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How To

How to Choose the Best Moving Company in NJ

best moving company in nj

Are you planning on moving to a new place in New Jersey? A cursory Google search will turn up dozens of options which can lead to analysis paralysis. The more options you have, the harder it can be for you to decide which one to choose. While this might not be an issue for non-pressing purchases, choosing a reliable NJ moving company is crucial if you want a seamless transition to your new home. After all, you’re trusting them with your belongings! In order to find the best moving companies in NJ, it’s important to set aside some time to do proper research and vetting if you want to avoid potential issues and scams down the line. Not sure how to start? This handy guide walks you through how to choose the best NJ movers.

Ask People You Know

Word-of-mouth is still king. Before you even look online for NJ moving company reviews, ask your friends, family, and coworkers for their first-hand experience. White you don’t need to give them the third degree, you should ask them about what it was like working with the moving company. Were they communicative, on time, and professional? Did they damage anything and if they did, how did they resolve the issue? Did their initial quote match the final bill? All of these can help you narrow down your choices before you start doing your own online research.

Of course, just because one of your friends had a good experience doesn’t mean that other people felt the same way. Even bad moving companies can get it right sometimes! But asking for referrals is a good start so you can narrow down your choices.

Check for Licenses and Insurance

All professional NJ moving companies must have the appropriate licenses and insurance in order to legally operate within the state. These include mandatory registration with the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) to receive a USDOT number, a unique identifier that allows the government and consumers to Current and new address

  • Estimated size of move it or access the company’s compliance, inspections, crashes, etc. In order to receive the USDOT number, companies must have proof of up-to-date insurance. On top of this, NJ movers must be licensed by the Division of Consumer Affairs, which supplies standards that companies must abide by including minimum insurance coverage, fitness standards, contract requirements, and claims procedures.

Most reputable NJ companies will display their USDOT number on their website so you can easily look them up. If they don’t have the information, you can call them up and ask or you can call the NJDOT or New Jersey Warehouse and Movers Association for updated details on the company.

Hire Local Movers

Experienced NJ movers can make the process seem easy. They will know exactly how to navigate the crazy New Jersey traffic as well as all the laws for parking and moving into apartment buildings and/or homes. Need to deal with a flight of stairs? The best NJ moving companies have got you covered. More importantly, hiring local movers means you’ll be less likely to be tricked into a scam. On top of that, if you can find something local to either your new or old address, you’ll also save money. Local moves charge by the hour and they start charging you the minute they leave their warehouse and will stop the clock once their trucks are back on site. That means the further away they need to drive in either direction, the more you will need to pay and the more chances there will be for the movers to run into traffic or other issues. Narrowing your search to more local companies can save you a hundred dollars or more!

Do Your Research!

Even if you get recommendations from other people you still need to do your due diligence. Luckily, you can perform most of this online by looking at various online review sites like Google, Yelp, and Facebook. If a company has been in business for a long time, they will have hundreds of reviews from satisfied and not-so-satisfied customers. Read as many as you can and pay special attention to the negative reviews to see if there is a trend in the complaints. If a lot of people are complaining about poor service, damaged belongings, or surprise fees you might want to move on to the next company.

In addition to online review sites, check out the Better Business Bureau to see if the company has a report. Check out the letter grade and read any complaints, reviews, and government actions. You can also review the company’s complaint history on the USDOT website by entering the USDOT number in the search bar.

Call the Company

Once you’ve narrowed down your choices to three options, give them a call to discuss their services and rates. Do NOT send them an email as the purpose of the call is to assess their professionalism and communication skills. Pay close attention to how they answer their phone when they pick up. They should say the company name, not their name. From there, walk them through what you need for the move including things like:

  • Moving date and time
  • Additional services
  • Bulky furniture/times
  • Flights of stairs they will need to walk up
  • Your budget

The more information you can provide the more accurate the mover’s estimate will be. While talking to them, don’t forget to ask questions! This could be from terms they use that you aren’t familiar with to the types of services they provide including providing packing materials, plastic bin rentals, and so on. Trustworthy NJ movers will be more than happy to answer any of your questions and will work with you to find a way to match your needs and budget. If the person on the other end seems annoyed, avoids your questions, and/or tries to pressure you into handing over your credit card information, move on. It’s a clear sign that the company is not professional.

Book Your NJ Movers

Finding a moving company can be daunting, but with these tips you should be able to narrow down your search. Always get an estimate from each of the companies to compare the prices and services they offer. If one seems significantly cheaper than the others, chances are you’ll be hit with a lot of hidden fees at the end. Most companies should be around the same price give or take a few dollars. If it’s still out of your budget, ask if they can provide some kind of discount. This is especially effective if you’re moving between October through April as fewer people move during this period. Once you’re happy with your research and the estimate, make sure to book as soon as possible so you don’t miss out on your preferred date and time.

If you’re looking for a reputable company, give NJ Great Movers a call! We have an almost 5-star rating on all review platforms. Our crew will work with you to make your move as easy as possible.

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General

Local vs. Long Distance Moves – What to Expect

Local vs. Long Distance Moves - What to Expect

If you’ve worked with professional NJ movers at all, you’ve probably heard the term local or long distance moves. While the words might seem obvious, there’s a bit of nuance to it when it comes to the moving industry. More importantly, a local and long-distance move can change a lot in terms of pricing, consumer protection laws, moving crew, and more. So what makes a move local or long distance? Below is a breakdown of their differences.

Distance

The main difference between a local and long-distance move is the distance between your old home and new home. Local moves typically are within a 50 mile radius and anything over that would be considered long-distance. Of course, some moving companies are happy to make a concession if the move is just outside the local range and some even consider any move within the state to be local. Before you sign any paperwork, make sure to know how the NJ movers qualify a local move. Since New Jersey is 166 miles long and 65 miles wide at its widest point, some companies might consider a move from North New Jersey to South Jersey a long-distance move.

And what about interstate moves? While it might seem obvious that moving to another state would be considered a long-distance move, that’s not always the case. For example, if you’re moving from Brooklyn to Hoboken, most NJ moving companies would consider that a local move. Similarly, a move from Stamford, CT to Jersey City might also be a local move. Not all local moving companies work between states, so you should always ask beforehand.

Pricing

In general, most local NJ moves will be charged based on the number of hours it takes to complete the move. This includes loading, transportation, and unloading. For the most part, you can expect to pay for at least 4 hours of work depending on how much stuff you have to move and whether you decide to add-on a packing and/or unpacking service. The hourly rate starts when the crew leaves headquarters and ends when they bring the truck back to the parking lot. That means any delays due to weather or traffic during this time will be added to the final bill so you could end up paying more than you expect. However, the benefit of an hourly rate is that you can include a couple extra boxes or items without significantly changing the final bill.

Long-distance moves, on the other hand, are typically priced based on the weight of your belongings and the distance of the move. The more you have, the more expensive your move will be. To reduce your financial burden, get rid of as much stuff as you can, especially heavy items like furniture. Only keep items that are in good condition and you know will survive the long trip. And remember, any additional boxes or items that you bring with you after the quote will increase the price of your move so triple-check you have included everything you plan on bringing with you. You don’t want to be surprised by a much higher bill at the end of your move.

Speaking of saving money, if you have a tight budget opt for consolidated shipping. As the name suggests, you will be sharing space on the truck with other clients. It’s a perfect option if you don’t mind getting your items delivered between a time range of 6-10 days. Just make sure to look over your inventory carefully to make sure there are no boxes missing once the long distance movers deliver your belongings.

Packing

You can get a local move done in a few hours, which means your belongings are only in a truck for a short time. While you shouldn’t just toss items into a box, you don’t need to be super vigilant when it comes to packing. Of course, you should make sure to protect fragile items during your move as any little bump could lead to broken glassware or plates. 

However, with long distance moving to NJ, your boxes will be in the truck for several days or even weeks. That means more opportunities for your boxes to get jostled and its contents to suffer from damages. To avoid that, you should definitely take your time and pack everything with the utmost care. Invest in higher quality packing materials like boxes, tape, and bubble wrap. Or, better yet, see if the NJ movers you hire offer packing services. If they do and you have the money for it, hire them. 

The benefit of having professionals pack for you, besides saving you time, is that if your belongings are damaged during transit it will be covered by the valuation coverage you choose. Our suggestion – spring for the full valuation option. It will cost you money, but if an item is lost or damaged, the movers will have to pay to repair, replace, or pay a cash settlement for the current market value of that item. If you pack yourself, the movers are not liable for any damages unless you can prove that they were negligent in the handling of your boxes.

Planning

Moving requires a whole lot of planning and organization. Even for a local move you have to stay on top of a lot of little tasks like scheduling and transferring your utilities, planning your travel arrangements to get to your new place, getting your kids and pets ready for the move, packing, changing your mailing address for all your bills, updating your IDs and so on. If your kids are changing schools, you also have to notify the schools of the move and transfer their records. It can be overwhelming, which is why it’s a good idea to schedule some time to get all of these little things done. Set aside 30-40 minutes every day in the lead up to the move to check off one or two items on your list. By the time moving day rolls around, you should have everything moved over to your new address.

A lot of the same principles apply to moving long distance moves, just with double or triple the amount of tasks you need to do. In addition to everything mentioned above, you also have to change your driver’s license to a new state, transfer any professional licenses, cancel or transfer all your memberships, and more. Getting everything in place might take longer so make sure to set aside at least a month and a half to get through everything.

Moving to New Jersey

Whether you’re making a local or long distance relocation to New Jersey you’ll want to hire professional NJ movers. NJ Great Movers can help you with every aspect of your move whether that’s providing you with high quality boxes or packing and unpacking your possessions. Whatever you need, we’ll be there for you! Reach out to us once you’re ready to make your NJ Move.

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How To

How to Find Affordable NJ Movers You Can Trust

How to Find Affordable NJ Movers You Can Trust

Finding the right NJ moving company to help with your relocation can be a daunting process. Looking for a trustworthy affordable one can be even harder. With so many moving companies in NJ to choose from, it’s important to take the time to do your research and find one that matches your needs and budget. Luckily, the steps below can help you find an NJ moving company that is affordable and trustworthy.

Start Early

The sooner you can start your research, the better. While there are hundreds of reliable companies in NJ (including NJ Great Movers), there are also plenty of scams out there. The more time you give yourself to research companies, the better odds you’ll have of finding a reputable one. Ideally, you should start your search at least a month before you plan on moving out of your current home. You might want to start earlier if you’ve moving during peak season which is from May through September. 

Of course, sometimes you won’t have the luxury of time. If you need to move out in a hurry, you should still take some time to do as much research as possible and don’t go for the first company that offers you a good deal. Ask questions, look up reviews, and most of all, trust your instincts. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. And if the moving companies seem to be dodging your questions or trying to pressure you into signing the estimate, they’re probably trying to scam you. Look for companies that provide full answers, are helpful, and most of all, have an active Department of Transportation (DOT) number listed on their site.

Ask for Recommendations

No moving company is going to say that they’re bad or mediocre. Every single one will claim that they are the best. Instead, ask people you know first for recommendations. You’ll likely get better advice and feedback from them since they can provide you with reliable information regarding their experience.

After that, go online and look for customer reviews about cheap NJ movers. There are plenty of review sites online that you can check and you can even join some online groups and ask its members their opinion on various moving companies. When checking online reviews, take it with a grain of salt. The moving companies themselves create the listings on these sites and can manipulate the reviews to make themselves look good.

While you’re at it, make sure to look the company up on the Better Business Bureau and look for complaints. You should also look up the DOT number online to make sure the company still has a valid registration with the state and federal government.

Call the Movers

Once you’ve narrowed your choices down, it’s time to look up the movers themselves. Check out their website to make sure that they have things like a DOT number listed on their site, a business email, phone number, and address. From there, check the DOT site to ensure the name of the company and address listed on the site matches what is registered with the DOT.

If everything checks out, give the movers a call. When answering the phone they should say the company’s name not a generic “movers” or “moving company” or, worse, their name. If you do hear the latter, move on to the next company. In case everything is fine, ask for an estimate. Most companies will either need a virtual or in-person tour to see what you are bringing with you. Make sure to convey important information like if you need them to navigate stairs or other things like dealing with building management. These could add to the estimate.

Most estimates should be within the same range give or take $10-20. If the estimate is suspiciously low, it’s likely a scam. Ask the company for clarification and make sure there aren’t any hidden costs. Always discuss every aspect of the move including additional services like packing and unpacking, storage, furniture disassembly, insurance, etc. If you’re working with professional NJ movers you should have released value protection included for free, but it doesn’t hurt to ask. If it’s not included, RUN! By law, all professional moving companies need to offer this for FREE.

Quality Over Price

Even if you’re moving on a tight budget, it’s important to understand that you get what you pay for. Renting a van might be an inexpensive option, but you’ll spend a lot of time doing the moving yourself. And unless you have people to help or the appropriate equipment, moving bulky or large pieces of furniture will be out of the question. Even with help, you could easily injure yourself carrying boxes or other items because you don’t know proper technique or know moving safety guidelines. There’s nothing worse than having to move into a new place while injured.

Even when hiring professional movers, it can be worth it to go with a company that is a bit more expensive but has great recommendations and reviews. An experienced company will be able to efficiently and safely move all your belongings from one place to another in a few hours. Not only that, but they’ll have all the appropriate equipment and materials for a successful relocation.

When it comes to cutting costs, one of the easiest places to save money is with packing supplies. While they should be sturdy and durable, you don’t have to buy them new. In fact, you should try to use as many things in your home as possible such as bags, plastic bins, suitcases, etc. If you’re low on boxes, ask your local supermarket to see if they have any extra boxes or papers lying around. You should be able to scrounge up enough, but if not, you will only have to buy a handful of boxes instead of a couple dozen.

Ready to Move?

Whether you’re making a local or long distance move, NJ Great Movers can help. Our highly qualified employees can provide you with useful information and help with creating your custom moving plan. Just give us a call and we’ll walk you through the process.

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Moving Tips

Simple Ways to Declutter Household Items Before Your Next NJ Move

Simple Tips on How to Declutter Before Your Next NJ Move

If you’re planning a NJ move in the future, one of the best ways to reduce stress and save money is by paring down your belongings. After all, the less stuff you have, the less it will cost to move. Plus, if you have a lot of items that are still in good condition, you can sell it at a garage or estate sale and use that extra money to offset other moving expenses.

However, as anyone who has tried to declutter will know, it’s not an easy process. Unless you’re a dedicated minimalist, chances are you probably haven’t really considered the importance of every item you own. It’s all too easy to accumulate stuff the longer you live in one place. In fact, many people are surprised by how much they own when they do end up moving. Trying to organize and go through everything can feel overwhelming, but there are a few things you can do to make the process easier.

Start Early to Ensure You Have Enough Time

It might be obvious advice, but it’s important to have enough time so you can make thoughtful decisions when decluttering. You don’t want to accidentally throw out a family memento because you were too strapped for time nor do you want to keep everything you own! When you start depends on the size of your home. If you’re living in a one-bedroom apartment you might only need to start two months before your move. On the other hand, if you live in a large four bedroom house, you might want to start six to 12 months beforehand.

Besides giving you time to sort through your belongings, decluttering your home early makes your house easier to sell as it makes it easier for your agent to stage. Plus, you’ll have more time to do research on the items you own and their resale value. So instead of selling everything in a large garage sale, you can sell in-demand items on eBay or other platforms.

Prepare a Simple Checklist for Moving Day

People hold onto clutter for a variety of reasons and there are a few categories most items will fall into when it comes time to declutter:

  • Old items you no longer use – these include clothes that don’t fit, books you won’t read, boxes of cords and cables you’re holding onto just in case, and so on.
  • Things you have too many of – it’s easy to accumulate small items over the years like towels, dishes, water bottles, silverware, etc. and add them to your collection instead of replacing your old stuff
  • Stuff that is past its prime – if you haven’t fixed an item up yet, it’s a good time to get rid of it. So toss those holey socks, broken electronics, expired spices, etc.

Even if you start early, it doesn’t mean anything if you’re decluttering haphazardly. You should draw up a plan to help you break down this process into multiple steps. One of the best ways to separate the job is to do a single room or area once a day. Start with rooms that you use the least such as the attic, basement, garage, or guest bedroom. Chances are you’ll have a lot of stuff stored here that you probably forgot about!

Use Up Consumables Before Moving Day

An easy way to reduce your clutter is to use up anything consumable before moving. Start this process as soon as you have decided you’re going to move as it might take you some time to go through everything in your pantry and storage. While you’re there, check the expiration dates on things like canned food, spices, condiments, etc. and throw out any that are expired.

Consumables aren’t just limited to food items. Other things that fall into this category include:

  • Personal care items – shampoo, soap, lotion, mouth wash
  • Household products – cleaning supplies, paper products, laundry detergent
  • Reading materials – newspapers, magazines, books

Make it a goal to bring as few consumable items to your new house as possible. It will take some planning, but you’ll thank yourself when it’s time to unpack!

Follow the One-Touch Rule for Efficient Packing

If you haven’t heard of this rule, it’s simple – if you pick something up, you have to deal with it. You cannot put it back down to sort out later. So be careful what you pick up while decluttering if you’re not ready to decide whether you want to keep an item or not!

It’s easy to get sidetracked when decluttering. Maybe you hesitate on an item and put it to the side, but then you completely forget about it. While having one or two extra items might not be a big deal, it’s all too easy for this number to balloon up to a dozen or more small things. Don’t go easy on yourself! Make sure to stick to the one-touch rule no matter how big or small the item is. You might need to take some time to mull over the decision, but you’ll ultimately progress faster with decluttering by following this method.

Don’t Buy New Stuff Before Move

This should come as a no-brainer, but you don’t want to increase the amount of things you own before the move. Anything new you bring will be one more thing you’ll need to pack. Your goal is to use up as much stuff as you can! If you’re a few months out from your move and you notice you’re running out of some items, get a smaller size than you normally would. For example, buy individual rolls of toilet paper or paper towels instead of the large packs. Yes, individual items are more expensive, but do you really want to move an opened pack of paper towels?

The same goes for larger items. There’s no reason to buy that chair or table right before you move. Not only are you increasing the potential cost of your move, you might not even like the way that item looks in your new home. Before making any kind of purchase, consider if you really need that particular item right now or if it can wait until you move. Chances are, it can probably wait.

Encourage Everyone to Get Involved

There’s no reason you should do all the decluttering yourself if you have a family. Plus, it will go a lot faster if you get some help from family when declutter and everyone will hopefully be a lot happier. When getting others involved, make sure to set up some ground rules. Maybe that means that teaching them the one-touch rule or perhaps setting an expectation to fill at least one trash bag per room.

If you have very young children, you can still get them involved and have them declutter their own things. It will take time and patience. If you’re short on both, then it will be up to you to do it. Should you choose to get them involved don’t make things too complicated. Ask them if they still play with particular toys and/or if they’re ready to let go of a few. Some children might be very possessive of their things, so it might be better to ask them to point out their most favorite toys, clothes, etc.

With your partner, you should make sure that they declutter their spaces and set up the same rules. Some people are natural packrates. If you think your partner is one, you might need to check in on them to make sure they’re actually getting rid of items. Encourage them to be honest with their assessment so they can figure out what they truly use, need, and/or love.

Go Through Everything

Decluttering isn’t a short process. It’s time consuming, can save you money, and requires a lot of emotional and physical bandwidth. However, in order to get the most out of this process you should go through every single item you own from your furniture down to a pack of screws. Don’t forget to go through all your cabinets, drawers, and so on and reassess every gadget, tools, decor, clothes, etc. Some items will be easier to decide on versus other, more sentimental ones. However, be brutal when culling! Think about how easy it will be to pack and unpack once you get to your new home.

Once you’ve pruned your belongings, sell or donate whatever is in good shape. You can host a garage sale to get rid of the majority of your items. For whatever is left, give it away to friends, family, neighbors, etc. for free. You can donate whatever is left. For items that are past their prime, throw them out. Make sure to ask your sanitation department what to do for bulky items and electronics as there’s often a separate system.

Get Decluttering!

When moving into a new home, the last thing you want to do is bring a lot of old, dusty, and/or broken stuff with you that you’ll only have to get rid of later. Decluttering can save you money and time. In fact, it might even give you some extra pocket money when it comes to refurnishing your new home. Once you’re ready, give professional NJ movers a call to reduce your stress.