Moving Services

Q. Describe the most common types of jobs you do for your clients.

A. In the Austin, Tx. area there are numerous institutions of higher learnilng. I often move students into their residences when school commences and place their belongings into storage when school lets out. I always look forward to these moves as I particularly enjoy the company of young people.

Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A. Often times the uninitiated tend to consider relocation service little more than menial manual labor. In this regard it should be remembered that most, if not all, vanline companies of any repute require thier "line" or over-the-road drivers to complete a company course in the correct and proper method of handling household good items. My recommendation to all that desire reliable, competent, and safe household good handlers is to seek experience. I, myself, first began in the vanline industry at the age of 15. I have spent numerous summers either working for local vanline agencies delivering directly to shippers from within the agencys' warehouses or traveling with over-the-road vanline drivers recieving and delivering household goods throughout the lower 48 states. I learned from some of the best in the business.

Q. If you were a customer, what do you wish you knew about your trade? Any inside secrets to share?

A. The methodology of moving certain difficult household goods items; e.g., the employ of "slide boards" so as to manuever pianos and such up and down stairs; the "lump strap" rendering it possible (among other things) for a solitary mover to lift onto their back refrigerators, washers, dryers,ect, carrying such either to or from the van to or from a residence themselves. The lump strap method also makes passing through doorways less open to the possibllity of damage to either the item in transit or the residential structure. The correct and proper use of various wheeled dollies so as to alleviate the possibility of damage to the household item or injury to the mover. Also, it is imperative that every relocation specialist be able to load a van with household goods so as to ensure against damage to the items in transit, as well as utilizing every available cubic foot of van space per economic concerns - both regarding the shipper and relocation specialist.

Q. What questions should a consumer ask to hire the right service professional?

A. What is your experience? What is your rate? Are there any hidden charges or costs (long carries, limit on the number of stairs per move, extra charge for special products [e.g., pianos], etc? When will my household goods be recieved and delivered? Will my belongings be inventoried while loading and unloading to ensure against loss? How will my belongings be protected from damage in shipping?

Q. Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?

A. I take relocation service very seriously while, at the same time, enjoy the work very much. I derive a great sense of accomplishment when successfully relocating a person, couple, or entire family from point A to point B. It is most rewarding to have satisfactorily moved a shipper into their new home. I take much pride in being a positive feature in a shipper's initial experience when commencing their new life in their new residence.

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. Working with people, hopefully making their move a positive experience and their life a little easier and happier.

Q. What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A. How long have you been doing this?

My answer inevitably is: "A long time."

Q. Do you have a favorite story from your work?

A. One of my favorite shippers was a elderly but spry lady named Gladys. Gladys' husband had recently passed away leaving Gladys a substantial sum of money. Gladys was relocating from Pittsburg to be near her daughter in Seattle.

Gladys was a perpetual flirt and an absolute delight. After finishing her Seattle delivery Gladys took my moving partner and myself out to a relatively luxurious dinner, during which Gladys was her usual flirtatous self. At the end of the dinner, as we all were saying our farewells, Gladlys put her hand on top of mine, looked me directly in the eye, and proposed that I leave the vanline business to become her full-time cabana boy at her new Seattle estate. Gladys was very sure to inform me, should I accept her offer of pool-side employment, the requisite attire would most definitely be a bikini swim suit.

I still get a chuckle out of Gladys.

Q. Tell us about a recent job you did that you are particularly proud of.

A. Of late I had the opportunity to move a recently divorced couple into two seperate residences. It was obvious to even me, an outsider, that the children were particularly affected by this seperation. When I delivered the children's belongings to their rooms, some of which had been in storage for quite some time, the children became elated to be reunited with their belongings (especially their toys). This is why I enjoy my work in general. To bring these children even just a moment of joy and happiness during such a difficult time for them was very rewarding.

Q. If you were advising someone who wanted to get into your profession, what would you suggest?

A. You have to work hard physically, knowing this is a service based industry. YA GOTTA LIKE PEOPLE!!!