Los Angeles Movers | Los Angeles Moving Company | LA Movers

Los Angeles is the city of dreams, aspiration, perspiration, failure, and success. It is the largest city in California, and the second largest city in the United States. It spans over 498.3 square miles and is home for around 4 million people.

Depending upon what you think, living in such a place can be luxury or a drag, and if you are newly shifted resident then it also depends upon how you have been shifted to this city. If your Los Angeles moving services made the shifting to the city effortless then the city may looks more beautiful, but if the LA movers you chose just sucked money and broke your stuffs then this bad experience of the city will sour your experience for a initial few days. This is plain-Jane human psychology therefore you should be extra careful when choosing a moving service.

How to choose a Los Angeles mover

There are many Los Angeles moving services that do not have proper license, and do not give adequate guarantee for the stuffs that they move. You should look for the following things when finalizing any moving services provider.

LA movers checklist

* Have you done sufficient research to find out the Los Angeles moving company?
* Is the company you are hiring reliable enough?
* For how long is the company in business?
* Does it have all the required licenses to operate in LA and in the state from where you are moving?
* How much insurance coverage does it offer?
* Do the fleet have GPS device installed for anytime tracking.
* Can they give some reference?

Benefit of moving to the City of Angels

If you are the kind who believe in living his life to the fullest then The City of Angel is not going to disappoint you. As said above, LA is the city of dream, and life here is luxurious. The life in the city is very much governed by Hollywood. The presence of Hollywood has deemed the city as the entertainment capital of the world. Apart from Hollywood, for which it is commonly known, the city is also home to business, culture, entertainment, media, international trade, science, technology, fashion, and education.

LA neighborhood

LA is a big city sprawling across 498.3 miles. The city has been divided into several neighborhoods. Some of them are quite plush while others are reasonably priced. The city is divided into following neighborhoods: Hollywood, Downtown, Harbor Area, The Eastside, Northeast, South (referred as South Central by locals), the Westside, San Fernando, Crescenta Valleys, and Wilshire.

Schools

Los Angeles Unified School District manages most of the schools in the city with a total student capacity of around 100,000. It’s the largest public school system in California.

Colleges and university

If you are shifting to LA, you also need to know about the colleges and the universities in the neighborhood. There are three public universities in the city. Those are Los Angeles Campus of: University of California (UCLA), California State University (CSULA), and California State University, Northridge (CSUN). And there are around 20-30 private and community owned colleges which include Alliant International University, American Film Institute Conservatory, American InterContinental University, etc.

Caveats against shifting

Before you use your Los Angeles moving services to shift your home to the city, you should know that the city is susceptible to earthquakes because it is located in the Pacific Ring of Fire. Around 10,000 earthquakes are produced every year due to the fault lines above and below the ground caused by geological instability.

Conclusion

Keep the things discussed above in mind while moving to LA, and also verify the LA movers against the Los Angeles moving services checklist discussed above. This will give you a peaceful mind while moving to this city, The City of Angels.

Moving is no fun. Planning, packing, looking for the right moving company – there are so many things to take care of that it is no wonder that most of us are nervous wrecks by moving day! I have moved several times, including overseas, over the past few years, and I can tell you – moving isn’t ever fun, but it can be smooth and relatively stress-free.

What you need is a plan for moving day. Regardless of how the planning and packing process has gone so far (I hope it has gone well!), there are some simple things you can right before or on moving day to make your move smoother.

1. Take Stock
Make a list of all separate items. Categorize them by type: boxes, furniture, even big bags or bedding in its original packing.

2. Organize your boxes
Organize your boxes by keeping fragile and non-fragile items separetly. Keep the boxes containing essential items clearly labeled and on hand. You can also label each box with the specific location or room you want it delivered to. If you want to hide your valuables in some innocuously labeled box, make sure you remember which one.

3. Work with your movers
Be present for the movers, both while loading and unloading. Cross-check the movers’ inventory with your own list. Check the moving company’s license, and make sure you give them the right address for delivery. A good moving company will help you as much as you let them. So make their work more efficient by giving them clear directions and making sure you are accessible to them by cell phone.

4. Last-minute checks
Make sure that all supplies and switches are turned off, the windows and doors shut, and that you have all the important documents pertaining to your move.

5. Ready the other side
Reserve a parking space as close as possible to your new entrance. If you need to pick up keys, give yourself time to do that. Have plastic sheets ready to protect the floor from any damage from furniture or boots.

6. Be Prepared
This is one of those things that anyone who’s “been there” will tell you. But how exactly should you go about it? Let me suggest a little technique I like to call “negative visualization”. It is best to do this together with other adults who may be moving with you (spouse, parents, friends). That way you can keep it fun and cover more ground.

Here is how you do it: the day before your move, sit down with a sheet of paper. Now imagine moving day, from start to finish. Picture all the possible things that can go wrong in this scenario. Is it raining? Did you find a whole bottom drawer still in need of packing? Make notes of those possibilities and prepare for them: get more boxes; arrange shrink wrap for rain, etc.

It sounds a little quirky, but it works because most of us imagine worst-case scenarios all the time anyway. The only difference is that we usually relegate such thoughts to the back of our minds, where they turn into vague anxieties and lead to stress. By dealing with them properly you will considerably decrease your chances of running into ‘unforeseen circumstances’.

Preparing in this way will ensure that you wake up on moving day with a feeling of control. And it will go a long way in eliminating stress from your whole day, not just for you but for everyone around you.

Contributing Author Information:

Sydney Welkinson reviews Los Angeles Movers writes and provides moving tips for la movers.

Moving can have a huge impact on your ecological footprint – all those boxes and tape and packing paper that end up in the trash. Trying to move while being aware of how to limit your contribution to waste does take a little extra planning and preparation; in the end, it can save you money and will definitely make you feel better that you’ve helped the environment – a win-win situation for everyone!

Earth-friendlier Packing Materials
Packing materials can be the major contributor to your impact, and at the same time, they are necessary to get the job done. Here are a few solutions to help you move a little greener when it comes to packing materials:

* Reusable containers: For our last move, my husband and I recruited family and friends to let us borrow plastic containers they might have. We weren’t able to pack everything we owned in reusable containers, but we were able to reduce the number of boxes we needed. Remember, boxes also require tape – something that can’t be recycled and which takes a very long time to decompose.

For our next move, I plan on purchasing plastic containers that can be easily stacked and stored, so they’re always on hand for when the moving-bug starts to bite. If you move often, this might also be a good solution for you as it not only saves trees and waste, but it also saves you time in finding enough packing boxes.

If you live in the Long Beach/Orange County area of California, there’s a great new company on the rise called Earth Friendly Moving – a company dedicated to creating greener moves. Their services include the dropping-off of plastic, reusable containers for a very small fee, then picking them up again after your move is complete. Let’s hope this kind of services catches on and goes global – I’d love not to have to stress about getting boxes and tape and worrying that the bottoms will hold. Currently, Earth Friendly Moving is looking at expanding to the rest of Southern California, so if you live in the area check out their website.

* Recycled Materials: A great way to save money and your impact on the earth is to collect used boxes from grocery stores, wine and liquor stores and other retail outlets. We do this often, especially for lighter weight and less fragile items, where the strength of the box isn’t a determining factor. And no one can deny the usefulness of wine/liquor boxes; most have the cell packs already installed which makes packing glasses, bottles and other fragiles really simple and easy. In addition, most of these boxes are re-enforced to withstand heavier loads. I highly recommend asking your neighborhood beverage outlet for their empty boxes. Just make sure you ask in advance of your move and also what day they normally receive their shipments and when the best time to drop by would be.

* Online Sources for Used Materials: the online networks are a great source for finding used packing goods at a good price. Craigslist is the first and most extensive place to shop and meet like-minded individuals who may want to swap or give-away used boxes. If you can’t find any listings for your area, post your own request.

Getting Rid of Stuff

* Donate Your Stuff: Before you throw an unwanted item in the trash, think about donating it to a local charity or even a neighbor who might find it valuable. Just make sure that what you’re donating can be used by someone. Most thrift stores and non-profit societies cannot use ripped clothing or items that are so worn that no one else would want it. Be thoughtful before you unload your stuff at a local charity.

* Do your research: Find out what the non-profit is looking for or if you have specific items, such as cat kennels (in our case), call a non-profit that specializes in a particular cause to see if they’d want the items (for cat kennels, we’d call a local animal shelter or rescue society). There are many organizations out there that also set-up homes for youth or single mothers which might take larger items from you. Again, research the options, then decide where you’d like to donate. Remember, electronics can also be donated, recycled and are greatly appreciated.

* Sell Your Stuff: If you think your things are sellable, that someone else might find them to be treasures, not trash, then you can also try to sell them online through companies such as eBay. If you’re thinking more small-scale or you don’t want to bother with shipping items to buyers, then you could also host a garage sale or place an ad in a local neighborhood newspaper advertising the items.

How to Offset Your Impact

* Purchase Carbon Offsets: If you’re hiring a company or moving yourself, find out if the moving or rental company has a “green” mantra or if they are a carbon-neutral company. Many movers and rental agencies are not, and many people don’t have the option of hiring companies who are, simply because they don’t exist in the local area. This is beginning to change, however, as more customers demand alternative options. My recommendation is to ask. It certainly doesn’t hurt and it might even stimulate thoughts around creating a greener move.

Regardless of whether your mover is green or not, you can help lower the impact of your move, in particular the gas emissions the truck will burn, by purchasing carbon offsets. We do this not only for the truck emissions, but also for our travel costs to the new home (car or plane emissions).

To find out what your emission rate would be for the US go to Bonneville Environmental Foundation, for Canada, go to Planetair, and if you’re in Europe, check out MyClimate.

In the end, if you’re planning on moving, the best course of action to follow for a greener move is to the best you can. Not all of us have the resources available to make a perfectly carbon neutral move. However, just being aware of your impact is a really good start in helping the planet.

Well, the move is now complete and the we’ve arrived in Tucson. Mistakes were made and lessons learned, but more importantly we had good, experienced movers to help us.

A few interesting events occurred during this move. things did happen during this move. First, the movers were on time and fast. They moved us from Orange, CA to Tucson, AZ in 48 hours. That included the packing, loading of the truck, and the unloading at the new residence (this was a fully furnished 5 bedroom home). The packers showed up and wrapped EVERYTHING in a protective plastic coating. They disassembled many of our furnishings and had the truck loaded within hours of arriving. Contents loaded, they embarked on the long journey with all of our worldly possessions safely packed away. We left shortly after.

The movers had mentioned they would be arriving in Tucson at 8:30 AM PST. They arrived within 5 minutes of this time and after a 10 minute break, they quickly unloaded the truck. Within a few hours, they had re-assembled the furniture and placed our boxes in our home. They were gone before lunch.

While they were there, we found that the refrigerator would not fit through any of the conventional entry ways into the kitchen. The 2 guys moving the refrigerator found a way to lift the refrigerator over a large window that faced the living room from the kitchen. It was amazing to witness. These guys were pros.

We did encounter a few problems:

We purchased a gas dryer for the new home. Unfortunately, the new home only had electric hookups. Of course, we asked our “realtor” prior to making the trip and she didn’t have the answer of the motivation to find out. Apparently, electric dryers are all the rage on Tucson and gas dryers are in the minority.

Despite having help, the move was still exhausting and we are still in recovery mode. My wife was a champion throughout this move and she is still doing the lion’s share of the work while I commute back and forth from California.

In any case, I’m not sure how difficult this move would have been without professional movers who knew what they were doing, but one thing is for sure – it wouldn’t have been pretty.

Before hiring a moving company, it is wise to get at least three to four quotes. A moving quote is an estimate that provided by a company that will tell you what your job will cost. Acquiring a moving quote will give you key pieces of information about the credibility of a company, not just help plan the moving budget. Before shopping for estimates, however, be aware of the following four important factors about the nature of the quote and how they relate to the moving companies that provide them.

Is it Binding and Non-Binding?

Binding quotes are those that are legal contracts and cannot be changed unless extra services are added. Binding quotes almost always involve a representative coming to your home for a visual inspection of the home contents. This type of estimate that is set in writing is legally binding. As such, you are guaranteed to pay the rate you are quoted unless other services are negotiated.

Non-binding moving quotes are not considered legal contracts and do not have to be honored by the service provider. Typically, the moving service operator does not pay a visit to the home for a visual inspection, and sometimes the quote is low and designed to bait a prospective customer with a low price. In many cases with non-binding moving quotes, customers of these companies end up paying far more than the quoted price.

Be as careful with low moving quotes as much as the high quotes. If you don’t want any surprises, get your quote in writing and make it a binding quote.

The Bait and Switch

If a quote is far lower than the average quote, and it is provided strictly over the phone, it may be a “low ball” quote designed to get a commitment from the buyer. Or, perhaps it is a great deal. In the case of an abnormally low moving quote, get it in writing. Federal agencies fine hundreds of moving companies every year for bad business practices. Many victims have reported companies that will offer you very low moving estimate and then raise price up by more than double before your goods are delivered. In some, more egregious cases, the moving company puts the furniture in the truck and then hits the customer with double or triple the cost of the original estimate.

Check the Service Inclusions

When a binding quote is acquired, it is important to review the specific services that are included in the move. Estimates that might seem high could include additional services that are valuable but not specifically listed in the moving quote. Try to ask as many questions as possible about your moving quotes and request maximum details from your prospective movers. In some cases, moving company operators fail to disclose all of the additional services they will provide. Also, you may not want all the packing services that the moving company assumes you will need. For example, perhaps you want to pack a good portion of your personal belongings. By doing this work, you can shave down your cost and moving quote.
Communication and Common Sense

When seeking a quote from a professional moving company, do not underestimate your moving needs. If your garage is filled with three tons of miscellaneous books, then it will be an important factor in the cost of moving. Use good communication and common sense when contracting with a Los Angeles moving provider. Moving is not something we do every day, it is expensive, and very stressful. By paying attention to detail when hiring a moving company, everybody wins, and your move can will be far less stressful than it already is.

Before you hire a moving company do your homework. Every year, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration fines more and more moving companies for various violations. Last year, their investigations resulted in over 300 fines for safety violations among moving companies in the U.S… Some unethical moving companies sacrifice safety and scruples for better profits. Don’t be daunted by this, there are several steps you can take to find an ethical moving company.

First things first – do your homework on choosing a suitable mover. Picking the wrong movers could result in major financial losses due to bait and switch tactics, as well as damage to your precious personal treasures – not to mention potential theft. Prior to engaging a moving company, you will want to see if there are complaints against them at the Better Business Bureau. Also, check out this new website called www.movingscam.com, designed just for monitoring bad moving companies.

The Department of Transportation reports that there are specific signs that your moving operator may be less that ethical:

1. The mover doesn’t offer or agree to an inspection of your household goods prior to giving an estimate. These estimates are often too good to be true – a bait and switch tactic.
2. The moving company demands cash or a large deposit before the move – anything more than $100 should be cause for concern.
3. The mover doesn’t provide you with a copy of Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move, a booklet movers are required by Federal regulations to supply to their customers.
4. The mover claims all goods are covered by their insurance is not likely being candid.
5. The company’s website has very few details about the licensing or physical address.

Long time moving company owner in Los Angeles, Stan Korski, says, “Many moving companies prey on last minute movers – most legitimate companies require weeks of advance booking, so when a last minute mover calls, some movers take advantage of the situation.” An integral part of a low cost move is clearly advance planning.

At Los Angeles Professional Movers, they recommend booking at least six weeks in advance, which means you should start researching your moving company at least 7 weeks prior to your planned move date. Another advantage to booking early is that you can often negotiate the cost of the move and other details, as well as make special requests from your selected moving company.

Industry experts recommend avoiding summers and weekends when booking your move. Increased demand during those periods result in higher costs and diminished availability of quality moving services. In 2008, most violations, in proportion to the total number of moves, were discovered by the FMCSA. Poor planning blended with a move during a busy season could significantly narrow your moving service alternatives and make you more vulnerable to predatory operators.

Almost all moving companies charge additional fees for special requests or contingencies sometimes not totally disclosed, so prepare for it. It is important that you ask pertinent questions about extra costs, insurance policies, license numbers, and the mileage that is or is not included.

All in all, the most important thing to remember is not move without a plan. Sometimes a move is decided on impulse. When it comes to hiring a moving company, impulsiveness can be expensive.

This is an article written by Sydney Welkinson – I thought I would share these tips on my blog.

Well, we did book our move with a reputable moving company who we hope will help us with our packing and long distance move. They arrived at our house last week and did a survey of our furnishings and provided a competitive quote. We had shopped for 3 other quotes and found this company, LA Pro Movers, to have a professional demeanor, proper credentials (insurance ppw), and competitive price.

Recently, we read an article that helped us identify red flags with moving companies:

“The mover doesn’t offer or agree to an on-site inspection of your household goods and gives an estimate over the phone or Internet—sight-unseen. These estimates often sound too good-to-be-true. They usually are.

• The moving company demands cash or a large deposit before the move.
• The mover doesn’t provide you with a copy of Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move, a booklet movers are required by Federal regulations to supply to their customers in the planning stages of interstate moves.
• The company’s website has no local address and no information about licensing or insurance.
• The mover claims all goods are covered by their insurance.
• When you call the mover, the telephone is answered with a generic “Movers” or “Moving company,” rather than the company’s name.
• Offices and warehouse are in poor condition or nonexistent.
• On moving day, a rental truck arrives rather than a company-owned and marked fleet truck.”

This is a great article that can be found at: http://moving.about.com/od/hiringamovingcompany/a/research.htm

We followed these steps when finding our moving company. We’ll see how it works out. We have 2 weeks to complete the packing and get moved into our house in Arizona.

We’ll see what lies in store.

Appropriately, this blog will document our upcoming move from Orange, CA to Tucson AZ. In detail, we will highlight the plans, mistakes, and problems that we encounter along the way.

Here is the tail of the tape:

• The house we are moving from is 2788 square feet with a 3 car garage.
• We are leasing out our existing home in Orange CA and leasing a home in Tucson AZ until we buy another home in Tucson.
• We are a family of 4.
• We have not moved since 2004 when we went from a 1600 square too condo to a 2788 square foot house . This was a time when there were no children.
• We may leave some furniture behind for the renters, but this is still uncertain.

This weekend, we will draft the moving “plan” and relevant time line for the move. In the end, we hope that by documenting our mistakes, readers of this blog can benefit. We will document all related costs as well to the penny.

Until Saturday then!