Why it Pays to Hire an Experienced Moving Company

Experience is critical in the moving industry. With so many moving companies in the Hampton Roads area, it can be hard to determine which one to choose. One key way to find a reliable moving company is to choose one with lots of experience. Would you rather trust your belongings to a company that’s only been around for a few years or one that’s been around since 1878? The answer is simple. At Brooks Transfer & Storage, we are the most experienced moving company in the area. You’ll be pleased with our turn key moving service from start to finish.

Moving Peace of Mind

By choosing Brooks Transfer & Storage, you can rest easy knowing that your personal items will be transported safely and securely to your new home. Just the thought of moving is stressful enough for most people, so let our professional movers provide you some peace of mind with your upcoming move. We have a passion for making the move as smooth as possible for our clients.

Packing Assistance

Another reason why it pays to hire an experienced moving company is for the help it can offer with the preparation. If you plan to pack your home up on your own, we advise that you start at least a month in advance. The alternative is to leave this overwhelming task up to our packing team at Brooks Transfer & Storage. Over the years, we’ve mastered the packing process and we make sure to provide all of our customers with a full inventory list that you can sign off on at the end of the move. Additionally, if you’d like some assistance unpacking once you arrive at your new home, we can help you with that process as well!

Protection

At Brooks Transfer & Storage, we keep your belongings protected every step of the way. Our moving teams are trained on the best ways to store your belongings for the move. We do not cut corners when packing up or transporting your possessions to your new home. Instead, we employ a patient, experienced and reliable crew that will always have your best interests in mind as a moving customer.

These are just a few of the reasons why it pays to hire an experienced moving company. Over a century of experience in the moving industry simply cannot be matched by the other moving companies in the Hampton Roads area. To request a free quote from our professional moving team at Brooks Transfer & Storage, give us a call today at (800) 544-1265 or email info@brookstransfer.com.

Moving Checklist – 3 Things to Remember for Your Next Move

Are you overwhelmed by the thought of your upcoming move? The good news is that you don’t have to tackle this project on your own. Instead, you should team up with an experienced moving team that can take some of the moving stress off of your shoulders. If you are in the Hampton Roads area, there is no better professional moving crew to partner with than Brooks Transfer & Storage. We’ve been handling moves across this area since 1878. There’s not another crew in the area with that kind of experience. Today, our moving professionals are eager to share 3 key things to remember for your next move.

Preparation

A big move across town, the state or the country is something that takes preparation. You can’t wake up the morning of your move and expect that things will go smoothly if you skipped over the preparation aspect of the move. Give our team at Brooks Transfer & Storage a call early so that we can be sure to have a crew available at your designated moving date. Preparation also involves cancelling your utility bills such as electricity, water, cable and internet at the home you’re moving from. Contact the postal service to setup mail forwarding so that you don’t miss out on any important documents that come in the mail. Don’t forget about setting things up at your new home so that nothing is delayed once you arrive.

Pack Early

Procrastination will get you in trouble when it comes to packing. If you plan to pack up your home on your own, make sure that you give yourself enough time. Packing is an important process and ensuring that your belongings are secure is critical for a move of any size. Our recommendation is that you start the packing process a month before your move is set to occur. Another great option is to have our moving specialists at Brooks Transfer & Storage pack your home up for you. We’ll provide you with an inventory list tracking all of your items during the move.

Availability

On the day of your move, we require that you or someone that you designate be present with us during the whole loading process. Should our movers need to contact you for any reason during the transport of your belongings, be sure to have your cell phone handy at all times. Once we’ve arrived at your new home, you, or someone that you designate, must also be at this location during the whole unloading process. We’ll request that you check off the entire inventory list to make sure that no items are left behind.

With more than a century of experience in the moving industry, our team at Brooks Transfer & Storage knows the keys to a successful move. To learn more about these tips and how we can help you with your upcoming move, give us a call today at (800) 544-1265 or email info@brookstransfer.com.

What to Look for on a Moving Estimate?

Anytime you are preparing for a big move around Virginia Beach, VA and beyond, the financial side of the project is always a priority. How much is it going to cost to hire a moving company? Are there hidden costs? The good news is that most moving companies will provide you with a moving estimate before starting the work. It is important to make them aware of all items that you need moved so that this can be included in your estimate. Don’t forget about those items that may be in your attic, shed or garage! There are certain things to look for on a moving estimate when trying to find the right moving company to partner with. At Brooks Transfer & Storage, we make sure that all of our moving estimates have exactly what you’re looking for so that there are no surprises down the road.

What Goes into the Estimate?

There is not a one size fits all way for moving companies to complete their estimates. Some providers base their charges off of a flat, per hour charge. Others consider other factors such as the number of movers you’ll need and the size of the moving truck. For longer distance moves, the weight of your belongings and the miles traveled can have a direct impact on your estimate. Before having a moving company come over to provide you an estimate, go ahead and ask them how they determine their charges. By choosing Brooks Transfer & Storage, we are happy to break down our standard fees before we show up to provide the estimate. Since we’ve been in the moving industry for more than 138 years, you can bet that our prices are affordable and our movers are reliable!

Common Estimate Styles

There are a few standard categories that most moving estimates fall within. These include:

• Non-Binding – You have to be careful if you are offered a non-binding estimate. The reason is because your final charge could be very different than the original estimate. The movers are not bound to the original estimate cost, so what you end up paying could end up being more than expected.
• Binding – This type of estimate is more preferred for individuals because it forces your movers to stay true to the price on the estimate. This allows you to plan properly with the confidence that your estimate is the true cost of the move. With a binding estimate, the cost doesn’t change even if the actual cost of the move ends up being lower than the estimate.
• Binding Without Exceeding the Moving Estimate – With this type of estimate, you’re never required to pay anything above the estimated cost. If the final cost ends up being less than the estimate, you pay the lesser amount. If possible, this is the type of estimate you want to get from a moving company.

At Brooks Transfer & Storage, our customers are the number one priority, even before we start the moving process. When it comes to a moving estimate, we stay true to the estimate to ensure that you are receiving a fair price. To request a free quote on your Virginia Beach, VA move, give us a call today at (800) 544-1265

Tips to Avoid Getting Scammed by Movers

Moving is already stressful enough. Add getting scammed by a moving “company” and your stress level may be higher than ever. Listen, your belongings are priceless. Don’t let some cheap ad you see on the internet fool you into losing your valuables. At Brooks Transfer & Storage, we’ve got tips to help you avoid getting scammed by movers.

Too Good To Be True

At Brooks Transfer & Storage, we are an honest, reliable and very dependable moving company. We offer affordable prices that allow customers to move their belongings at a price that’s reasonable. However, if you looking online and see insane, too good to be true prices, it’s likely that it’s a scam. Why would someone that you don’t know do something that takes a tremendous amount of time and effort for basically nothing? Using your intuition here is a great way to catch a scam.

When the Vibes Are Wrong

So let’s say you still want to give the “too good to be true” flyer a shot. Keep your eye out for warning signs. Moving is a customer service business. If they are being rude or aren’t showing good manners on the phone, it’s likely that they are trying to scam you. Regardless, why would you want to move with a rude company anyways? Another warning sign would be a website that looks outdated and not professional. If their website is disorganized, how do you think their actual move will be? All of these little details add up to the big conclusion that you are at risk for being scammed.

Credentials

This is such a simple step that no one should ever avoid. Check their credentials! Are they certified to move your belongings? Are they legally registered? Do they have a great reputation around town? These are such important aspects that never need to be overlooked.

Big No-No’s

Here’s a list of hard no’s for when you are picking a moving company:

• Advanced Payment – No company should ask that you pay it all in advance or even a large portion of the payment before the actual move occurs.
• Cash Only – No company will ask for cash only. While cash is fine to give, legit companies will not use that as their only option.
• True Inspection – If they aren’t coming to your home to do a visual inspection and give you a quote over the phone before ever coming to see what task they have in hand, it’s also likely a scam.
• Home Base – If they do not have a physical address, back out now! A real company should also have a home base.

At Brooks Transfer & Storage, we have been serving residents and commercial properties for over 139 years. We have the credentials, the reputation, and the respect for our customers to get the job done right. For more information on moving, give us a call today at 800-544-1265.