1. Use boxes that are uniform in size. Though it may sound OCD at first, you’ll thank me later…especially when you begin stacking boxes in your storage unit.  Uniform boxes make it easy to stack.  Easy stacking means you can stack high.  Stacking high means you can utilize every bit of space in your storage unit.  See, it’s not that OCD
   

   Look what happens when they aren't uniform

2. Blaze a trail!.. or perhaps a small path.  Leave a little bit of room between your rows of boxes and your furniture so you can make it to the back of your storage unit.  Murphy’s law says that you will unexpectedly need something out of the first box you placed in your storage unit at some later time.  Having a trail to get to that box will keep you from having to unpack and repack your storage unit when that time comes.
   

   These people know what I mean when I talk about trail blazing with boxes.

3. Fill ‘er up…boxes that is. If you’re going to stack high and save space, you need to make sure your boxes have the structural integrity to handle the weight of being stacked.  Best way to do that is to pack your boxes to the top even if it’s with excess padding like newsprint.  How’s that for a “packing boxes architecture lesson”?
   

   I do not endorse the use of children as box padding.

4. Don’t forget the rust protector? That’s right.  Metal can rust.  More than likely you’re putting things like lawn mowers or file cabinets in your storage unit.  Spray them down with a can of rust protector.  Don’t have rust protector handy?  A wipe down with an oily rag will do.
   

   Rust protector. Magician named Rusty. Kid rusty on his magic skills. Punny...(insert another groan)

5. Think about security. Just because the facility said they have 100 cameras that are motion activitated, infrared, face recognition, with “see through your soul” technology, doesn’t mean you can throw caution to the wind.  PRO TIP:  Put your most valuable items all the way in the back of your storage unit.  Make anyone who is daring enough to break into your unit work hard for anything valuable.  Oh yeah, while you’re at it, spend more than $5.00 on a lock.  Get one of those big, thick, round ones.  You won’t regret the extra $ to ensure your belongings safety.
   

   Look how happy he is for spending more than $5 on a lock!

6. Think air circulation.  Believe it or not, storage in Columbia SC can get humid.  A typical day’s flux in temperature can cause condensation to build on the walls.  Leave a small barrier between your belongings and the walls to allow air to circulate within your storage unit.  This is one of the best ways to keep your belongings from getting musty and mildew-y while in storage.

Make your storage in Columbia SC experience a successful one.  Like most things in life, a little planning goes a long way.  We know storage Columbia SC can get hot and humid.  As such, we build a better storage unit to protect your belongings from the Columbia climate.  Check out what makes us different for a little more info about our storage units.

1. We’ve been in business for about the same amount of time.  You need to know the company you do business with is going to be around to complete the service purchased.  Mobile Attic as a corporate entity started about the same time as PODS and Mobile Attic of Columbia opened 8 years ago, the same year as PODS of Columbia SC.
2. We have a better storage unit.  Before you roll your eyes and say, “He gets paid to say that”, look below and see for yourself.  We do 2 things differently:
1. We don’t use any wood in our storage units. Wood absorbes moisture and creates a more humid environment. Humidity posses the greatest threat to furniture…more so than temperature!. Not using wood in our Mobile Attic storage units keeps our storage units less humid in our “Famously Hot” Columbia climate.
2. We don’t use translucent plastic tops. PODS translucent plastic tops allow sunlight into your storage unit which will make for a hotter environment. Allowing UV rays into your storage unit will also bleach colors in your furniture and other exposed items over time. We have solved this problem by using a reflective aluminum top. The aluminum reflects and disperses heat which makes for a cooler environment for your belongings.
   

   PODS Columbia SC Storage Unit

   

   Mobile Attic Columbia SC Storage Unit

3. You ALWAYS talk to someone local.  Unlike PODS in Columbia SC, when you call us, you won’t ever be routed to a call center.  You will always to speak to someone who knows your local area as well as your specific circumstances.
4. We have a lowest price guarantee.  We offer a superior product at a great price.  However, if you ever find that we are more than PODS in Columbia SC, we promise to beat their price by 5%.  If you don’t use our services, I don’t ever want it to be because of price.  Tell us you have been quoted less and we’ll make sure that we are the best deal for you!

If you’d like to see how we compare, fill out the form to the right and we will email you some prices and info.  We understand it’s a big deal when you give someone your email address.  We hate spam as much as you do.  We promise to be respectful of your information.

You can also call us and get an instant quote over the phone at (877) 423-2055.  That’s one of those toll free numbers that tracks calls from our website.  It comes straight to our office in NE Columbia SC.  If you’d prefer to dial locally, our number is 803-553-1663.

For more information about how we stack up against PODS Columbia SC, check out this PODS comparison chart we put together.

You can also see how we compare to PODS Columbia SC by checking out these frequently asked questions.

However, I thought the suggestion was brilliant.  The folks at www.movingscam.com say that nearly all victims who contacted movingscams.com found their moving company online.  I must say, I don’t agree with throwing the baby out with bathwater, but do think you need to take everything you read on the internet with a grain of salt.  In today’s world, it doesn’t take much to put up a website that looks official, fabricate some reviews, and answer the phone sounding official.

With that said, pick up the phone and call a few real estate offices in your area.  Ask for the top 3 moving companies in Columbia SC that they prefer to work with.  I advise trying to find a company that has been at it for more than 10 years.  Find out where their office is located at and verify that it is indeed their place of operation.

Movingscams.com recommended having each moving company give you an in home estimate.  I never thought about leaving each estimate in the open for the other moving companies to see when they come to your home.  Take the time to discuss differences in quotes so you can understand the range of services each moving company intends to provide.

Following some of these simple tips will save you from some challenging pitfalls that have plagued the moving industry.

We have worked with several moving companies in Columbia SC.  Give us a call and we can share a few recommendations.  FYI: We don’t make any money off of the companies that load our Mobile Attics.

Moving in Charleston, SC? We’ll have another tip in the next blog post!

Moving in Charleston, SC? Staty tuned for ANOTHER way a Magic Eraser can help you get ready for your move!

Moving in Charleston, SC? Stay tuned for our next post when we explain yet another way that a Magic Eraser can get you ready to move!

1. Wall Scuffs – a Magic Eraser can remove these marks, sparing you the time and expense of re-painting! Be careful, though. Do not rub the wall TOO hard or you can discolor the underlying paint.

If you are a Charleston mover, home-buyer, seller, or moving out of an apartment in Charleston, SC, we will post 6 more ways that a Magic Eraser can help you spruce up in subsequent blog posts. Stay tuned!

1) Are they licensed, bonded, and insured. This goes without saying. Make sure you discuss upfront the EXACT process that takes place when an item is found to be broken by the hand of their employees.

2) Do they care? – It’s a shame I have to ask this. Big, strong guys doesn’t mean anything when they don’t care. Not caring ends up being expensive to you. It results in nicks and scratches to your furniture, floors, and walls. It results in things being damaged while being transported due to poor packing. It results in slow moving workers that ride the clock, text and talk on their cell phones, and stop for smoke breaks on your precious dime.
How do you know if someone cares? Ask people who have used them. If you are calling movers out of a phone book, ask them for references. My personal preference would be to leave the phonebook alone and get a referral from someone in your community that has recently moved. Network at church, work, with friends, and neighbors. Find out who they used and how it went.

Also, the mover that sells you the service is usually not the guy who will load your portable storage unit. So, how do you ensure that the hired help will work as hard as promised? Cold hard cash. This is an invaluable tip passed along to me by a friend. It is standard to tip your movers. Use this as a means to motivate before the move starts. Have a little pep talk with them when they arrive. Make sure they know that TIPS stands for “To Insure Proper Service”. It is not an entitlement. Tell them how much you are willing to tip them. Then tell them what you require for them to get their tip. It may be that you expect the job could be done in six hours. If they don’t exceed 6 hrs. and get everything loaded in one piece without damage to house or property, they win! Maybe you throw in a bonus if they get done sooner. You get the picture. Appeal to the money motivated side of individuals and you may be surprised if they “care” a little bit more.

3) Are they honest? – I am sad to say that on more than one occasion I have had movers steal from our clients. Once this happens, they don’t ever get recommended again. This is a risk that is taken any time you allow people you don’t know into your home. You have to dig a bit to verify honesty. Again, interview past customers. Second, ask the company about their hiring process. How do they determine who makes it onto their team? Do they require background checks? How about drug tests? What other criteria do they use when hiring to ensure that you and your belongings stay safe? Third, get online and search for “movers name reviews”. Search google for the companies name + address to see reviews on their “Google Places Page”. Check yelp, kudzu, Angie’s list, service magic, yellowpages.com…anywhere someone can leave a review.

4) Get everything in writing. I know this isn’t a question, but I cannot stress it enough. We recently helped a gentleman out who received a price from a moving company. The price was not bonded (it was only an estimate, not a fixed amount). Our customer thought it was. He never got the agreement in writing. The job ended up being $3,000.00 more than was quoted (it was a big job!). The disagreement turned into a “he said, she said” argument. Because nothing was in writing, the moving company held their customer’s belongings hostage as leverage to get the money they felt was owed. It was a mess. Don’t end up in a situation like that. Get it in writing!

One final thought. I have yet to see a move go perfect. When moving, you need to know something will go wrong. Not all of your items will make it to your new home in their present condition. You’re also dealing with humans. To be human is to make mistakes. The measure of a good moving company is not how perfect they tend to be, but rather how well they handle their mistakes. Do they own up to problems and respond with integrity? The best moving companies I have worked with have put the customer first at cost to themselves. Surprise, surprise, these also seem to be the ones that stay in business the longest.

The people at moving guardian have created a list of helpful tips you can easily implement that will help reduce the stress of prepping for movers Columbia SC.  Helpful tips like color coordinating or labeling boxes to help you find where your things are. Preparing a floor plan of your new home can help you prevent not having enough room at your new house. This site even shares some creative ways to save some money that could be as simple as choosing “when” you decide to move.  See the whole list of 20 Moving Tips You REALLY Need To Know to prep for movers Columbia SC!

Here are 7 reasons why:

1. A PRE- inspection can identify any potential problems with the  house EARLY. This allows the seller to seek multiple bids to fix the problems, rather than rushing to fix everything just days before a closing. The seller can get a better deal this way, saving REAL MONEY.
2. A potential buyer may opt to rely on the seller’s inspection and decline to have it inspected themselves. This can dramatically speed up a closing date.
3. Negotiations between buyers and sellers are streamlined with a PRE inspection. There are fewer issues on the table with an inspection “in hand”.
4. Buyers have more confidence when looking at a house that has already been inspected. More confidence means  MORE OFFERS!
5. The report generated by a PRE- inspection can contain many more positive elements than a typical, bland  inspection report. In effect, the report becomes an additional marketing tool, highlighting the unique features of the house.
6. If there are issues found in a PRE-inspection, the seller can have repair quotes from reliable contractors printed out and ready, even stapling the quotes to the PRE- inspection report. This will mitigate any attempts by buyers to “lowball” excessively based on the condition of the house.
7. Some home inspectors will use the PRE- inspection as a foundation to issue a 120-day home warranty FREE to the new home buyer.  This is a POWERFUL tool to help get the house to a closing date quickly!

Traditionally, it was the home-buyer that initiated a home inspection prior to closing. In the current market, home-sellers look for ANY advantage to sell the house at the best price possible. A home PRE- inspection, completed even before the house is listed, can be a powerful tool in closing the deal!

(Thanks to Jeff Donaldson at Ace Preferred Home Inspections! Visit them at http://www.acepreferredinspections.com/)

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