Packing it up:Helping clients with moving Bizpals

Category Real Estate Agents

Packing It Up: Helping Clients with Moving

If you're a real estate agent who likes to go that extra mile for your clients, advising them on packing up and moving to their new home is a helpful service you can offer. Many people find that the stress of moving is one of the worst parts of packing up their house and leaving their familiar environment. Everyone has heard a horror story or two! However, with the benefit of your experience, your clients should be able to stay organized and move into their new homes with a minimum of anxiety.

Hybrid Moving and Self-Service Moving

When thinking about moving, most people think in terms of the traditional full-service move, with the moving service arriving at the house or apartment at the appointed time and doing everything but there are other options. If your clients' budget for moving is limited, discuss the possibility of a “hybrid move” or a do-it-yourself move. A hybrid move would involve your clients doing some of the tasks that are usually performed by the moving company during a full-service move. For instance, they might do all of the packing, or have the moving company pack a rented truck that your clients would then drive to their new house. If your clients are moving from a rental apartment to a starter home and don't have a large amount of items to pack, and they are confident about doing the packing and loading, they may consider renting a truck and moving themselves.

Choosing a Moving Service

You may have a trusted moving service that you've used in the past to recommend to your clients. If not, use Bizpals directory for moving services to refer your clients to trusted moving companies and be sure to advise your clients to get estimates from at least three different providers. Also, your clients should understand the difference between a binding estimate and a non-binding estimate. If the mover gives a binding estimate, your clients will pay the total agreed in advance on the estimate. If a non-binding estimate is in place, the final charges your clients pay will be based on the actual weight of the goods transported, the services involved and any tariffs incurred. In this case your clients can pay up to 10% more than the estimated charges at delivery which is known as the 110% Rule. Use this glossary of terms to learn more industry lingo.
The website of the American Moving & Storage Association (AMSA) offers free moving quotes that are confidential. When your clients are deciding on a moving company, encourage them to ask questions when interviewing movers, such as how long has the mover been in business, and what the delivery schedule is likely to be.

Moving Checklists

There's a lot to organize during a move and it's easy for something to get overlooked in the confusion. Your clients will love you if you present them with a handy checklist for moving that will help keep them on track with the many tasks that need to be done, from turning off/on utilities and sending change-of-address notices to packing food and the basic clothes, toiletries and equipment needed for the first night in the new house. And as clients leave their old home, the last items on the list should be to make a final check of drawers, closets, etc., and to hand over the keys of the house.

Moving Day Apps

For the move itself, your clients will hopefully have your checklist in hand. But in case sheets of paper get lost in the shuffle, they may also appreciate a few smartphone apps to keep them organized. For the iPhone, Moving Day Info is a useful app, as is Moving Planner for the Android.

Packing

Even if your clients are having a full-service move, they will probably want to pack valuables and some personal items themselves. They may find a list of packing tips useful, with advice on choosing the right kind of boxes and packing material, how to pack frames with glass, protecting furniture with plastic wrap, and protecting pillows and other textile items in clear plastic bags, and so on.

Don't Forget Pets

When you're giving clients tips on packing up and moving the family, don't forget about their pets. Pets are likely to find moving stressful, so it's a good idea to prepare in advance for transporting Rex or Fluffy out of the old home and into the new one. On the big day, pets should be kept in a room with water and a litter box with a sign on the closed door asking the movers not to open the door. Pets should be given only a small amount of food on the day of the move to reduce the chance of stomach upset in transit. The checklist for moving a dog should include a crate, collar and leash, food and water and bowls for the journey, toys, tranquilizers, and the dog's veterinary information.
Cats are more used to traveling in cages or baskets, but are probably more resistant to change than dogs. The checklist for moving a cat to a new home should include the cat carrier, duct tape in case the carrier needs emergency repairs, food and water for the journey, tranquilizers and the cat's veterinary information. Both cats and dogs should be kept in a quiet room in the new house during the unpacking so they can adjust to their new surroundings and won't run off. Cats should be kept in this room for the first few days if possible to minimize the stress they will experience in a new place.
With the advice and help you provide, your clients will be able to have a stress-free moving experience and will soon be happily settled in their dream home!