The Moving Crew & You

It’s moving day. A giant truck pulls up to your house full of professional movers, but in that moment all you notice is uncertainty creeping over you at the thought of strangers in and out of your house the rest of the day. For them, this might even be their second house of the day, but for you–you’re still at a loss as to how to best interact with the crew to help the move go smoothly. To combat this confusion, the American Moving & Storage Association (AMSA) compiled a list of advice to help you make sure the van driver and other crew members can perform safely, efficiently and comfortably. Keeping in mind any combination of these tips can make an impact.

• Provide the essentials. Consider the crew’s needs and comfort: offer access to drinking water, designate a bathroom for their use, and keep hand sanitizer available. Have disposable paper towels handy, to save your linens and other items from the possibility of moving-related grime. And you might want to identify an outside area where smoking would be permitted.
• Meet and greet. Take time to meet your crewmembers and make them feel welcome. Always have one responsible adult available throughout the move to answer questions, and make sure they know which room you’re calling a den and which one is a “family room,” etc.
• Keep kids and pets busy. Make arrangements to keep small children and pets occupied so they don’t get in the way. If possible, have them stay with friends or relatives at the time of the move.
• It’s food for thought. Most crews greatly appreciate coffee in the morning and the offer to pick up a fast lunch, since it’s time-consuming to close up the truck and cumbersome to maneuver a tractor-trailer around a typical downtown area.
• Keep the temperature in check. If moving during very hot or cold weather, consider providing fans or space heaters, as exterior doors will likely be left open.
• Provide feedback. If you’re pleased with your crew, send a nice letter to the carrier as all drivers are ranked by quality scores and comments by customers.  As with all hardworking front-line customer service professionals, tips, while not expected, are a great way to show your appreciation for a job well done.

AMSA- a great resource for any future mover

Certainly our movers don’t arrive with a prepared list of demands to keep you busy, but these tips can make a difference.

The take-away from these guidlines: your involvement and communication are necessary elements to a perfect move.