“Where To Next?!”

How long have you lived in your current residence?

Whenever I meet new people in my city, one of the two following questions almost always seems to come up: “where are you from?” and “how long have you lived in Athens?” I recently made a few new connections, and as the answers “Pennsylvania” and “over 9 years” come out of my mouth, it made me reflect on how I physically got here. Like physically removed myself from New Castle, Pennsylvania, and physically placed myself, my life, my belongings, my future in Athens, Georgia. That sent my mind down a rabbit hole of my previous moving experiences, and how I wish I hired a professional moving company each time, lol! That led me to write this blog post about the things to consider when choosing a professional moving company.

August 2012, my mother and I packed up my 2008 Ford Focus with all of my “necessities” (necessities in quotes because what really did I need from my college apartment???) and drove the 11+ hour drive to my new apartment in Georgia (which my brother and I miraculously located just a few months prior during a weekend adventure of apartment hunting). We spent that weekend hopping around to various furniture stores to get me a bed, couch, and dining room furniture, secured delivery options, and at our first meal in my new apartment on a blanket on the living room floor. Luckily, I remained in that apartment for over 4 years!

Here is a quick fun fact about me: I DO NOT LIKE MOVING. But after my cousin moved to Georiga with me, we had to relocate from that 1 bedroom apartment. Once again, I found myself on the hunt for another apartment. The way the cards were dealt that time was just magical though! My cousin and I ended up finding a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom house for LESS THAN the rent I was paying for my 1 bedroom! Too good to be true right?! Well, yep, essentially it was too good to be true lol, because about 1 year into that rental, the owners wanted to sell, and yeah you get the point; we had to go! Here we go again — I despise moving. Oh, and packing ain’t no fun either, and I’m a single woman, so how much stuff can I actually have?!

That’s when I moved into my current townhouse. Still renting, and I’m good with that. Love my current place! A glass shelf on my TV stand was broken during the move, smh. That’s what happens when you pay friends in pizza and beer to help you move across town!). But, now in hindsight, I wish I hired a professional moving company when I did all of those moves!

What should you consider prior to hiring a professional moving company?

Well I know, you’re probably thinking, “how can she tell me what to consider if she did all of those moves without a professional moving company?” Well, I am so glad you asked! You know that fun word called “regret”??? Yeah, that’s how I am qualified to share these vital tips with you!

I have had the opportunity to become really good friends with an owner of a moving company. My friend’s company, Gameday Moving Services, has grown so much over the years, and they now have a second location in Houston, TX! While reflecting on my past failed moving experiences, I was able to come up with 4 major things to consider when choosing a professional moving company.

1. Does the company provide packing services?
Whether you’re a single college student or a family of 5, your best bet is to find a moving company that offers packing services! You really don’t how much you actually have until it’s time to move! Small things, large things, things you haven’t seen in years… Delegate those packing services to someone else so that you can focus on other important things surrounding your move, such as figuring out where the best place for happy hour in your new city will be!

2. Does the company provide cleaning services?
Most landlords require the rental property to be spotless before you turn those keys back in! Remember how I just said you don’t know about the things you haven’t seen in years?? You also have furniture that you’ve never moved around in years. You have ceiling fans you never paid attention to in years. You have baseboards that you didn’t even know existed. Let the professionals deal with all that and make your place squeaky clean, while you figure out where the best place to hike in your new city will be!

3. Does the company offer long-distance moving services?
Here is another fun fact: “A move of more than 50 or 100 miles is considered a long-distance move in Clarke County and Athens. … Even if you are only relocating a few miles, you will need a licensed cross-country moving company in Athens or Clarke County to handle your relocation.” Who knew that Athens, Georgia long-distance movers had to be licensed?! Makes total sense though! I know many people in Athens relocate to Atlanta, and that would definitely be considered a long-distance move. You want to make sure your belongings and furniture will be safe and will arrive all intact once you pull up to your new home! Also, who wants to deal with driving a huge moving truck miles and miles when you could be using that time to figure out who your kid’s new school mascot will be?!

4. Does the moving company offer piano moving services?
Not everyone owns a piano, but I think this is a very important thing to consider. Because think about it; if the company guarantees a safe move of a huge piano, then they would definitely be able to handle your living room furniture with care! Gameday Moving can move your piano, organ, pool table, refrigerator, whatever while you figure out where you want to take your family for your first dinner out!

Save this post for the next time you plan to move. Hire yourself a professional moving company. Check out Gameday Moving Services if they’re in your area.

“The Lord is for me among those who help me; Therefore I shall see my desire on those who hate me.” — Psalms 118:7, NKJV.

Moni Jay, Off the Record