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hiddenmuseYou know, I don't think I'd mentioned it yet ... but Kellie and I are moving in a couple of weeks!
Okay, so this move is merely 4 blocks due west of our current place (no kidding), but as San Francisco goes, we're talking hellacious hills in the course of those four blocks. :-/
So, we've decided to get a moving company. Not because we're lazy slackers. Well, okay, so that's about 50 - 99% of it. The rest of it is that we don't want to exhaust our resources when it comes to our friends, and we'd like to not be strapped onto some medieval torture device to get our backs returned to alignment post-move!! (Especially since Ren Faires are winding down as it gets into the fall and cooler weather)
Kellie has been the one to handle most of the duties when it comes to finding our new place - whether it's actually finding the place, getting boxes to pack our stuff in, or even looking for inexpensive, reasonably attractive furniture - she's been the main woman behind it all.
I got the important responsibility of finding the movers. Sure, it sounds pretty easy - all you really want is someone that can schlep your crap in a truck, just a few blocks west, without screwing you over on the price. Oh good brother (and sister) ... if only it were that easy!
Step by step by arduous step...
Instead, it feels like you're going to various websites found by doing a quick Google search - or going to your search engine of choice. My apologies and sympathy in advance if it's AOHell - I'm in the process of "divorcing" them after 5 years, myself.
You may find yourself at some generic website for people looking for moving companies/ storage companies/ apartments/ whatever. You fill out the generic estimate form, with what little information you have about your pending move - it seems like the only definites are "I'm moving a futon and frame, portable dishwasher, computer desk, yadda yadda yadda." The number of boxes being moved is an estimate, as we're still packing, but it looks like about 45 - 50 altogether.
Once this is done, all you can do is wait. Usually, within about 24 hours, you'll get some quotes from companies, all trying to either win a Minimalism award or win your heart with a deluge of information. Or, they'll bombard you with e-mails and voicemails, making you wonder if you're looking for a moving company or dealing with Single White Female: Redux.
Are we moving - or being shipped out?
You learn a whole new vocabulary. It's not "Moving From" and "Moving To" anymore, it's "Origin" and "Destination". We've suddenly become packages being sent via UPS, and I didn't realize it. I just want to know, where's my Tracking Number, and could I get one of those Biohazard stickers for the hell of it, please? ;)
You find that "Licensed, Insured, Bonded" are three words you like to see in an ad/ website. You may have no idea what they mean - just that it sounds good (I'll explain it in detail, perhaps post-move, when I can think clearly) and must be important, because it's in big letters.
Huked on Fonix Wurked Fer Mee!
As silly as it may seem to a lot of people, I found myself paying attention to little things, like spelling and grammar on the websites and in e-mail correspondence with movers. I also looked to see how my requests for information were handled.
One moving company that appeared to be relatively decent - offering good rates, plenty of information on how to find a good mover, etc. - turned out to not be so stellar in other aspects. When it came time to get references, I sent a request, with "Local References" in the subject line, and explicitly stated in the e-mail that I wanted the names and phone numbers of clients in San Francisco that had used this mover within the past few months.
What I got in response quickly relegated this company to my Blacklist. Local References were in New York. Recent references - I was given the URL to a website, where the most recent information was from over a year ago. And the header on the website ... well, my lovelies, that was just hilarious: Our Costumers Can Vouch for Our Work! Yes, I'm sure that the costumers can ... but, I'll pass.
To be continued, soon ...
Okay, so this move is merely 4 blocks due west of our current place (no kidding), but as San Francisco goes, we're talking hellacious hills in the course of those four blocks. :-/
So, we've decided to get a moving company. Not because we're lazy slackers. Well, okay, so that's about 50 - 99% of it. The rest of it is that we don't want to exhaust our resources when it comes to our friends, and we'd like to not be strapped onto some medieval torture device to get our backs returned to alignment post-move!! (Especially since Ren Faires are winding down as it gets into the fall and cooler weather)
Kellie has been the one to handle most of the duties when it comes to finding our new place - whether it's actually finding the place, getting boxes to pack our stuff in, or even looking for inexpensive, reasonably attractive furniture - she's been the main woman behind it all.
I got the important responsibility of finding the movers. Sure, it sounds pretty easy - all you really want is someone that can schlep your crap in a truck, just a few blocks west, without screwing you over on the price. Oh good brother (and sister) ... if only it were that easy!
Step by step by arduous step...
Instead, it feels like you're going to various websites found by doing a quick Google search - or going to your search engine of choice. My apologies and sympathy in advance if it's AOHell - I'm in the process of "divorcing" them after 5 years, myself.
You may find yourself at some generic website for people looking for moving companies/ storage companies/ apartments/ whatever. You fill out the generic estimate form, with what little information you have about your pending move - it seems like the only definites are "I'm moving a futon and frame, portable dishwasher, computer desk, yadda yadda yadda." The number of boxes being moved is an estimate, as we're still packing, but it looks like about 45 - 50 altogether.
Once this is done, all you can do is wait. Usually, within about 24 hours, you'll get some quotes from companies, all trying to either win a Minimalism award or win your heart with a deluge of information. Or, they'll bombard you with e-mails and voicemails, making you wonder if you're looking for a moving company or dealing with Single White Female: Redux.
Are we moving - or being shipped out?
You learn a whole new vocabulary. It's not "Moving From" and "Moving To" anymore, it's "Origin" and "Destination". We've suddenly become packages being sent via UPS, and I didn't realize it. I just want to know, where's my Tracking Number, and could I get one of those Biohazard stickers for the hell of it, please? ;)
You find that "Licensed, Insured, Bonded" are three words you like to see in an ad/ website. You may have no idea what they mean - just that it sounds good (I'll explain it in detail, perhaps post-move, when I can think clearly) and must be important, because it's in big letters.
Huked on Fonix Wurked Fer Mee!
As silly as it may seem to a lot of people, I found myself paying attention to little things, like spelling and grammar on the websites and in e-mail correspondence with movers. I also looked to see how my requests for information were handled.
One moving company that appeared to be relatively decent - offering good rates, plenty of information on how to find a good mover, etc. - turned out to not be so stellar in other aspects. When it came time to get references, I sent a request, with "Local References" in the subject line, and explicitly stated in the e-mail that I wanted the names and phone numbers of clients in San Francisco that had used this mover within the past few months.
What I got in response quickly relegated this company to my Blacklist. Local References were in New York. Recent references - I was given the URL to a website, where the most recent information was from over a year ago. And the header on the website ... well, my lovelies, that was just hilarious: Our Costumers Can Vouch for Our Work! Yes, I'm sure that the costumers can ... but, I'll pass.
To be continued, soon ...
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no subject
Date: 2004-09-17 05:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-09-17 10:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-09-18 05:17 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-09-18 07:14 am (UTC)good luck with the new place, hurrayyy for modern refrigeration, no?!!