Tuesday, December 11, 2007
The Moving Business
We recently had a move planned. Not a huge thing, but enough so that we decided to hire a moving company. I can't believe the range in estimates for this job. We talked to four companies and got four wildly different estimates. Three companies sent a rep out to the house to look things over and one company did the estimate via a phone call and email.
The first company estimated four people over 12 hours for a cost of about $2200. The second company estimated four people over 18 hours for $3000. The third company estimated four people for eight hours at $1300 and the last company (over the phone) estimated two people for six hours at $600. (The prices here are estimates as I remember them)
Hard to believe that all those folks were going to do the same project, isn't it? The $2200 company rep was personable and I got along with him fine. We had some similar interests and he seemed to know what he was talking about. The $3000 company rep was late for our appointment and rushed. I can't say he was very impressive. The third company ($1300) rep was the only woman and had a cold that day, but pulled out her handheld and made her estimate and then printed me out a copy. The last, $600 company asked how many rooms I had during the phone call and then sent me an email with the estimate.
I ended up choosing the $1300 estimate (based on hourly charges and the fact she was the only one who followed up the estimate with a letter) but asked for her to recheck the place since that estimate was so much shorter than the others. (I dropped the email company out of the running since it seemed to me to be so obviously out of the loop) She did return and say yes, only a day.
Came the day of the move and a big old Corrigan moving van pulled up right on time and four guys got out and started hauling. Three hours later they had everything moved out (we pre-packed) and they said they'd meet us at our new place at 1230-1300 hrs. Came 1240, and there they were and started hauling all over again. They finished in just under eight hours. Best of all, it seems like nothing was damaged and nothing was missing and they were under the estimate.
If you're looking for a mover in the Saginaw area, you ought to try Corrigan Moving, 989.667.9000. Obviously, your results may be different from mine, but I'm really happy with their work.
