Local Movers Chicago: All My Sons Moving and Storage www.allmysons.com/chicago

All My Sons Moving and Storage of Chicago on the news with money saving moving tips

2011-01-26T14:16:00.003-06:00

Did you see All My Sons Moving and Storage of Chicago on the local news recently showing how we can save you money on your move? If you didn't get to see it, here's the video:

View more news videos at: http://www.nbcchicago.com/video.

Happy Holidays from All My Sons of Chicago

2010-12-17T16:18:00.001-06:00

Happy Holidays from your favorite local mover in Chicago: All My Sons Moving and Storage! From our family to yours, season's greetings: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzu1wqqRi5U

All My Sons - Excellence in Estimating!

2010-02-04T13:03:00.002-06:00

Jeffrey H. Pink, Executive Vice President of National Van Lines, reported that All My Sons Moving & Storage, Inc., located in Broadview Illinois, was awarded the EXCELLENCE IN ESTIMATING AWARD at its 2009 Agent Convention. "With an accuracy rate of 98%...this achievement reflects your dedication to providing the very best to your customers."

All My Sons President, Mark T. Doyle, added " We are very proud to receive this award. This reflects the integrity and honesty that is part of our daily performance objectives. Credit is given to this award to all our sales and service representatives, especially our main estimator Michael Doyle. Whether a customer is moving locally or long distance, we aim to provide a quality service based upon realistic and economical pricing standards that underscore our reputation as Chicago's finest movers. "All My Sons Moving & Storage Inc. has been providing top notch moving services to its clients since 1997 in the Chicago area and remains locally owned and operated by a Chicago style family!

All My Sons Chicago moves!

2010-02-04T12:48:00.002-06:00

Don’t worry – we didn’t go far! All My Sons has relocated our facilities just a few blocks away to 25th Avenue in Broadview from 21st Street. Our old warehouse was great, and our new warehouse is even better. Although it may be slightly smaller in size, it makes for a more efficient space. Our warehouseman and dispatch team have everything highly organized and conducive to getting storage in and out quickly as well as dispatching our trucks more efficiently to you.

Our sales team has experienced a facility upgrade as well. We have opened a sales center in Plainfield that is utilizing new technology with our computer and phone systems. This means we have the ability to access your information faster to provide quotes and answer common moving questions and concerns. This new hub is a contemporary office with a tranquil atmosphere that allows our estimators and representatives the best opportunity to serve you.

We are very excited with our transition into our new facilities. We think that you will notice the difference too! All My Sons has always been a premier Chicagoland moving company since we opened in 1997, and with our updated facilities and technology, we will be truly living up to our standard and motto of “modern moving with old fashioned care.” All My Sons knows we have satisfied many thousands of customers over the years – wait until you see us now! If you’re one of the few left who have not moved with All My Sons of Chicago, call us today to experience the difference that professional, experienced, and modern movers can provide you.

All My Sons Chicago In The Berwyn Life Newspaper

2009-11-20T17:20:00.002-06:00

All My Sons of Chicago’s operations manager, Tom Covell, donated old pallets and crates to help out the Berwyn Park District’s annual bonfire and festivities in celebration of Halloween this past October 24th. Tom was there to experience the fun, which was highlighted in an article by the Berwyn Life newspaper. Tom stated “Although they had my title here at All My Sons wrong, it’s neat to see the company in the paper helping out with local festivities. We benefited by getting our old, unusable crates out of our storage area to create more space and get the opportunity to help a local town celebrate Halloween.”

You can see the article here: http://www.mysuburbanlife.com/berwyn/entertainment/x884488336/Park-District-celebrates-spooky-safe-Halloween

A new addition to the All My Sons Family

2009-11-13T15:51:00.002-06:00

All My Sons would like to welcome a new addition to the family! Congratulations are in order for former dispatcher Minee and relocation specialist Eric, who have welcomed a beautiful and healthy baby girl, Sophia, into their family this past weekend. Sophia is joined by older sister Lydia and older brother Alex.

Both Minee and Eric are known as friendly, outgoing, and caring among their colleagues and will be wonderful parents to their new bundle of joy. Congratulations to Minee and Eric on your journey as parents and welcome to the All My Sons Family as well, Sophia!

The passing of an All My Sons Chicago Family member

2009-11-13T15:45:00.003-06:00

All My Sons Moving and Storage of Chicago is saddened by the loss of All My Sons Family member Robert Jones to cancer last week. The All My Sons Family extends our sincerest condolences and well wishes to his family and friends.

Rob had worked for All My Sons frequently through the past 10 years as a mover. He was well respected for his friendly attitude and sense of humor. Rob often worked with All My Sons of Chicago driver and crew leader Randy, who remembered Rob as “an easy going guy who never complained.”

Rob rests in Arlington Cemetery in Elmhurst, Illinois. All My Sons is sad to have lost such an asset to our Family.

Experience fall moving with All My Sons of Chicago, your favorite local mover

2009-10-21T11:12:00.002-05:00

Fall has come very early this year for Chicago! It’s been rainy and cold the last couple of weeks, but our staff’s sunny attitude will make your move worth your while. Our crews know the stress that planning for a move can cause, and we do all that we can to get your move done as quickly and efficiently as possible. We know our attitudes will be upbeat and helpful to assist you into getting in to the fun spirit of moving.

At some point, our staff at All My Sons has moved, whether it be out of our parent’s home, into a college dorm room, down the street, or to the apartment next door. We have experienced it all and know your situation. When you use All My Sons this fall, you can feel relieved that you have movers that know your type of move and will do it with an easy going attitude and who are comfortable in what they are doing. Let us help you get out of the dreary weather with a friendly and confident attitude.

All My Sons Chicago, local movers, advice to move your pet

2009-10-21T10:36:00.002-05:00

Moving can be a stressful time, and it can be stressful for your pet too. Man’s best friend can feel the excitement and confusion of the normal belongings in a home being boxed up and moved around, and then adjusting to new surroundings. Making the trip to the new home as comfortable for your pet as possible is very important. We are unable to take care of the transportation of your pet for you on our trucks, and hope the following information will be a starting point for the safe and stress free transportation of your pet.

If you are moving a pet such as a dog, cat, rabbit, or a bird, there are several things to consider. For example, is your pet used to traveling in the car? Can they be comfortable sitting in a seat or in a crate without great anxiety? Will your car be used to transport your household items at the same time you will be transporting your pet? If so, will your pet be able to comfortably sit with the items without harm coming to either? If there is a bit of travel time between your old home and your new home, will they need water, food, or a bathroom break?

If you are moving fish, we can help you move the tank, but the fish and water need to be emptied from the tank prior to us arriving. They may need to be moved into a smaller tank or other fish safe and friendly container that can be transported in your vehicle without splashing; your local pet store will be able to provide you with the best advice on transporting fish.

If you are moving out of state and flying to your new destination, the American Moving and Storage Association (at moving.org) provides a link to Air Animal (http://airanimal.com/index.html), a service that can help in the transporting of your pet via airplane.

We know it’s a lot to consider, but your additional family member will appreciate your efforts more than you know!

All My Sons Chicago is "going green"

2009-10-07T16:59:00.004-05:00

At All My Sons of Chicago, we understand the importance of going green. Even our logo has gone green! Okay, so really it’s been that way all along…but it definitely does go along with our mission to be responsible to the Earth. For instance, we are always recycling in the office. If an extra sheet of paper is printed, we cut it up to be scrap paper or we use the other side for printing things that stay in the office. When we bring our lunches to work, we bring them in lunch pails with silverware instead of brining them in a paper bag with disposable plastic utensils.

We also like to save fuel, and with fluctuating gas prices, who doesn’t? Many of our employees carpool or use the bus that comes right by our warehouse. Additionally, when the warehousemen are loading up a truck with storage, we have the trucks turned off.

Every night before we leave the office, all the lights and the computers are shut off. We also turn down the air conditioning or heat when we leave. Sure, it might be a little chilly when we arrive on a cold Chicago winter morning, but it’s nothing a sweater and flipping back on the heat can’t fix! We also keep the air conditioning and heat at a reasonable level when it’s on.

Have you tried going green? It’s really not all that hard when habits are changed. We do not even have to think about doing the green things we anymore – they’ve become such a part of our everyday habits, it’s just what we do.

Love,
Your responsible, Earth-friendly mover

Are you moving with small children? Let us help - we are your local family movers!

2009-10-07T16:51:00.003-05:00

Are you a family with small children and you are moving? We know – it’s hectic. Raising small children is enough of a challenge in itself, and having to move your home on top of it can be stressful. We have found that it is easy to turn a stressful situation into one that can be fun for you and your kids! “How so?” you may ask. There are two easy options.

First option: If the kids are willing, get them involved! With careful guidance and monitoring, you can have your children help to pack the boxes in their rooms. Get them to pack their stuffed animals, their clothes, and soft goods like bedding. If you’re comfortable, give them a crayon or colored pencil (even washable marker if they’re careful) and have them mark up the boxes with their name or have them color on the boxes belonging to them. You can even turn it into a project and have them draw on the outside of the box what is on the inside of the box. Of course, leave the lamps and breakables for the adults to pack. While doing this, you can even have them gently help tape up the bubble wrap for the lamp – and if they’re really young, I can make you a bet that will be taped very funny and will get a laugh in the end. Kids love the responsibility of helping and doing “grown-up” responsibilities. When they are involved in seeing where all their toys and belongings are going, even they are relieved of stress. And when their brightly colored, custom designed boxes come off the truck, they will know exactly which ones are theirs and not be overwhelmed.

Second option: If the children are too young to be involved with the move, don’t be afraid to ask your family or friends for help! If they’re all of five months old, a visit to grandma can help you and the baby. The baby can have a nap, wonderful dreams of their new home, and get some grandmotherly love. You will have the peace of mind that your baby is quietly resting while you are in charge of telling the movers where to put your things in your new home. Once you’re set, you have a well rested baby in your new home with everything set in the place you want it!

Even if your child is old enough to participate in the move but is just not interested, there are no worries! Just having some of their favorite activities available for them to do come move day can mean a child who is occupied and happy. A book, a coloring book, or a handheld game may be the best option for your little one. Sometimes that can be the best stress relief and way to cope with a new situation for your child – you know them best, and whichever way helps you help them is the way to go.

We are a family owned, operated, and oriented business that loves to get your family moved. We move families every day and would enjoy meeting yours! Call us today to get set up with a move: 708-345-4200.

All My Sons Chicago, local mover, feels the Olympic excitment

2009-09-23T13:12:00.006-05:00

In just over a week’s time, Chicago will find out if our bid for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games is a reality. As we wait for the decision from Copenhagen on October 2nd, there is much anticipation and excitement. The competition is tough with fellow finalists Madrid, Rio de Janeiro, and Tokyo.

Chicagoans know that our city is full of wonderful, hard working people who are gracious hosts and would openly welcome athletes from around the world. This attitude extends not only to guests, but to each other as well. Chicago is a fantastic place to live and is home to first class museums, sports teams, theater, world class restaurants, and a stunning skyline. Although we may have been dubbed “The Second City,” we are second to none!

If you are considering a move in or around Chicago, why not let All My Sons help you? In the Chicago moving industry, All My Sons is second to none. Like Chicago, we have a great reputation that precedes us. So many of the moves that we do are a result of people recommending us to their friends, neighbors, and family because of the hard work we do and our commitment to honest and fair pricing. Choose a mover that represents what it is to be a proud Chicagoan – All My Sons local movers of Chicago!

Local Mover in Chicago, All My Sons, Illinois Special Olympics Ducky Derby Results

2009-09-23T13:00:00.003-05:00

All My Sons Moving and Storage of Chicago was proud to be a contributor to the Illinois Special Olympics annual Ducky Derby on July 30th, 2009. Along with other local movers, we paired with the Illinois Movers’ and Warehousemen’s Association to raise money for this local worthy cause. The fundraising results are in: the proceeds of the movers involved with the IMAWA alongside a sponsorship and fundraising from National Van Lines (who is an All My Sons friend and fellow IMAWA member), the money raised from local movers alone is outstanding – over $26,000!

The Illinois Special Olympics have been and will continue to be a charity that All My Sons of Chicago supports. We are inspired by the results and look forward to further ways we can help others and support a cause like the Illinois Special Olympics.

All My Sons, local mover in Chicago, attends the Illinois Special Olympics Ducky Derby

2009-09-02T17:37:00.002-05:00

On Thursday, July 30th 2009, All My Sons Moving and Storage of Chicago attended the Windy City Rubber Ducky Derby in support of the Illinois Special Olympics. This was the 4th annual Ducky Derby, and All My Sons was proud to have 60 ducks racing this year. The day began in front of the Wrigley Building with family oriented events including booths, face painting, a moonwalk, and a chance to meet other supporters that came to the event.

The highlight of the day came when the truck load of ducks dove into the Chicago River off the Columbus Drive Bridge. Thousands of ducks took a leisurely float down to the finish line, and were cheered along by an enthusiastic group of supports hoping to see their duck win. Chicago owner Mark Doyle stated at the event: “The Illinois Special Olympics has created a wonderful event that raises awareness and money for a very worthy cause. We are happy to be able to support this organization that helps at the local Illinois level.”

All My Sons of Chicago loves supporting the Special Olympics because of their commitment to equality, fairness, inclusiveness, and understanding. With ethics and morals behind them, an organization such as the Special Olympics will continue to be a favorite charity of All My Sons of Chicago. To find out more about the Illinois Special Olympics, you can find them online at: http://www.ilso.org/

To see our video of the day’s events, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFa6JXC4juM

The Importance of Planning Your Local Mover In Chicago

2009-07-08T14:59:00.004-05:00

Moving can be a stressful time, but many people often leave their last call to schedule the movers! It is always a great idea to schedule your move with a professional and licensed mover like All My Sons of Chicago. We have a good reputation in the Chicago land area and tend to book moves very quickly, especially at the end of the month when many leases and rent contracts expire. It is a good idea to schedule your move as soon as you know when and what you are moving. This gets you a reservation to move and a lot of stress and worry off your mind!

We recommend at least ten days notice for a move for a move during the middle of the month. If you are planning to move during the end or beginning of any month, we recommend at least four weeks notice for a reservation. Most people know they are moving months in advance, and the further in advance you call us, the more availability we will have on our schedule. If you call a week in advance to schedule a move for the end of the month with a high volume mover such as All My Sons, it may be more difficult to find a spot on the schedule, although it is not impossible. We realize that some circumstances require a move to be scheduled a few days in advance of the anticipated date, and we do our best to accommodate that.

Calling a local mover in Chicago 24 hours in advance may get you a slot on a mover’s schedule, but it may not be the mover of your choice. Always allow yourself enough time to research a mover and their reputation, especially with the Better Business Bureau. Make sure they are in good standing with the Better Business Bureau and they have all their complaints resolved. Be a proactive and educated consumer! Do not use a mover that baits you with a low price – we have heard terrible stories from customers about these sorts of companies (which are often operating illegally in the Chicago land area, especially if they offer you a flat rate for a local move) about how unprofessional the movers were, all the hidden fees, and the lack of insurance and proper license, leading to large damages that will never be settled.

Plan with the local mover of choice in Chicago – All My Sons!

How All My Sons protects your furntiture during your move

2009-05-20T12:15:00.003-05:00

At All My Sons Moving and Storage, we take care of your furniture as if it is our own. We take the time to pad wrap all of your furniture and sensitive items before we leave your home. This is done as a preventive measure to eliminate furniture damage that can occur during the moving process and during the travel on the truck. Additionally, it further protects walls and flooring from nicks and chips. A quality mover, like the professional local movers of All My Sons in Chicago, will take the time to do this. This is what helps us to be among the best professional movers in the local Chicago area!

We also bring four wardrobe boxes on the truck for you to use free on loan for your move! That’s $90.00 worth of boxes free for your use while we are moving you! The boxes we loan are a convenient way to transport your clothes that are already hanging in your closet. They have a bar to hang your clothes so you can keep them on the hanger and quickly hang them up in your new home. That can help you minimize wrinkles on your clothes and time and money on a dry cleaning bill!

We are a very consumer oriented company. Your satisfaction and ease during your move are our goals. We take the time to make sure your goods arrive in the condition we left with them. All My Sons local movers of Chicago utilize modern moving with old fashioned care!

All My Sons of Chicago gets more rave reviews for local moves!

2009-05-13T14:42:00.001-05:00

I called for a quote and spoke with Mark and he was very professional. He answered all my questions and booked my move. I researched several movers at protectyourmove.org. I decided to use All My Sons because of the rating they got there. Also cost was lower than most others I looked at. The movers were very professional and ready to go! Curtis and Koryun were great! Wow, those guys are strong! - Maria from Lyons

When I first called All My Son of Chicago to book my local move, the staff was helpful and friendly. I decided to use All My Sons because the company seemed professional and long standing. The movers were very friendly. They introduced themselves and shook our hands. They explained in detail how the day would be organized. They were very prepared. We were very nervous about the move, but the movers made it so easy that we had no stress during the day. One of the movers even got stuck in the freight elevator in our building but he had a good sense of humor about it and even laughed it off. They were also very quick! I can’t think of anything to have made the move better! - Chris and Kim from Oswego

I decided to use All My Sons of Chicago because they were the best priced and had good reviews online. The movers were very prepared. – Jeff from Prospect Heights

I spoke to the office and was treated with kindness and courtesy all the way through. I have used All My Sons Moving and Storage of Chicago before and have always been pleased. They were prepared and made the move easy. The crew was terrific and they were very understanding. They were A+++! – Eve, local Chicago land move
I called for a quote over the phone, and the price and All My Sons Moving being a local Chicago moving company made me decide to use them. The crew was very prepared, worked very hard and were very polite. – Patti from Des Plaines
Having All My Sons available to communicate on the internet without taking a lot of time helped me to decide to use them. The crew was very prepared, ready, and went right to work without a lot of talking. They worked their butts off and I appreciate it! They could not have been better – they went above and beyond. – Holli from Lake Zurich

The response from all my sons to my initial call to check available dates was very helpful. All My Sons of Chicago had the best price for my local move. The team was very prepared and ready to work. Everything went perfect, and there was nothing that could have been done to make the move better! - Louise from Norridge

All My Sons of Chicago were very knowledgeable and gave me an honest and accurate quote over the phone for my local move. My brother-in-law had used All My Sons for his move and had a good experience. The movers were very professional and prepared and had enough boxes, tape, and pads to handle to the move. The apartment was in a corner of the building which made it difficult to move some items. They did an excellent job taking care of it. – Michael from Chicago

I had a visual estimate and was very happy with the estimate I received and the friendliness of everyone I talked to. The movers were very professional and friendly. I appreciated that each one introduced himself. They had all the equipment and gear needed. I was really pleased with the move and the movers. They worked hard and were very careful with everything. The movers called to let me know when they would arrive, which also helped. I have used other movers, and these guys were the best! – Tim from Wheaton

I liked that All My Sons of Moving and Storage of Chicago is a local business, and the price also helped me decide to use them. The crew was ready to go to work. They took a look at everything they had to move and made a plan. They knew what they were doing. They were careful with our furniture. – James from Schaumburg

I decided to use All My Sons because of the price and the pleasant manner of the man over the phone during my initial contact. I felt good about the movers, and they arrived on time and were ready to work. – Armalas from Broadview

All My Sons was very prompt and friendly on the phone. The workers were very prepared and equipped. I felt great about the movers. – Alicia from Chicago

I have seen the All My Sons trucks around town and I looked them up in the Yellow Pages. I was comfortable with the movers, just uneasy about the weather. It was snowing, but they were prepared. Curtis was very polite and helpful. The guys were great – very careful and efficient. – Aretha from Naperville

I was referred to All My Sons Moving and Storage of Chicago from prior residents at my complex. The movers were completely prepared and courteous. I was fully satisfied with the movers. – Valerie from Glendale Heights

All My Sons of Chicago's local websites!

2009-04-01T16:24:00.004-05:00

A great new website has launched! Check out http://allmysonsmovingreviews.com/ It is a great place to see customer reviews from all of the All My Sons locations! Whether you are moving locally or out of state, you can see reviews from our customers.There are other great resources on the web to inform you about all the wonderful services we offer here at All My Sons of Chicago. They are:

http://www.youtube.com/user/AllMySonsChicago
http://www.myspace.com/allmysonsofchicago
http://www.allmysons.com/chicago/

We are on the web to help you be an informed consumer. We offer advice on local moves, long distance moves, packing, moving within Chicago and the suburbs, moving out of state, packing services, and what to look for in a moving company. We have been moving all over the Chicagoland area and beyond since 1997, and are looking forward to the future and optimizing your move with help from the internet!

All My Sons meets Lisa Madigan

2009-03-25T15:28:00.002-05:00

All My Sons Moving and Storage of Chicago owner Mark and his wife Erin had the pleasure of meeting Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan at the 2009 Better Business Bureau annual dinner. Illinois has been through a lot of political mess lately, and the opportunity to meet a person dedicated to uprooting bad business practices was an honor.

Mrs. Madigan spoke at the dinner and how important it is to go with a company that has a good standing with the Better Business Bureau, like All My Sons Moving and Storage. We have been doing local and long distance moves since 1997 and have been nominated numerous times for awards with the Better Business Bureau for marketplace ethics. Mrs. Madigan stated that going with a company that is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau is not recommended. She spoke about how important it is for consumers to be their own advocate when looking for a business or product and to do research on the company. Mrs. Madigan reinforced the idea of if it sounds or looks too good to be true, it very often is. For instance, in the Chicagoland area, there are many moving companies that have a low rate on their moving services. This sounds great, especially when the economy is tough, but if you check their standing with the Better Business Bureau – they will have an incredible amount of complaints.

As a business that has specialized in local and long distance moving for 12 years now, we have done an incredible amount of moves and have experience beyond the majority of moving companies in the area that are popping up with the “too good to be true” rates. Our satisfaction rate is over 99% - find any local moving company that can beat that! Choose All My Sons Moving and Storage of Chicago for all your moving needs!

All My Sons Moving and Storage of Chicago attends the 2009 Better Business Bureau annual dinner

2009-03-18T15:44:00.002-05:00

All My Sons Moving and Storage of Chicago attended the annual Better Business Bureau dinner on March 12, 2009 at the Hilton Towers in Chicago. The Better Business Bureau stands for trust in the marketplace and holds high standards for its members. All My Sons Moving and Storage of Chicago has been honored to be a part of this prestigious gathering of top notch companies in the Chicago land area for many years. The owner of All My Sons Chicago, Mark Doyle, was just re-elected to another 3 year term on the board of directors.

This year's featured speaker at the dinner was Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan. We were also joined by Allison Rosati of the NBC Chicago channel 5 news team, who provided an introduction to the evening. It was great to hear public figures speaking about their wonderful impressions of BBB accredited businesses and the trust and confidence they provide to consumers.

We were able to spend a moment with the president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau, Steve Bernas, who had kind words for All My Sons Moving and Storage of Chicago and what it means to be a part of the BBB. You can see the conversation here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbTN0x2vO3A

The cost of using a mover versus doing a self move

2009-03-11T11:04:00.003-05:00

In this tough economy, we know that every penny counts when it comes to your purchases whether it be groceries, new clothes, or your move in the local Chicago area. Many people are under the impression that moving themselves is more cost effective than hiring a mover. Often, this is a misconception. For example, renting a truck will cost you a base rate plus a charge per mile. You have to also fuel the truck up on your own dime. If the truck is not packed properly, like a professional mover can do, several trips will be involved, increasing the cost you pay for the truck and what you spend on fuel. If the truck is not packed properly, it can also mean boxes and goods being strewn about the truck and will cause subsequent damage. There is also the hassle of driving the truck, and when an untrained driver is driving a rented 24 foot truck, there can be some nerves and maybe even some accidents.

With All My Sons of Chicago, you have professional movers coming to your home and carefully pad wrapping your furniture at no charge. They will carefully pack the truck to prevent damages to your things. We provide free packing advice and over the phone assistance. We even provide free estimates! Most of all, we save you time and stress. When you use All My Sons, you don't have to beg your friends for a Saturday afternoon to help you move nor do you have to lug boxes down flights of stairs. We do all the heavy lifting and inconveniences of moving for you! Our guys are quick, efficient, and professional. We get to your home, pack your goods into the truck, and even place the furniture in the rooms that you request at your destination! We can even help you put your bed back together.

Most local moves with All My Sons of Chicago only take a few hours at most. You will receive a written estimate from your move coordinator, explaining all the costs and what to expect during your move. We will put your mind at ease and save you money through efficient work that will deliver your goods in the condition upon which it left your residence. You can ask your friends for their manual labor to help you move, or you can ask your friends over for pizza at your new home while All My Sons moves you in!

Some frequently used terms in the moving industry

2009-03-11T10:10:00.004-05:00

When you are moving, there are a lot of terms that may be unfamiliar to you, especially if you are a first time mover. What are some of these frequently used terms?

- A bill of lading is the contract that we use for the move of your goods. It will state the amount of men we have sent as well as the rate we charge for those men per hour. The number of trucks we have sent is also listed in addition to the travel charge. It will include the address your goods originated at as well as the address at which your goods will arrive. The date of service will also be on the bill of lading. In essence, it is a fancy, detailed receipt.

-An addendum is a new estimate of charges prepared based upon any changes that are made to the move prior to loading. For example, should you request an extra man to help out at your move, if you want to add packing services, or if you add storage, we will create an addendum.

-An intrastate move is one that occurs within the state.

-An interstate move is a move that goes out of state (also called a short haul or long distance move, based on how far the move is).

-A binding estimate is an estimate given as an agreement for specific services decided upon by both the mover and the consumer prior to the shipment being loaded. This is for interstate service only.

-You can receive a written estimate. There are two ways you will receive one of these: the first way to get one is to have an estimator come to your home. This is a good option if you are a first time mover or if you have a large home. The second way, and less scientific, is a phone estimate. The moving coordinator will do an over-the-phone survey and base the estimate upon your description of what is to be moved. It will be mailed to you or emailed. This is only recommended for very small moves or last minute moves.

-You will receive a consumer brochure when you move. For an intrastate move, it is called a "Household Moves in Illinois A Consumers Guide." For an interstate move, you will receive the "Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move" brochure.

-A travel fee is the equivalent price of one hour of labor for a local move. It covers all pre and post-move drive time. There is no charge for fuel or mileage added.

-Materials are the boxes and pads that we use to get your materials onto the truck and safely transported to your destination. Pads come in two types: paper and quilt. We use quilt pads on every move unless you request paper pads. Boxes are based upon consumption when you request packing. There is a per unit charge when a box is packed.

Questions to ask your mover

2009-03-04T17:26:00.002-06:00

Naturally, you will have a lot of questions on your move day, whichwe have addressed in some previous blogs. There are also some good questions to ask your mover! We are here to talk over the phone everyday, and you can always ask your movers any questions you have on the day of the move as well. We like to use this blog as an outlet to answer some commonly asked questions of our drivers. Some are:

-How long will my move take? It all depends on how much you are moving and what you are moving. Usually it takes us about an hour per room of furniture (about a half hour to load, another half hour to unload). Getting boxes onto and off the truck is typically much quicker than trying to get a piano on and off the truck.

-How will we protect furniture? We always bring quilt pads with us to protect your furniture.

-Will my things all fit into the truck? We can usually fit about 9000 pounds onto our 26 foot trucks (up to the legal weight limit). It all depends on exactly what you are moving. A lot of boxes that can be stacked on top of each other will fit easier on a truck than a lot of exercise equipment that cannot be broken down. Bulkiness, density and volume all play a part. The better packed a customer is, the quicker we can load as well as increasing the amount we can also load.

-Should I tip the movers? That is entirely up to you. We pay our employees for the work that they do, and they are not depending on tips. If they provide a good job and you feel like they deserve a tip, the amount is entirely up to you. Tipping is customary for local movers in the Chicago area.

-Do you provide boxes? We bring boxes on the move day in the truck with us. We even provide four free wardrobe boxes on loan during the move! We have boxes available for purchase as well. If you know you will need packing assistance or need to pack a few boxes at the last minute, give us a cal land we can notate your needs in our system.

-Can I help in the moving process? All My Sons employees are the only people allowed onto the truck for insurance purposes. If you are trying to expedite the process, get everything ready in one room or outside BEFORE we arrive. Once we start the move process, you cannot be involved for insurance reasons Relax and know that your goods are in professional hands that work efficiently to get it done! That is why you hired us.

-Can I ride in the truck? No - only employees of All My Sons are allowed in or on the vehicle at any time!

Your questions answered, part 2

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I would love to address some more of your moving concerns in this blog. Here are some more of your frequently asked questions and their answers:

-What are the size of your trucks? The typical trucks you see of ours outon the street are 26 foot straight trucks. We also have a semi tractor trailers for larger jobs, which are 53 feet. These also commonly go over the road.

-Do you charge from the time you leave the All My Sons shop to the origin? No. We start charging when we arrive at your door. The time runs until the job is finished.

-What methods of payment does All My Sons accept? We accept Visa, Mastercard, cash, or a certified check for local moves, and cash orcertified check for long distance moves.

-Are pads included? We use quilt pads during your move at no cost. The pads do return with us to All My Sons once the job is completed.

-Do you work late? We work until the job is done or until you tell us to stop. Sometimes jobs take longer than expected, and we are ready to get the job done.

-What time will All My Sons arrive to my starting address? We have two arrival time windows: 8:00 am-10:00 am, and 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm. Depending upon the time of the month/year, we can address specific customer requests.

-Does All My Sons have to move all my stuff? We can move everything you own, we can move only certain pieces, or we can work for a certain period of time to stay within your budget.

Why get a visual estimate?

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Often we are asked: Why get a visual estimate when other moving companies are trying to sell me their business over the phone? All My Sons Moving and Storage of Chicago is a trustworthy source for accurate quotes, especially when one of our talented estimators comes to your home and visually estimates your move. Especially when you are moving a large home or moving long distance, it is imperative that somebody take a look at all it is that you are moving. I can anticipate that you would be wondering “Why?” Many disreputable and inexperienced local companies in the Chicago area will try to sell you with a bait-and-switch low price versus a competitively priced quality move will almost always tell you any price to get your business. But, beware! They will be quick to sell you a price over the phone without ever looking at what you have.

When you are moving long distance, your move is based on the weight of your move as well as how far it is going. For accuracy, our highly experienced estimators will come to your home and take an inventory of the goods that you are moving. While we are able to sometimes give a very general ballpark estimate of what the cost may be over the phone, it is so much better for us to visually see what you have. For instance, it is easy for us to ask what you are moving, and a normal response is “a bed, a couch, some boxes, a kitchen table, etc.” A single bed on a basic metal frame weights a lot less than a queen sized bed with a wooden frame and canopy. A love seat made of feathers weighs a lot less than an overstuffed, eight foot couch. And, a small, breakfast style kitchen table with two chairs would be handled and weigh differently from a fifteen foot, glass top table with a metal base. It is always hard for us to guesstimate how much “some” boxes will weigh versus being able to see that you have 50 various sized boxes that are packed full. Since we are able to see exactly what you have, we can give you a fair, honest quote with a quality mover. Let us leave a great first impression with you by doing a visual estimate!

A large, local move is also a great time for us to introduce ourselves through a visual estimate. Local moves are based on the amount of men we send to your home (which is determined by the estimated weight that is at your home) and how long it takes them to complete your job. It is easy for us to estimate many of the calls we receive over the phone since most require a two or three man team, but a move that would require anything more than that should be seen by an estimator. This is because a four or more man team usually means there is a lot of weight at the starting home, and there is probably some specialty or heavy items that will need some special attention. Our experienced estimators can see how to effectively protect the items and make sure adequate man power is sent to handle all the weight. This will allow us to demonstrate our efficiency to you by giving a fair and honest quote based upon what you have.

Even if you are a first time mover without a lot of goods, it is nice to have the reassurance of an estimator come to your home and explain the process to you in person. We are high quality, full service, professional movers that can calm all your moving fears. Best of all, our visual estimates are free of charge! Don’t let a lot of the internet based movers fool you – they will bait you with a low price over the phone, often without gathering a lot of information from you about your move, and then switch their price once it comes time to pay the bill. Be an informed consumer and check out the movers you are considering. Even get a few estimates: if a price seems too good to be true, it probably is! The reputable moving companies in the Chicago area will have a similar quote - and why not use the company that uses modern moving with old fashioned care: All My Sons Moving and Storage of Chicago! We have a lot of local moving experience and knowledge behind what we do to make your move a smooth experience.

All My Sons Moving and Storage of Chicago prefers to be up-front and honest about our prices so that you know what to expect. Moving is stressful enough, and we don’t want you to be stressed over the price when it is time to pay. We are fast, courteous, efficient, careful, professional local movers in Chicago as well as your trusted movers going long distance.