May is National Moving Month so as you can imagine, things continue to ramp up within the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK family as we help even more customers move this summer!
Moving can be stressful, but when you hire TWO MEN AND A TRUCK, it doesn’t have to be. With professionally trained movers who are background checked and drug screened, equipped with top- of-the-line moving trucks and equipment to ensure your move is a success, it doesn’t get any easier than that. The safety of your belongings is our top priority and our moving teams are trained to handle the most fragile or bulky items you may have.
We’ve moved more than 9 million customers since our days of just two men and a pickup truck driving around the Lansing, Michigan area, and we have no plans of slowing down any time soon.
Still, we understand moving can be daunting task, and hiring professional movers can seem a bit scary, too. There are many questions you might have as you try to figure out your price range, selling and/or purchasing a home , packing up your belongings, and more – so the last thing you want is movers you can’t trust.
We can tell you all about our services and commitment to our customers, but sometimes it’s best to hear it directly from the customers themselves.
Take a look below at what they had to say about using TWO MEN AND A TRUCK!
Norman Wedderburn
Jason Fuller
Karen Franke
TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is the first and largest franchised moving company in the United States. Let us help move you forward! For more helpful tips and information on moving services subscribe to our blog and like us on Facebook.
If you have a move on the horizon or are in the process of relocation, one service which can really lessen the burden is storage for extra belongings.
In the midst of these situations, you’re often just looking for a place to put things – regardless of what they are. Having them out of the way will create more space, which in turn will eliminate some of the stress you might be feeling. However, finding a storage unit isn’t as easy as it sounds, and there are many things to consider when packing and getting ready to put our items into a unit.
Storage facilities all have their own set of regulations and guidelines specific to their business, but there are also many things which cannot be put into storage, and it’s important to know what these are. We’ll go over a few of them below!
Combustible or flammable items
You’re probably reading this first one and thinking “obviously”, but it’s still worth mentioning. Anything which is combustible or flammable shouldn’t be kept in a storage unit, as it puts both your belongings and the rest of the storage facility in danger should it catch fire.
Firearms or ammunition
This area can get a bit tricky. With firearms, some storage facilities may allow it, but it’s best to check with them before hand so you don’t run into any issues.
As for ammunition – this is generally never allowed in storage, mostly for the same reasons mentioned above with combustible or flammable items. It can be a hazard.
Unregistered vehicles
Vehicle storage is extremely popular, but vehicles must be up to date on their registration and meet the necessary guidelines for storage in your particular state. Some states classify unregistered vehicles as an abandoned vehicle.
Medical supplies
Be sure to take extra caution and ask your storage unit about their rules with medical supplies. Some medical equipment contains radioactive material, which isn’t legally allowed to be kept in storage.
Also – you don’t want to find yourself needing something related to medical supplies when it’s packed away in a storage unit somewhere.
Soaps and scented candles
While it initially might seem like a big deal when you see this, it actually can be. These types of materials often attract mice or rats, which can become a huge problem for your storage until. Anything giving off a smell like perfume or lotion should be stored with caution.
These are all very important things to keep in mind as you find the best storage solution for you. If you’re in the process of looking for storage, select TWO MEN AND A TRUCK locations offer storage options! Click here to learn more.
TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is the first and largest franchised moving company in the United States. Let us help move you forward! For more helpful tips and information on moving services subscribe to our blog and like us on Facebook.
There’s one question that seems to come up when talking to those who are deciding between hiring professional movers and moving themselves: How much will it cost?
Cost is usually the deciding factor when it comes to hiring professionals or spending time and energy to move yourself. Throughout the years, we’ve noticed there is a common misconception about the cost of moving and how much you’ll “save” if you do it yourself.
The answer? Not as much as you’d think.
Below we’ve broken down some of the costs and factors built into the moving process to show you the differences between hiring a professional moving company like TWO MEN AND A TRUCK and renting a moving truck and recruiting some friends as you do it yourself.
What moving equipment will you use?
Speaking of renting a truck – you’re probably going to need more than a pickup truck and a few boxes if you plan on moving an entire home.
Generally, the plan of action here would be to rent a moving truck from a rental company, but with already built-in cost of doing this plus the recent spike in gas prices, it’s going to run up a bigger bill than you’d think. You’ll also need to invest in other moving equipment such as stretch wrap, furniture pads, packing supplies, moving boxes, moving straps, moving dollies, and more if you plan on keeping your belongings protected.
The time
This might not show up in terms of “actual money spent”, but time is valuable and important, and moving yourself can often take more time than you think. You need to pack everything up, rent the truck, buy or rent your moving equipment, load up the truck, drive the truck to your new home, and then unload the truck. After all is said and done, it may be a larger task than you envisioned.
When you hire a company like TWO MEN AND A TRUCK, you’re hiring an experienced and efficient team who has the knowledge and proper equipment to complete any type of move. Plus, you’ll save yourself the trouble of potential injuries or soreness from doing the heavy lifting on your own or bugging friends and family to help.
Protection of your items
Unless you already have professional moving experience (and in that case, you should join our team!), you’ll quickly realize moving furniture and other belongings isn’t easy.
You’re not only putting yourself at risk for injury by doing more than you can handle, but you’re also putting your belongings at risk, too. The potential for damages can significantly increase throughout the move if items aren’t properly wrapped, secured in the truck, or being safely handled by trained professionals.
Who is helping?
As a professional moving company, we have help – and plenty of it. But if you’re doing it on your own, you’ll need to recruit others to help you. This means the awkward texts to friends or family seeing if they’re available on Saturday and telling them you’ll pay in beverages and pizza. This adds costs, and it’s a drag to do.
Why TWO MEN AND A TRUCK?
When you factor in everything above – the money you’ll spend on trucks and equipment, the potential for damages, the extra time and effort, or the long-term health effects of trying to move yourself – you’ll realize you’re not saving as much as you might think.
Hiring a professional moving company like TWO MEN AND A TRUCK ensures all the instances listed above are taken care of while you sit back and focus on more important things. The saying “you get what you pay for” has never been truer than with our company, and you’re getting a full-service, professional experience when you use our teams.
With TWO MEN AND A TRUCK, you get:
-Free moving estimates, in-home, over the phone, or online
-Packing options and packing supplies for sale
-An in-home walk through with our professional moving teams, followed by a walk-through of your new home so we know exactly how to plan for your move
If you have an upcoming move, consider hiring TWO MEN AND A TRUCK to get the job done and let us show you why we’ve earned the nickname “Movers Who Care®”!
TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is the first and largest franchised moving company in the United States. Let us help move you forward! For more helpful tips and information on moving services subscribe to our blog and like us on Facebook.
Space can be hard to find around your home or business, and there are times when you just need more space to either get something done or get stuff out of your way.
Whatever the reason may be, storage solutions are a great way to create more space for yourself, whether it’s with long-term or short-term storage plans. However, there is more to the process than just stuffing your belongings into a storage locker and calling it good. You need to figure out what plan fits best for you, what type of preferences you want to work with, and what will keep your belongings safe and protected.
Specific items you plan to put into storage can make a big difference in what type of storage unit you’ll need. Some items can be affected by heat, cold, dust, or moisture, so in this instance you’d want a climate-controlled storage unit. Other items like important documents, electronics, or clothing may also need to be stored in a climate-controlled setting.
How big or small of a storage unit do you need?
When searching for a storage unit, it’s always a good idea to have a mental inventory of what you’re planning to put in it and go a little bit bigger than the number of items you have. This will allow you the space to navigate around the unit should you need to.
Do research to find the best fit for you
Like any business, it’s important to do your research and make sure you’re spending your money in a safe way. Using resources like online reviews will give you a good feel for the company and how past customers have felt about their storage plans.
How much access do you need?
This is another important question to ask. Some places offer 24-hour access to their storage units, while others may run on set schedules.
Figure out what’s important to you and how often you’ll need to gain access and purchase accordingly. Also keep in mind that some places can charge access fees.
Always purchase insurance
Like any insurance plan, you’d rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it. You can’t be too safe when it comes to protecting your belongings, so check with the storage facility to see if they offer insurance protection for your items. If not, contact your renter’s or homeowner’s insurance to come up with a plan.
What not to keep in a storage unit
While the tips above are important to keep in mind when deciding on a storage plan that best fits your needs, it’s also important to know what type of items shouldn’t be kept in storage.
Common items that cannot be kept in a unit include but are not limited to:
-Medical supplies
-Firearms and ammunition
-Unregistered vehicles
-Perishable food items
-Candles or soaps
-Combustible or flammable materials
It’s best to contact the company you select for storage to find out if they have any additional or specific items that can’t be kept in their facilities to avoid any issues.
TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is the first and largest franchised moving company in the United States. Let us help move you forward! For more helpful tips and information on moving services subscribe to our blog and like us on Facebook.
It’s often said that moving is one of life’s most stressful events. We can see this to be true as you work to buy a new home, pack up your belongings, and move on from your last home in what seems like a quick whirlwind of events.
We’ve built our brand on helping to alleviate some of the stress involved with moving by offering professionally trained, background checked, and drug screened movers paired with professional moving equipment and trucks to ensure your belongings stay safe and protected throughout the entire process. Unfortunately, this same level of care and commitment isn’t always available, and the industry has taken on a bit of a bad reputation at the hands of illegitimate operations who are out to scam customers, not help them.
These shady, “scam” moving operations offer lower prices than the professional services to draw in new customers who are looking to save extra cash while avoiding the heavy lifting themselves. However, this usually means sacrificing quality and getting movers who aren’t properly trained, are day laborers, and who don’t have the experience or equipment to do the job correctly. They’ll take your money and leave you with a nightmare of an experience.
There are a number of ways to do your research into reputable companies, and one of these ways is through reading customer reviews online.
“The number of Google reviews a brand has makes a significant impact on the customer’s decision-making process, but what most customers don’t know is that some moving companies pay or falsify their online reviews, which is against Google policy,” said Jon Nobis, the CEO of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK. “This lack of authenticity in online reviews makes the process of hiring a trustworthy, reliable mover even more difficult for consumers.”
So, while there can be illegitimacy to some online reviews by scammers, they can still be a great way to take a measurement on what the public is feeling about a business. Since these are through third-party apps generally, the brand has no influence over the review and they come straight from the customer. Both good and bad, you can get a good feel through online reviews for what you’re about to purchase.
Researching the internet about a brand can also give you some insight into other important factors like how they treat their employees, how professional they are, what types of services they offer, and company policies regarding their services.
“As a brand, we are laser-focused on transparency and building trust, ensuring that our customer experience is world class,” said Nobis. “Because moving scams are on the rise, we’ve taken these measures up a notch and are committed to further developing our customer service initiatives with the launch of new technology-focused solutions that make booking a move easier for our customers.”
Another thing to look for specifically with moving is online quote forms. Getting your moving quote directly from the moving company is critical to ensure your personal information isn’t being sold to advertisers and data aggregators.
“It’s important to make sure that you are requesting an online moving quote directly from a moving company that you are intending to work with,” Nobis said. “It can become very frustrating for a customer who believes they are submitting a moving request for a specific company and then three or four moving companies follow up with phone calls and emails. Customers need to be careful during their research phase to ensure they’re only providing their personal information to companies they’re interested in moving with.”
To learn more about how to avoid moving scams, please watch the video below from TWO MEN AND A TRUCK CEO Jon Nobis.
TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is the first and largest franchised moving company in the United States. Let us help move you forward! For more helpful tips and information on moving services subscribe to our blog and like us on Facebook.
Unfortunately, all good things in life must come to an end at some point – even something as enjoyable as the holiday season.
While many of us have spent the better part of the last month taking in the spirit of the holidays by visiting with family and decorating our homes in a festive way, there comes a time when your holiday-themed decorations, furniture, dishes, and whatever else helps you celebrate the season must be packed up and put away. Many of you have probably already began this process, but for those who haven’t – we totally get it.
Packing away the holiday season can be exhausting, especially as you dive headfirst back into the swing of everyday life. However, we’ve got a few tips and tricks to alleviate some of the headache and help you get everything put away efficiently and safely.
Build a Post-Holiday Packing Plan
We say this about any type of packing job, but it’s always a good idea to visualize and plan out what you want to be packed away and where you want to go before you begin. The best way to handle packing is by slowly chipping away at the process so you can take it in stride and not get overwhelmed.
Figure out which rooms of your house you’d like to get packed up first and go room-by-room as you decide which items will be going into storage, and which items are lucky enough to remain out for the rest of the winter season.
Use Reliable Packing Supplies
This cannot be stressed enough: there is nothing more important the safety of your personal belongings, and the best way to keep them in one piece is with professional packing supplies. Above all, we’d recommend quality moving boxes, as they are built to hold your belongings safely while being stored away in an attic, basement, or garage. Packing paper for dishes and ornaments is a good choice, too.
Although it may seem like an obvious statement, an extra level of care and efficiency should be practiced when packing away holiday items due to them generally being more fragile than ordinary home belongings.
Using the professional packing supplies mentioned above can go a long way in helping to keep important items like ornaments, special Christmas lights and table decorations, or holiday dishes safe until next year. It will also make the process of unpacking them when the next holiday season rolls around easier, too.
Moving Furniture Back Into Storage
If you displayed extra furniture for more seating during the holidays, that means you’ll need to get it back into the basement, attic, or other storage at some point. Or you might need an extra hand with rearranging it in your home, too.
Regardless of the type of furniture you have – don’t move more than you can handle. If you have too much or something too heavy to move, give us a call – our movers can come to your home and move whatever you need! This includes moving items around within your home or to a storage facility.
TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is the first and largest franchised moving company in the United States. Let us help move you forward! For more helpful tips and information on moving services subscribe to our blog and like us on Facebook.
The calendar has now turned to the year 2022, and we’re right in the middle of the winter months – which for many of us can mean cold, snowy days.
While it may not be blustery for everyone (and we’re jealous of those who don’t have to experience this!), winter weather still remains in many parts of the country and even during this time, the show goes on for TWO MEN AND A TRUCK and moving. Thankfully, we’ve been doing this long enough that we’ve learned a thing or two about moving during these dark winter days – no matter what the temperature might be.
If during these next few months you find yourself moving, check out some of our best winter moving tips below to ensure you’re ready to tackle moving day in perhaps less than ideal conditions.
Watch Your Step
Seems obvious, right? Well, it’s still worth repeating, because safety always comes first! Be careful when moving around outside on sidewalks and driveways if ice is forming, or if the ground is slick from precipitation. Using the proper footwear or laying down salt ahead of time can help you get extra grip.
Dress Warm
Another one on the “obvious” category, but you know how the old saying goes: it’s always easier to remove layers than it is to keep adding them. Weather can be unpredictable at times during the winter season, so come prepared with enough clothes to keep you comfortable and warm and adjust as the day goes on.
Prepare For Early Darkness
If people were to rank their least favorite parts about the winter months, you’d have to imagine “getting dark early” would rank pretty high on the list. This comes into play during moves, too. Time and the sunset should be factored into when the move is scheduled, but it’s also smart to be prepared with accessible lighting should the sun go down before the job is completed.
Pay Attention to The Weather Conditions
Like we said above: wintertime weather can be unpredictable. Still, you want to do your best to monitor the forecast leading up to moving day so you can at least have an idea of what you might be experiencing on moving day.
Protect Those Floors
If you hire professional movers, they will provide floor runners to help keep the floors in your home protected, but there are also some steps you can take as well. Have old towels or sheets handy to lay down in areas where you want to stop snow, salt, and other messes from the outside getting tracked inside. Also, be sure to remind everyone to wipe their shoes when possible.
Hydrate
This may not be at the front of everyone’s mind when it’s cold out, but hydration is always crucial for those participating in moving day. Heavy lifting is strenuous and demanding regardless of the weather, and you want to stay hydrated to keep yourself feeling as best as possible for moving day.
Instead of using all of these tips above for your own moving process, it might just be easier to hire professionals like us to get the job done right. We’re trained, equipped, and ready to handle the winter elements to get your move completed safely and efficiently.
To get a jump on your next move and to create your own moving checklist to stay organized, click here!
TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is the first and largest franchised moving company in the United States. Let us help move you forward! For more helpful tips and information on moving services subscribe to our blog and like us on Facebook.
The holidays are here, the snow is falling (for some!), and 2021 is coming to a quick close. As we end the year, we enjoy reflecting back on some of the biggest highlights from the past 12 months.
In 2021, it was another outstanding year for the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK brand as we continued to offer our industry-leading moving services to customers from coast to coast and beyond. As we expanded our newer services like junk removal and other specialty moving services, we were able to help even more customers with their moving, packing, storage, and junk removal needs than ever before.
We also kept up with our mission of giving back to the community through a variety of different programs and charitable moves while continuing to live out each of our company core values.. As we adjust to some of the new changes in the world, we’re still the same business that is dedicated to eliminating moving stress and making a difference for our customers since the mid-1980s.
With that being said, we thought we’d look back at the top blog posts from the year.
“You’ve probably seen us talking about it on our websites, our blog, our social channels … just about everywhere, but if you still need a reminder: TWO MEN AND A TRUCK now offers junk removal!”
“Cost is usually the deciding factor in how people go about home moving, whether they’re planning to hire a professional moving company like TWO MEN AND A TRUCK, or try and complete the move themselves. The common misconception thrown around in the world of home moving is that doing it yourself is a “cheaper” option than hiring professionals. On the surface, this might seem like the case, but once it is broken down, you’ll see moving on your own can add up price-wise.”
“An area we like to often remind our customers about – one which normally gets overlooked – is what moving companies can’t move. It’s important to know this information because it will save you the time and hassle of arranging a new plan last-second if you find out a certain item mentioned below cannot be transported by our team.”
“Known as our Carry Crew moving option, we offer customers assistance with loading and unloading for those who want to avoid doing any moving and lifting. With this service, customers would rent their own truck or container, then call one of our teams to load it all up or unload it as needed. This saves you the trouble of doing it yourself and provides you with the peace of mind in knowing your items were handled by professionals. It’s a win-win!”
“There’s a lot of excitement and energy around Busiest Move Weekend for TWO MEN AND A TRUCK, as it truly reflects the brand’s strength and how hard our teams are working in their communities,” said TWO MEN AND A TRUCK President Randy Shacka. “We embrace this as a brand and look forward to serving a record number of customers during what may be one of the most stressful times in their lives.”
“The most important factor when it comes to saving money during the moving process is time. Local moves are generally charged by the hour, so anything you can do to cut down on the time your movers are there will save you money in the long run.”
“Preparation when it comes to moving will significantly decrease the stress involved with it, and it can be a stressful time if it’s not done right. This sounds easier said than done, but thankfully for you, we’ve pinpointed some areas where you can start this preparation.”
“Finding a storage unit to fit your needs can be a challenge – here are some helpful tips for those who are interested in storage – but it’s also important to know the items you can’t put into storage. All storage facilities have their own guidelines and regulations for the facility, so it’s important to work with them before purchasing storage space to determine what can and cannot go into your storage unit.”
“Like any type of moving, apartment and condo moving brings its own unique set of challenges and to-do lists, but unlike home moving, you aren’t dealing with mortgages or other house-related issues. Instead, you take on things like renter’s insurance, deposits, and leases.”
“A moving checklist is the best way to take your move in stride and chip away at the process piece by piece as you work toward moving day. From figuring out your plan of action to determining how you will go about packing, and everything else in between – a moving checklist is a good way to track your progress and give you an idea of how things are going.”
TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is the first and largest franchised moving company in the United States. Let us help move you forward! For more helpful tips and information on moving services subscribe to our blog and like us on Facebook.
Last Thursday was Veteran’s Day, a time to recognize the incredible sacrifices made by the brave men and women veterans of this wonderful country.
This means a lot to us here at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK, as we have a number of veterans working within our brand at every level of the company. From movers and drivers all the way up to franchisees and Home Office team members, we’re proud of our strong veteran presence and strive to look for opportunities to help veterans adjust to life after their time in the military.
Another way we honor veterans is through one of our own giving campaigns, Movers for Military®. This program was designed for our franchises to work within their communities to collect and deliver essential care items to veterans in need. Local TWO MEN AND A TRUCK franchises will partner with organizations and businesses in their area to set up collection sites where the public can drop off the needed items, and our teams deliver them to veteran’s shelters in the area.
“Any time we can help or assist veteran or service members, it is a good thing,” said Jeff Walker, a veteran and franchisee at our TWO MEN AND A TRUCK Colorado Springs location. “It is a small way to serve our country.”
Movers for Military is a natural fit for our brand and aligns with our mission of giving back in the community, and with so many veterans working at our franchises, it’s a great way for them to connect with the community.
“Both myself and Franchisee Alan Oversmith come from military families, so we are both very passionate about this campaign,” said Charlene Bush, marketing manager for all four TWO MEN AND A TRUCK Southeast Michigan and Boston locations. “In addition, we have several veterans that now work at each of our locations as movers or drivers. This campaign is a great way to both honor them and show our appreciation for their service to our country.”
This campaign is a great opportunity for members of our frontline staff to get out in the community and partner with them to make a difference. The break from the normal day-to-day job is welcomed by our movers and drivers, and they love helping out and making life a little better for our nation’s veterans.
“Our movers and drivers love helping with the different campaigns we run, so I get a ton of support from both management and our frontline staff,” Bush said. “I was very pleased with each campaign and the amount of donations we were able to deliver.
TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is the first and largest franchised moving company in the United States. Let us help move you forward! For more helpful tips and information on moving services subscribe to our blog and like us on Facebook.
Packing, address changes, hiring professional movers, protecting your belongings – these are just some of the main things people think about when they start considering a home move, and deservedly so.
Each are extremely important pieces in the puzzle of moving from one home to the next, and all require your full focus and attention as you begin the process. However, what about the other parts of the moving process you aren’t thinking of? We like to call these “overlooked moving essentials”, and while they might not appear important on the surface, they are simple thoughts and ideas that will come in handy on moving day to help keep the stress levels down.
We always tell our customers – and really anyone who will listen – that organization is the most important factor in the moving process and paying attention to these overlooked moving essentials is a huge piece of staying organized.
Follow along and get ready for moving day!
Moving checklist
The most organized thing you can do leading up to a move is creating a moving checklist. We believe this is one of the most important pieces to a successful move and encourage all of our customers to make one. It’s an organized plan of how you’re going to attack the move, starting from about a month out and leading right up to moving day.
If you’re asking yourself how you’re supposed to come up with a moving checklist, don’t worry – we’ve made one for you.
Batteries and chargers
There’s no deny technology runs the world and plays a big role in our day-to-day life. That’s why chargers and batteries are extremely important on moving day – so you can stay connected where needed!
Your cable/internet might not be in immediately at your new home, so keeping those phones, tablets, chargers, remotes, clocks, and everything in between charge is crucial.
Plastic bags
Simple, right? Plastic bags are a cheap, easy, and versatile tool to have on moving day and they make carrying around loose items which didn’t get packed away easy. Keep a stash handy and be ready if needed.
Cleaning supplies
It’s not much of a secret that the moving process can be a little messy. This makes having cleaning supplies readily available an important part of moving so that if a mess happens, you’re able to clean it up right away.
Clorox wipes, toilet cleaner, laundry soap, cleaning spray, and more are all good ideas to have purchased prior to moving day.
Tool kit
In a perfect world, you can move into your new home with zero issues. But that is a perfect world, and this is the real one.
Having a tool kit handy as you start transitioning into your new home will be extremely handy for making any quick fixes that are needed around the house.
TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is the first and largest franchised moving company in the United States. Let us help move you forward! For more helpful tips and information on moving services subscribe to our blog and like us on Facebook.
TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® 