Residential Moving FAQs How do I know I'm dealing with a reputable company? Two related factors contribute most to the reputation of a moving company: 1) the quality of the services it provides and, 2) how long it’s been providing quality services. Whether your move is local or long-distance – across town, from state to state, or international – it behooves you to verify the credentials of the mover you’re considering. Talk with people locally, if you can, to find out if they’ve ever used that mover and what they think of it. Review the mover’s website. Even better, search online for consumer reviews apart from the mover’s website. When it comes to handling residential moves, you can be sure A-1 Freeman has all the necessary credentials – and then some. It’s been in business since 1974. Over the years it’s established itself as a trusted single-source moving/relocation, logistics, warehousing, and transportation solution. Families and individuals aren’t the only ones who count on A-1 Freeman, either. So do businesses, government agencies, and military organizations. Those who’ve availed themselves of our services will tell you we pay careful attention to providing a superior customer experience. Go ahead. Check us out. And trust your residential move to A-1 Freeman. What advice can you give me on planning for my move? Plan well in advance of Move Day! That’s key to ensuring a smooth residential move, whether local or long-distance. Actually, the planning should begin as soon as you know you’ll be moving. Check out this page of our website: Tips on How to Make the Most of Your Local or Long-Distance Move. And consider these planning tips, especially: Make sure you have sufficient quantities of the proper packing supplies (boxes, packing tape, etc.) Inventory your possessions in every room before you pack them. Clean your possessions before you pack them – clothing and bedding in particular. Don’t pack what you don’t need – you’ll save money by reducing the weight of your shipments. Sell stuff, auction it off, donate it to charities, give it away, or toss it. Label every box, noting its contents and what room of your new home it should be placed in. Pack a travel kit – with first aid, water bottles, snacks, games, etc. – for your family’s comfort while your en route to your new home. Pack a box (or boxes) of essentials for your first night’s stay in your new home – changes of clothing, toothbrushes, toilet paper, soap, towels, and whatever else you and your family might need until your boxes are unpacked and you’re settled in. Prepare a binder to hold all your important move-related documents such as mover quotes, contracts and receipts, legal and financial papers, school records, veterinary records, medical/dental records, doctor referrals, and so forth. Create a Move Budget that covers moving supplies, truck rentals, new items for your new home, travel expenses, the cost of shipping very large or valuable items, and anything else that will cost you money. Pay attention to when and how you’ll have to transfer utilities and services from your old home to your new home – or when you must cancel previous accounts and set up new ones. There is, of course, a lot more to it. But these are some of the basic planning essentials. Need help? The experts at A-1 Freeman are happy to provide it. Again: the sooner you start planning – and the more-thorough you are in considering every need – the smoother your move will go. What are the different cost/service options available to me? Obviously, the total cost of your move will depend on the weight of your shipment(s) and the number moving services you contract with us. No guesswork is involved – on your part or ours. Before you agree to anything, we’ll provide you with a written estimate that reflects every service option you’ve chosen. The basic service options we offer include: A pre-planning meeting with your A-1 Freeman Move Coordinator Bottom-Line Pricing, Not-to-Exceed Pricing, or Customized Pricing Full-Service Packing, Fragile-Only Packing, or Self-Packing Packing materials Disassembly and/or reassembly A variety of loading and unloading services A variety of storage options A variety of services specific to international moving and geared to helping you get set up in your new country of residence For full details check out these pages of our website: Local Residential Moving Services, Long-Distance Residential Moving Services, and International Residential Moving Services. How can I save money on my move? Moving a household – no matter the size or distance – is an expensive proposition anyway you look at it. But that doesn’t mean you have to break the bank! There are ways you can keep costs down. The basic rule of thumb for saving money on a residential move is this: Do as much of everything you can yourself. We offer a number of services that can help you with every aspect of your move. We price our services reasonably. Still, the more of them you choose, the more your move will cost. Yes, these services can go a long way toward freeing up your time and relieving you of stress. But if money is tight, instead of opting for our help, you might … Consider doing all your own packing – leaving only the extra-large or valuable items to our professional care. Consider gathering or purchasing your own packing materials from your own sources. Consider assembling and reassembling large items like beds, entertainment centers, and swing sets yourself. And consider opting for either our Bottom-Line Pricing or Not-to-Exceed Pricing. Talk with your A-1 Freeman Move Coordinator about all our services. He or she can help you determine which of them are absolutely essential and which you can do without – in the interest of lightening your financial load. Speaking of lightening loads, that’s another big way to save money on your move! Don’t ship or take with you anything you really don’t need in your new home. Much of the cost of your move is based on the total weight of your shipment(s). Keep the shipping weight down. During the inventory and packing phases of your move, throw things out, sell stuff, donate items to charity or give them away. The less you move, the more you’ll save! How can I best pack my things to ensure their safety during a long move? The best way to ensure the safety of your possessions during shipping is to have our experts at A-1 Freeman pack them for you. We see that all packing materials and cartons are new, all china, glassware, and crystal items are wrapped individually before packing, all rugs and carpets are rolled and wrapped, all large or valuable furniture pieces and appliances are padded for transport, and that other such measures are taken on your behalf. Depending on where you’re moving, we also offer shipping container options – for air shipments as well as large or small ocean shipments. In short, we at A-1 Freeman offer professional packing solutions customized to your needs, whether you want us to do all, some, or none of your packing. If you’ve decided to do all or most of the packing yourself, check out our Definitive Guide to Packing for Your Move. Follow the guidelines presented there, and your possessions will arrive at your new home safely and in fine condition. When is the best time to move? It may be, of course, that you have no choice about your move date. A variety of life situations can force people to move when they’d rather not or when they’re least prepared for it. Rest assured, A-1 Freeman stands ready to move you wherever and whenever you need to go.If you have a choice in the matter, though, follow these guidelines: Best months to move: November through December. That’s when business tends to be slower for moving companies and you’re likely to be better accommodated.Best time of month to move: mid-month. That’s when prices are lowest, since the busiest times for movers tend to be at the beginning and end of any month – often in sync with the end of people’s leases.Best days of the week to move: Monday through Thursday. Think about it: most people want to move on a weekend so it doesn’t conflict with their jobs. Result? Moving companies have weekends booked! Schedule your move during the week and you’ll generally get better service – and a better price! Beyond these considerations, think about: moving in the Summer if you have children. That is the most expensive time to move. But your kids will be out of school, and they’ll have more leisure time in which to adjust, not only to their new surroundings but also to the reality that they’ll be starting at a new school in the Fall. On the other hand, many people with kids prefer moving during the school year. The thinking is that teachers at a new school will give their kids better attention then, and their kids will make friends more quickly.moving when the weather is most favorable if you live in an area prone to weather extremes. Obviously, you can’t predict what the weather will do. But certain seasons in certain parts of the country are better for moving than others. Spring and Fall are generally the best seasons, regardless of where you live. Winters – well, who wants to deal with moving in the snow and cold? And Summers? Besides the heat, there’s the added expense of moving at that time of year.avoiding a move that would occur on any holiday. One word: TRAFFIC.
How do I know I'm dealing with a reputable company? Two related factors contribute most to the reputation of a moving company: 1) the quality of the services it provides and, 2) how long it’s been providing quality services. Whether your move is local or long-distance – across town, from state to state, or international – it behooves you to verify the credentials of the mover you’re considering. Talk with people locally, if you can, to find out if they’ve ever used that mover and what they think of it. Review the mover’s website. Even better, search online for consumer reviews apart from the mover’s website. When it comes to handling residential moves, you can be sure A-1 Freeman has all the necessary credentials – and then some. It’s been in business since 1974. Over the years it’s established itself as a trusted single-source moving/relocation, logistics, warehousing, and transportation solution. Families and individuals aren’t the only ones who count on A-1 Freeman, either. So do businesses, government agencies, and military organizations. Those who’ve availed themselves of our services will tell you we pay careful attention to providing a superior customer experience. Go ahead. Check us out. And trust your residential move to A-1 Freeman.
What advice can you give me on planning for my move? Plan well in advance of Move Day! That’s key to ensuring a smooth residential move, whether local or long-distance. Actually, the planning should begin as soon as you know you’ll be moving. Check out this page of our website: Tips on How to Make the Most of Your Local or Long-Distance Move. And consider these planning tips, especially: Make sure you have sufficient quantities of the proper packing supplies (boxes, packing tape, etc.) Inventory your possessions in every room before you pack them. Clean your possessions before you pack them – clothing and bedding in particular. Don’t pack what you don’t need – you’ll save money by reducing the weight of your shipments. Sell stuff, auction it off, donate it to charities, give it away, or toss it. Label every box, noting its contents and what room of your new home it should be placed in. Pack a travel kit – with first aid, water bottles, snacks, games, etc. – for your family’s comfort while your en route to your new home. Pack a box (or boxes) of essentials for your first night’s stay in your new home – changes of clothing, toothbrushes, toilet paper, soap, towels, and whatever else you and your family might need until your boxes are unpacked and you’re settled in. Prepare a binder to hold all your important move-related documents such as mover quotes, contracts and receipts, legal and financial papers, school records, veterinary records, medical/dental records, doctor referrals, and so forth. Create a Move Budget that covers moving supplies, truck rentals, new items for your new home, travel expenses, the cost of shipping very large or valuable items, and anything else that will cost you money. Pay attention to when and how you’ll have to transfer utilities and services from your old home to your new home – or when you must cancel previous accounts and set up new ones. There is, of course, a lot more to it. But these are some of the basic planning essentials. Need help? The experts at A-1 Freeman are happy to provide it. Again: the sooner you start planning – and the more-thorough you are in considering every need – the smoother your move will go.
What are the different cost/service options available to me? Obviously, the total cost of your move will depend on the weight of your shipment(s) and the number moving services you contract with us. No guesswork is involved – on your part or ours. Before you agree to anything, we’ll provide you with a written estimate that reflects every service option you’ve chosen. The basic service options we offer include: A pre-planning meeting with your A-1 Freeman Move Coordinator Bottom-Line Pricing, Not-to-Exceed Pricing, or Customized Pricing Full-Service Packing, Fragile-Only Packing, or Self-Packing Packing materials Disassembly and/or reassembly A variety of loading and unloading services A variety of storage options A variety of services specific to international moving and geared to helping you get set up in your new country of residence For full details check out these pages of our website: Local Residential Moving Services, Long-Distance Residential Moving Services, and International Residential Moving Services.
How can I save money on my move? Moving a household – no matter the size or distance – is an expensive proposition anyway you look at it. But that doesn’t mean you have to break the bank! There are ways you can keep costs down. The basic rule of thumb for saving money on a residential move is this: Do as much of everything you can yourself. We offer a number of services that can help you with every aspect of your move. We price our services reasonably. Still, the more of them you choose, the more your move will cost. Yes, these services can go a long way toward freeing up your time and relieving you of stress. But if money is tight, instead of opting for our help, you might … Consider doing all your own packing – leaving only the extra-large or valuable items to our professional care. Consider gathering or purchasing your own packing materials from your own sources. Consider assembling and reassembling large items like beds, entertainment centers, and swing sets yourself. And consider opting for either our Bottom-Line Pricing or Not-to-Exceed Pricing. Talk with your A-1 Freeman Move Coordinator about all our services. He or she can help you determine which of them are absolutely essential and which you can do without – in the interest of lightening your financial load. Speaking of lightening loads, that’s another big way to save money on your move! Don’t ship or take with you anything you really don’t need in your new home. Much of the cost of your move is based on the total weight of your shipment(s). Keep the shipping weight down. During the inventory and packing phases of your move, throw things out, sell stuff, donate items to charity or give them away. The less you move, the more you’ll save!
How can I best pack my things to ensure their safety during a long move? The best way to ensure the safety of your possessions during shipping is to have our experts at A-1 Freeman pack them for you. We see that all packing materials and cartons are new, all china, glassware, and crystal items are wrapped individually before packing, all rugs and carpets are rolled and wrapped, all large or valuable furniture pieces and appliances are padded for transport, and that other such measures are taken on your behalf. Depending on where you’re moving, we also offer shipping container options – for air shipments as well as large or small ocean shipments. In short, we at A-1 Freeman offer professional packing solutions customized to your needs, whether you want us to do all, some, or none of your packing. If you’ve decided to do all or most of the packing yourself, check out our Definitive Guide to Packing for Your Move. Follow the guidelines presented there, and your possessions will arrive at your new home safely and in fine condition.
When is the best time to move? It may be, of course, that you have no choice about your move date. A variety of life situations can force people to move when they’d rather not or when they’re least prepared for it. Rest assured, A-1 Freeman stands ready to move you wherever and whenever you need to go.If you have a choice in the matter, though, follow these guidelines: Best months to move: November through December. That’s when business tends to be slower for moving companies and you’re likely to be better accommodated.Best time of month to move: mid-month. That’s when prices are lowest, since the busiest times for movers tend to be at the beginning and end of any month – often in sync with the end of people’s leases.Best days of the week to move: Monday through Thursday. Think about it: most people want to move on a weekend so it doesn’t conflict with their jobs. Result? Moving companies have weekends booked! Schedule your move during the week and you’ll generally get better service – and a better price! Beyond these considerations, think about: moving in the Summer if you have children. That is the most expensive time to move. But your kids will be out of school, and they’ll have more leisure time in which to adjust, not only to their new surroundings but also to the reality that they’ll be starting at a new school in the Fall. On the other hand, many people with kids prefer moving during the school year. The thinking is that teachers at a new school will give their kids better attention then, and their kids will make friends more quickly.moving when the weather is most favorable if you live in an area prone to weather extremes. Obviously, you can’t predict what the weather will do. But certain seasons in certain parts of the country are better for moving than others. Spring and Fall are generally the best seasons, regardless of where you live. Winters – well, who wants to deal with moving in the snow and cold? And Summers? Besides the heat, there’s the added expense of moving at that time of year.avoiding a move that would occur on any holiday. One word: TRAFFIC.