting process with a multitude of choices. Each company highlights what they believe a customer is looking for; some draw attention to their price, others to their service. Inherent within the price and service consideration is the element of manpower: how many men does your job require? Generally an apartment move requires two men and a truck. However, recently I have seen advertisements which promote three men as standard instead of two. How can you assess the needs of your move?

There are several circumstances under which you can benefit from a third man. For example, if you have a one bedroom apartment (550-800 square feet) on the top floor of a three-story walk up, a third man could be beneficial. Why? First is the aspect of endurance - especially on heavy items. Two men go upstairs with a heavy sofa, next, one subs in and the other two go up: this cycling allows the pace to remain steady. An added benefit of a third man relates to time management. Perhaps you’ll move out of a three-story walk up and go to a building with an elevator booked for your exclusive use (e.g., noon till two pm)? Extra personnel can be beneficial in keeping to this strict schedule. Sheer volume of items to be moved is another third man indicator. If your apartment is a two bedroom (800-1200+ square feet), an extra man should be a careful consideration – especially with stairs or time restrictions. One last issue combined with those above is your moving date. If your move occurs at the end of the month, your mover has worked numerous jobs before yours; moving has a cumulative affect on a person and it is likely your mover is fatigued.

Remember, the devil is in the details. If you choose to have a third man on your job, it is important to clarify with your moving company the extent of his involvement. Sometimes a third can be a driver only, or, in the back of the truck when the other two work. By clearly establishing the role of the third man you ensure value for money.