Boston Movers Blog

When choosing between moving companies, be selective. These are the people who will be packing, moving, shipping, transporting and possibly providing storage for all of your belongings.

Whether you are about to endeavor on a local move, interstate move or international move, you need to be very confident in who you hire.
 
Many moving companies rent trucks and do minimal interviewing when it comes to the actual movers and drivers.

There are many things you can do to be sure your mover is reliable and reputable. You should certainly talk to several moving companies, and  interview many of them.

Get recommendations – everyone knows someone who has moved.

Go online and do a reference and background check – there are review and referrals for almost anything online, it just takes a minute to look.

Better Business Bureau – The BBB ranks businesses, if the moving company is a member that is a good sign.

Call or e-mail the American Moving and Storage Association, moving.org.

Be sure to check the consumer-advocacy sites like movingscam.com.

You should end up with at least three or four movers to call for an in-home estimate. If it is an interstate move, ask if the moving company to give you a written binding estimate or a binding not-to-exceed estimate. Both types of estimates put a guaranteed cap on what you will pay for your move.

For information or estimate, contact Marathon Moving.

Relocation can be a difficult and stressful time for everyone involved. Between packing, finding hotels, finding a new home, selling your old home and navigating in your new city there are many stressors that can occur during the process.

We have experience with clients who are moving locally to companies who are moving numbers employees overseas. No move is too big or too small.

What we can do, at Marathon Moving, is make the process less stressful, perhaps enjoyable. We offer customized moving solutions to individuals, corporations, and referral customers. Whether you are one person looking to relocate to a new territory, or a large company relocating their entire headquarters to Boston, we can help you.

Let us remove stress one step further.  We have developed relationships and partnerships with area businesses to help you with your local move. We would be happy to refer to you a realtor from within our network, or mortgage consultants or cleaning companies. Or, of course, all three.

Moving Companies in Boston

Are you moving internationally? At Marathon Moving, we pride ourselves on helping you with a stress free move. Being prepared for your move is the number one way to reduce the stress. The easiest way to prepare is to have a convenient checklist. The following is a checklist to help you prepare for your international move:

8 Weeks or more weeks prior to your move:

• Is your company relocating you for work? If so you should verify what expenses and responsibilities are theirs and which are yours.
• Are you permanently relocating or will you be coming back after a year or two? If you are planning on moving back, you may find it less expensive to store most your items and rent a furnished apartment abroad until you return.
• Track the expenses you do pay for, many moving expenses are tax deductible. You should contact your company’s tax department or your accountant to verify which expenses can be deducted.
• Create a valued inventory for all your possessions being shipped. You will need this for insuring your shipment and for declaration purposes with customs. Download an excel worksheet for your valued inventory from our website. Don’t forget to keep a valued inventory for what is to be donated to charitable organizations. You should keep the list of donated items and their value for your tax records.
• Make sure your passports are valid and have at least 12 months remaining before they expire.
• Check whether any permits are required, e.g. for residency, work, vehicles or firearms.

5-8 Weeks prior to your move:

• Are you moving to a country where vaccinations are required? Check to see which vaccinations are required and contact your physician and/or children’s pediatrician to arrange for them.
• Organize all your personal documents and keep photocopies in a safety deposit box or fire proof file box.
• Notify your lawyer, bank, doctor, dentist, insurance company, building management, schools and theDepartment of Social Security of your move. Obtain copies of your personal records from the above and keep with your other personal documents.
• Cancel subscriptions to clubs, online memberships magazines and journals.
• Keep copies of receipts or invoices for all new purchases (for customs import formalities).
• Begin to organize items to ship by clearing out your loft, attic, garage and shed of all items to be donated or disposed of.
• Contact the Chamber of Commerce, tourism bureaus or go online and subscribe to the local paper in your new community to familiarize yourself with your new location, local government, community and social news and activities.

3-4 Weeks prior to your move:

• Discuss your insurance needs with your move consultant and complete your insurance valuation form.
• Go to www.usps.com and complete a change of address form.
• Schedule final account readings for gas, water, electricity, telephone and cable TV. Keep phone and utilities connected at your current home on moving day. You should also provide your mover with a cell phone number and email address at which you can be reached while your goods are in transit.
• Cancel all rental agreements.
• Start to use up stocks of food and drink.
• Confirm your travel documents and tickets are correct.
• Arrange special transportation for your pets and plants.
• Arrange to close accounts at your local bank and open accounts in your new location

1-2 Weeks prior to your move:

• If you’re moving out of or into a building with elevators or loading docks, contact the building management to schedule use.
• Confirm your moving date with your move consultant.
• Clean any garden tools, bicycles, outdoor equipment etc. All of these items will need to be clean in order to insure no moths or insects are in your shipment.
• Arrange care for children and pets on moving day.
• Close accounts with any regular deliveries such as your newspaper.
• Empty lockers at school and work.
• Drain fuel from power equipment (motor mowers etc).
• Give away perishable food.
• Take pets to the vet for any necessary immunizations and get copies of your pet’s veterinary records.
• Obtain parking permits for moving van if necessary.

4-7 days prior to your move:

• Separate all personal items which will be traveling with you, e.g. keys, documents, passports, tickets, certificates, money, clothing, etc.
• Disconnect, clean and dry any electrical appliances that you wish to ship.
• If you are splitting air and ocean freight, identify the air freight items and clearly label.

2-3 days prior to your move:

• Defrost your fridge and freezer if shipping.
• Pack a box of personal items that will be needed immediately at your new home. Have this box loaded last or carry it with you.
• Contact your Marathon Moving consultant to confirm the arrival time of the moving van, as well as to notify your mover of any last minute details or changes.

Moving Day:

• On moving day, relax and let Marathon Moving do the work!
• Remain on hand in case the packers/loaders have any questions.
• Be sure to check all rooms, cupboards and walls to make sure nothing is left behind.
• Record all utility meter readings (gas, electric, water).
• Remember to review, sign and get a copy of the inventory of goods moved.

Boston Movers, MA - At long last you are finalizing your new home purchase, working to complete your job transfer, and lastly concluding the final details about your move to your brand new home. The process for each of the above tasks probably took you several weeks or maybe even months to complete. Now, you’re finally done and it’s time to think about the safe transfer of your goods? Of course here at Marathon, we do everything possible to ensure the safety of your household items and even offer free basic liability free of charge! Our claims per hundred weight hauled is 10X less than the national average, but accidents do happen. Most accidents occur when you least expect them or when you're not covered for them. That’s why protection is so important. Being able to be covered makes you feel safe and comfortable. Marathon takes pride in its expert care of handling our customer’s household objects and offers many different protection plans to help ensure you have little to worry about. We offer protection not just for moving but for your storage needs as well with our local residential moving/storage plans. We also provide protection options for interstate or international moves as well.