How to Make a Mover Smile

By Scott Boone

Courtesy of Scott's Discount Movers

You made the decision to hire a mover.  That undoubtedly meant taking the time to thoroughly investigate and interview several moving companies. It also required you to put your faith in a mover to show up on time and to take care not to damage your belongings while being loaded and unloaded from the truck.  Now that the preliminaries are over, I thought I’d dedicate this week’s blog to helping you get along with your moving crew.

Even though your mover has selected and (hopefully) trained the crew, that doesn’t mean there aren’t some things you can do to make their and your task easier on moving day.  What most people don’t realize is while a moving crew is usually seasoned, that doesn’t mean the same can be said for homeowners.  Moving is something most families only do a few times in their lives. (The exception being military families.) However, whether this is going to be your first move or your fifteenth, there are a few things you can do to make things go smoothly come moving day.

      1.      Don’t make the mover’s job any harder than it has to be. – Since both you and your mover have set a day and time to commence your move, it’s in your interest to avoid doing things that can slow down or even derail the job the movers have come to accomplish.  This means you need to be ready, willing and able to move when the truck pulls up.  You need to make sure the kids and your pets are not underfoot.  While it’s always a good idea to be present during the move, that doesn’t mean you need to micromanage the crew. 

Image from Scott's Discount Movers

      2.      Get started on the right foot. – Unless you’re paying the crew to load your belongings into boxes, you need to be done your packing before they knock on the door.  Once the crew arrives, invite them in and show them around.  If there are items requiring special care, this is the time to point that out.  It’s also the last chance you have to ask them any questions After that, the best thing you can do is stand back and let them do their job. 

      3.      Make sure the crew’s needs are met. – Show them where the restroom is located. Have some refreshments and snacks available in the kitchen.  A pot of coffee will be appreciated as well, first thing in the morning. Make sure the air conditioner is set to an appropriate setting if it’s hot or cold outside. Also, make sure there are paper towels and soap available.  Moving is a dirty business.  If the movers are going to be packing for more than a few hours, it wouldn’t hurt to order a pizza or some sandwiches for the crew come lunch time. 

      4.      Remain calm - Moving is a stressful undertaking under the best of conditions.  That being said, sometimes something throws a monkey wrench into the works.  Boxes can pop open or get dropped, a summer squall can stop movers dead in their tracks, the truck can get stuck in a traffic jam, or the truck can break down.  When things take a turn for the worst, the secret is to note any damage or delay, then take up the matter with the crew chief when the job is done.  Make sure you have the crew chief’s cell number, and he has yours.  This way, if the movers get bogged down on the road, or you experience car trouble while on the way to your new home, everyone can be notified in a timely manner.  Regardless of whose fault a problem is, the most important thing is to fix the problem, not the blame.  Remain calm. 

      5.      Getting satisfaction – That doesn’t mean you need to shrug off any damage, destruction or slight.  A moving crew has a responsibility to be timely, courteous and careful with you and your belongings.  If anyone in the crew is rude to you if items get damaged or destroyed through the carelessness of the crew, or a delay occurs that is not attributed to traffic or an act of God; you have every right to demand satisfaction.  As with most grievances, there is a right way and a wrong way to go about filing a complaint and seeking redress.  While I don’t have the time to go into detail on the subject here, you can find the process enumerated in a blog a wrote a few weeks back entitled, “What to Do When Your Mover Lets You Down.”

Image courtesy of Scott's Discount Movers

      6.      Rewarding a job well done – The other side of the coin also applies.  While most homeowners are quick to find fault during a move, some people neglect to reward a crew for a job well done. While a salaried crew is paid by the owner of the company, they also appreciate a tip for doing a good job.  That being said, what is an appropriate tip?  That depends on several factors, including the amount of time and the number of movers assigned to the move.  
      
       Below  are some suggestions for tipping.

a.       2-man crew - $10 per hour ($5/hr/man)

b.      3-man crew - $15 per hour

c.       4-man crew - $20 per hour

      That doesn’t mean you can’t tip over and above the recommended amount, especially if the crew goes above and beyond to make your move as pleasant and stress-free as possible.  $8 - $10 per hour per man is considered a generous tip. The opposite holds true in that you shouldn’t be expected to reward the crew if they are inordinately slow, rude or cause damage to your belongings.

      7.      Provide feedback after the move is complete. – While consumers are quick to file a complaint when something goes awry during a move, many are slow to post a positive review or provide a testimonial to a mover for doing a good job.  Just as in any business, a mover’s reputation is only as good as their last move.  If a mover does a horrible job, by all means, post the fact online.  But if they do a good or a great job, take the time to go to Google and/or Facebook to post a glowing review that will help other homeowners to find a reputable mover to work with when it comes time to move.  Better yet, tell the mover you’d be more than happy to have them record a short interview where you tell the public what a great job they did.  That’s the quickest way to make your mover smile.

With over 5,000 moves, Scott's Discount Movers has handled moves of all sizes, including local and cross country. If you are looking to move your home or office, you can depend on Scott's Discount Movers to provide a stress-free relocation.