When moving locally or moving long distances, you may decide that you would like to hire a local moving company. Say you live in Plymouth, how do you go about selecting a moving company? Some may say that cost is extremely important to them, but there are many other things to look at. Moving rates are actually regulated by the State of Michigan.
By law, moving companies have to charge the same rate for moves over 40 miles within the State of Michigan. So if you are moving from Plymouth to Lansing MI, then it falls under that criteria. There are many moving scams out there, and it’s worth repeating from time to time. A little due diligence will help you in avoiding moving scams in Michigan.
Once you have found a company that offers moving services within your budget, it is time to start doing your research. Here are some great ways to get started:
Searching online is a great place to start as you can find reviews or testimonials from customers. Being able to read about other people’s experiences will give you an idea on the quality of services the company has to offer. Also looking up the company on BBB.org will allow you to see if they are BBB accredited as well as any complaints that have been filed against their company. The Internet provides many sources when it comes to finding out information about moving companies in Michigan.
Speak to the owner or manager of the company if you are hesitant about whether it is an actual company or not. Ask questions regarding the company’s insurance policies, history, as well as license information. You can verify a moving company’s license through your local regulatory office. If you are still skeptical, make a trip to the moving company’s office. If the owner is hesitant about speaking with you, answering your questions, or allowing you to come to the office, red flags should be going up.
Verify information that has been provided to you through your conversations with both the employees and the owner. Once again you can verify license information through your local regulatory office. Check the previous year’s phone book to see if they are listed (a new company may not be listed).
It is important to cover all of the bases when ensuring that a moving company is reputable. The last thing that you would want is for two guys to load up an unmarked truck, and take off with all of your belongings while you are waiting for them to arrive at your new home. Unfortunately, as many residents are searching for the cheapest prices rather than a quality moving company, it does happen.
Looks can be deceiving even when you find them online with a nice professional website. Having an office or building with a fleet of trucks doesn’t guarantee that you are dealing with a Quality Mover, but in conjunction with the other research, it does speak to the legitimacy, longevity, and dependability of them. Compare this to a mover with a truck working out of their house that has a temporary helper. There are many addresses for businesses on the Internet that point to empty lots, so do a street view or as mentioned before, a drive by.
Let us answer any questions you may have about Men on the Move, contact us today. We will help guide you through the moving process and ensure that you have the highest quality affordable move in Michigan.
For a full 10 step guide on how to find a trustworthy moving company in Michigan Click here.
Nothing can be better for your move and soul than a complete cleaning/ house purge. Getting rid of the clutter will not only help your move, but also help you reduce the amount of junk in your life.
We’ve compiled a list that will help guide you through “The great purge”.
Let’s start with your closet:
“If you haven’t worn it in over a year, toss it.”
The easiest way to determine if you’ve worn it recently? Look to the back of your closet or the bottom of your drawer. Go to the areas of your organizing system where clothes go to die, this is where you can start. Granted there needs to be some seasonal considerations, but you need to get rid of clothes, shoes, and accessories that you don’t like or don’t wear any more. They take up more space than you think.
Some people like the “three boxes” technique where you have a “Keep it” box, a “Toss it” box, and a “Maybe” box. This technique helps so you can see where your true feelings lie on your sweater vest collection or your cat shirt entourage.
The Kitchen:
This is the second area of the house with the most stuff you probably don’t need. Extra sets of silverware, extra appliances, and glassware you never use. Go through and take an honest look at your kitchen/ life and see what you can get rid of. Do you really need/use that juicer or espresso machine? We didn’t think so. Get rid of them.
Bathroom Brigade:
Ahh yes the bathroom and all the accessories that come with it. Over the years you collect things that you just don’t really need. Extra Make-up pallets, extra razors and shaving guards, and extra bottles of sample shampoos from hotels… PURGE THIS. Get rid of all these extra things you don’t use. Trust us.
Other things that we tend to compile that we shouldn’t:
Clean like your gonna have a garage sale, and then actually have one.
Having a garage sale will not only help you get rid of a bunch of stuff you don’t need, it will also give you a little bit of extra cash in your pocket for the move. Its a win/win, yes you will have to do math on a Saturday, and yes you will have to interact with the dreaded “Garage sale crowd”, but it’ll be worth it.
Left overs?
Depending on how lazy you are, you have a few choices here. If you think you can get a few bucks off of some items, try to hustle them online (craigslist, facebook) or use the ad section of your local newspaper. Or if you have items you don’t think anyone could possibly want, you can see what those people look like with the “free” section on Craigslist. People will come, especially when it’s free. If you still have stuff left over, donate it.
If you need help with your next move remember we here at Men on the Move can help. We’ve been in the moving business for over 24 years, and have gained a trustworthy reputation with a focus on quality. We will even offer you a free quote for our services. Simply click here and fill in our on-line form and we will return with a quote for our services. It’s that easy. So fill out our form, and get the ball moving!
There is a saying, “All’s fair in love, war, and real estate” and if you’ve ever had to get an apartment in a large city you know this to be true. Large cities such as Detroit have a different approach for apartment hunts versus a mid-sized city or college town. We want to help navigate you through the process of securing your new apartment no matter what kind of move you are looking to make.
No matter how big the city or how small the town is, you have options when looking for an apartment. Options such as:
-The local classified ads
-local renting websites, craigslist
-hiring an apartment locator, or service
-Craigslist and google searches
Trucks with no company names, or logos are a flag for a potential unlicensed illegal movers.
Moving day is approaching, and you may have found that you are in need of some extra hands on the move. If you’ve never hired a moving service company you may be asking questions like “How much is this going to cost?”, “What is the difference between a licensed and unlicensed mover”, or “ Why not use this craigslist guy?”.
First off, we are going to strongly advise you not to use the craigslist guy, just for the simple reason that he probably isn’t licensed. Having a license for a moving company is important for you to the consumer because it ensures a few things:
In the past few years, there has been a skyrocket in complaints against unlicensed moving companies. Many sting operations to shut these illegal operations down (Here is an example story from New Jersey). From items getting stolen to unexpected price hikes, you need a company you can trust. For the Metro Detroit area, there is no better company to use than Men on the Move. You’ve probably seen us on highway helping someone with their move or heard about us on the radio. When it comes down to it, no one does it better than Men on the Move.
We also offer free quotes for your commercial or residential move so you can better assess your moving costs. Finally, we are fully licensed, insured, and always give our award winning service.
Men on the Move is proud to announce that we have been selected as Business of the Month 
for the month of February by State Representative Robert Kosowski. State Representative Kosowski is elect of District 16 (Westland). He said that our owner “Gary Bulson is well deserving of our monthly award and is always helping out the community.”
We are thrilled to receive this honor. Also, we will continue to put our best effort forward to serve Westland and our new community in Livonia. This also would not be possible without the help of the Men on the Move employees. Most of our employees have been around for years standing right by Gary Bulson serving the community.
Men on The Move will also like to thank the Westland Chamber of Commerce for congratulating Men on The Move on their Facebook page and sharing these kind words, ” Gary somehow finds time to serve on our Board of Directors, the Wayne/Westland Salvation Army Advisory board, is active with the Westland and Michigan Jaycees and a member of the Westland Rotary Club. A big guy with a big heart!!”
Thank you for your recognition Representative Robert Kosowski and we will look forward to serving the communities of Westland and Livonia for years to come. Finally, request a quote today and see why Men on the Move is the business of the month!
P.S. Men on the Move has finished moving to Livonia. Our new address is 12400 Merriman Rd. Livonia, Mi 48150. Come visit us!
When preparing to move out of an apartment in Michigan we recommend giving yourself 6-8 weeks. Giving yourself enough time will reduce stress levels that come with apartment moving, and ensure that everything is prepared for your first day in your new home. If you do not have that much time, its okay, use this information as a guide for apartment moving in Michigan.
Begin your apartment moving preparation by creating a moving journal where you will keep notes 
or important information during your moving process. This is the time in which you will want to decide if you will be moving or hiring a professional moving company in Michigan. Plan your moving budget, if you are moving long distance, moving intrastate, or even moving interstate, and will be shipping items prior to moving, be sure to incorporate that into your Michigan moving budget.
Check with your apartment landlord to see how much notice is required before moving, also check with your new landlord to see any restrictions the complex may have on moving into a new apartment. Look into new school districts, begin the change of address process, and make a list of who you need to notify about your move.
Begin planning how you will arrange the furniture in your new home, this will help if you need to downsize prior to your move. Also, start gathering moving boxes or moving supplies.
Remember that moving companies typically charge based on weight and distance. Use your last 4-5 weeks prior to a Michigan Move to use some of your food, detergents, or other items that you routinely purchase from the store. If you have valuable items that you wish to not have on the moving truck, plan what you will be transporting or shipping. Begin packing your items and continue to make address changes if necessary.
Contact your hired moving company to make sure they do not have restrictions on what they can move. Look over your lease and see what types of cleaning or maintenance you must do on your current apartment to ensure that you receive your security deposit back if applicable.
Call your utility companies and schedule a day to have your utilities transferred to your new residence. This will ensure that everything is livable the day of your move and ready for you the first night in your new home.
Take time to confirm all scheduled appointments, meetings, or child care arrangements. Be sure to include a follow-up call to your moving company to ensure that there are no changes and everything is still on schedule.
Double check that everything around your apartment is ready for your move out inspection. Have a box of cleaning supplies handy in case you need to touch up or realize you missed something. Also, ensure that you keep a priority box out and accessible so that you have what you need for your first night in your new home.
If you have any last minute packing to do, do it. Be sure to do a walk-through of your apartment, turning off lights to rooms you have completed your walkthrough in. Also, turn off your thermostat and any appliances that need to stay in your apartment.
Before the moving truck leaves your apartment to ensure that they have your cell phone number and you have yours to keep contact in case something happens during transit.
When you arrive at your new home directly the movers in which room each box or item goes so that it is easier to unpack and set up your new home.
For more information be sure to check out our printable PDFs on moving tips for Michigan residents. Allow us to give you a quote for your residential apartment move in Michigan today.
