Frequently Asked Questions About Local Moving:

Packing Tips | Moving Information | Pricing/Scheduling | Truck Loading |   Portable Storage Loading

 

How do you charge for moving services?

We charge hourly.  The hourly rate is dependent on how many movers are being utilized and the day of the week you are moving.  It is less expensive to move Monday-Thursday then it is the weekend. This is a quick way to save money if you have that flexibility. In addition, there is a minimum amount of hours charged based on the size of the move and the distance between moving locations.

 

What is included in your moving services?
The movers will bring all the necessary equipment to move your household items.  Please let our phone representatives know if any items need to be disassembled prior to moving and we will make sure to have the proper tools needed on your moving day. They will also bring moving blankets and shrink wrap for all large items that need additional protection when moving.  You will want to have all the small, loose items already packed in boxes that are taped up, stackable (if you don’t want to pack we can send packers the day prior to your move for an additional charge) and ready to go.  We will provide free wardrobe boxes for all clothes on hangars.  Please let our phone representative know how many wardrobe boxes you will need for your move.

 

Do I need to be present for the entire move?
It is highly recommended. You will need to sign the paperwork prior to your movers starting as well as when your team is finished moving all your household items. If you are not able to stay throughout the move, we are flexible and can make this work.

 

Please note, it is best practice to be there the entire time you are moving for a variety of reasons.  The movers may have questions regarding certain items being moved particularly if you are not moving everything.  In addition, you want to do a walkthrough once the movers finish loading all your items into our truck to make sure everything you wanted moved has been loaded into our truck.

 

Can I have multiple pickups and/or drop-offs for my move?
Yes.  We often will stop at storage units, other people’s homes, or anywhere where you need furniture and belongings transported. Additional costs will be incurred as we have an hourly charge. This must be scheduled in advance with your moving consultant over the phone.

 

Why do you give phone estimates versus coming to our house?
As Discount Movers, we provide value everywhere we can. Our services are charged by the hour versus the weight (like long-distance companies in San Diego).  We have an effective process to help us understand what we will be moving over the phone to provide our customers with an estimate. This helps keep our costs low. We pass on this savings to our customers. On occasion, we need to go in person but for 99% of moves, this is an added cost our customers don’t want or need.

 

I don’t need a moving truck, do you offer a service to just load or unload my household items from a rental truck or storage container?
Yes, we can load or unload your rental truck or portable storage container based on the number of household items and the logistics of the move.

 

Does your moving crew know how to properly load a San Diego Pod or portable storage unit?
Yes. There are many best practice tips on properly loading a portable storage unit so things don’t move or compress on other valuables. We provide this service daily and will properly load your items.

 

Are the movers who are moving my household items your employees or are they independent contractors?
We do not and will not use independent contractors.  The majority of our movers have been with the company for many years. They are our employees and we are quite proud of them. We like to hire people who can effectively communicate with our customers. Many of our San Diego movers have made a career working at Discount Movers and we take good care of our team.

 

Why do you give phone estimates versus coming to our house?
As Discount Movers, we provide value everywhere we can. Our services are charged by the hour versus the weight (like long-distance companies in San Diego).  We have an effective process to help us understand what we will be moving over the phone to provide our customers with an estimate. This helps keep our costs low. We pass on this savings to our customers. On occasion, we need to go in person but for 99% of moves, this is an added cost our customers don’t want or need.

 

Do you have the insurance requirements needed to move within my condo or business location?
Yes, we have 1 million dollar coverage per move which is typically more than enough to move within any condo association or business building.  In fact, we are preferred movers for almost all of the larger condo associations in San Diego.  Please clarify with your association or building their insurance requirements and make sure they have all the insurance paperwork needed from us prior to your move.

 

Do you charge more if I have stairs or elevators?
No, we don’t charge more for this but we do charge by the hour.  The longer it takes to move your belongings the more you will be charged. With a lot of stairs or elevators, often more movers are needed. When there are a lot of stairs or elevators and we recommend more movers, this will save you money and protect your valuables. They will be faster and will be able to do the job properly and more efficiently.

 

I don’t have a vehicle, can I ride in the truck with the movers?
For insurance purposes, we cannot allow anyone not employed by the company to be in our trucks.  If you do not have a motor vehicle please make arrangement prior to your move date to have transportation the day of your move.

 

Do you move plants?
No.  Do to PUC regulations we are not allowed to move plants.

 

Will you disconnect my oven, washer, or dryer?
Discount Movers will transport your washer and dryer. However, we recommend that you have the gas company or a home maintenance company take care of any appliance connections or disconnections. If you do this incorrectly, it becomes a safety issue and/or could potentially damage your appliances. Our moving services do not include this service. If you have gas appliances, there could be fire hazards and gas leaks if not done properly.  Also if your washer and dryer are under warranty, some policies require that they disconnect and reconnect to keep the warranty valid.  It is recommended to have them disconnect and reconnect at your new house. Sometimes during a move, things can be shaken and it is a good idea to have both services.

 

 

How do I prepare to move a dishwasher?
Discount Movers will transport your dishwasher. Be sure that in advance you and/or a maintenance technician disconnects and drains all hoses. Make sure the washer is totally clean too in order to prevent mildew. It is also a good idea to leave the door open after it is disconnected to make sure the inside is totally dry before you move. Wrap hoses in the newspaper or packing paper and place inside the unit for our movers to transport. You want to do this day in advance before your movers arrive.

 

What do I need to do to prepare my refrigerator or freezer to be moved?
Defrost the refrigerator or freezer at least a day prior to your move.  Remove all items within the refrigerator including trays and shelves.  Have your refrigerator serviced before the move (the motor may have to be bolted down).  Lastly, make sure the refrigerator and/or freezer are completely dry so there is no water that could damage your other household items while in transit.

 

How do I prepare to move my washing machine?
Make sure all cords are unhooked and unplugged.  Drain all hoses out and check with manufacturer guidelines if anything needs to be secured within the washing machine prior to your move.

 

What needs to be done prior to moving my gas dryer?
The gas line should be shut off by a professional and the dryer should be completely disconnected. Gas leaks can create fires and other hazards.

 

Do I need to empty my dressers, bookcases, entertainment centers or any other large household items?
Yes.  All small, loose items should be completely taken out of large furniture pieces.  You do not need to take the drawers out but want to have all the contents within them removed.   All the loose items should be packed in a box.

 

What items can Discount Movers not move?
We typically do not move items over 300 lbs.  So any large, heavy safes, pool tables, spa’s, pianos larger than an upright, commercial appliances, etc. over 300 lbs. usually will not be able to be moved. There are specialty companies designed for these services.

 

In addition, we don’t move plants, anything with oil and/or gas in it (motorcycles, mopeds, etc.), food items, flammable items, heavy-duty equipment, any small loose items that need to be in a box, and liquids.

 

How much do I tip the movers?
First of all, tipping is not required, but it is greatly appreciated. Moving is hard and the guys work hard hoping they will get some additional money for a job well done. It is common that tips can range around $20 of the total bill, or $20-40 per man depending on the difficulty of the move.  You can tip one mover more than another if you felt their service was extra special. Overall, tipping is completely up to you.

 

How does 60 cents per pound insurance work?
Your move automatically includes insurance protections at 60 cents per pound.  For example, if you have a 100 lb. a dresser that gets damaged during your move you would receive $60 from the insurance.

 

My elder parent needs to move and I am located in another state. How can you help?
You need to have someone who can sign the necessary paperwork and have them let the movers know what needs to be moved, etc.  Once you make the necessary arrangements we can take care of the rest and get them moved into their new location.

 

I am getting divorced and we need the police to be there while I move.  How do you handle this?
We will move your furniture as we do with all our moves.  However, there can be delays as to what we are able to take from the premises due to certain circumstances of the divorce decree.  It is ideal to have arrangements made with your spouse or on the divorce decree given to the police officer prior as to what can be taken by the movers so as to save time and money.

 

I need to move a piano, what do you recommend?
We are able to move upright piano’s or smaller as long as there are no stairs involved.  We do charge an additional fee for piano.  For piano’s larger than an upright, you should contact a licensed piano moving company that specializes in only moving pianos.

 

My dog will be there during the move, is that an issue?
Yes.  There should be no dogs present during the move as it is not safe for the movers or the dog.  If you are unable to relocate your dog during the move it needs to be secured in an area away from where the movers are working.

 

My cat will be there during the move, is that an issue?
Yes.  There should be no cats present during the move as it is not safe for the movers or the cat.  If you are unable to relocate your cat during the move it needs to be secured in an area away from where the movers are working.

 

Do you offer other moving insurance for San Diego moves?
We are preferred movers for MovingInsurance.com and Bakers Insurance.  You can find the links to both on our website.

 

Do you move into senior homes in San Diego?
We do a lot of senior moving.  Even though our movers are extremely fast, they are very patient and considerate with our customers.  We are recommended by several senior housing centers.

 

Do you offer San Diego long distance moving services?
We only move within the greater Southern California area.

 

Can I ask for the same movers that I had last time?
Absolutely, we have movers that have been with the company for over a decade and have moved the same people several times.  Our movers take pride in being requested to move past customers.

 

How should I move a treadmill or move an exercise bike?
Refer to the owners manual for your exercise equipment when moving.  We can typically move your exercise equipment but refer to your owners manual as some equipment needs to be transported by the manufacturer’s equipment representative in order to maintain the warranty.

 

How do I move my barbecue?
We can move your portable barbecue.  You need to remove the propane tank if it has one and transport it in your vehicle.  Also, if there is charcoal or wood chips you will need to empty it out prior to the movers loading it into our moving truck.

 

How do I protect my mattress?
We sell mattress bags for an additional cost.  Please let our moving consultant know when you are scheduling the move that you would like to buy a mattress cover.

 

How do I move my fish and fish tank?
The fish tank will need to be completely emptied out.  We will shrink wrap and pad the fish tank during transit.  Once we arrive at the new location we’ll place it where you want it and then you can restock the fish tank with all the fish and accessories.

 

How do you move bikes?
Generally, it is best to take in your vehicle.  If that is not an option we can take your bikes.

 

I have a lot of electronic tools, how should I move these?
You want to refer to your owners manual.  Different electronic tools have different ways of being transported.

 

Can you move my lawn mower?
As long as it is completely drained of oil and gas we are able to take the lawn mower in our moving truck.

 

Do I need to do anything prior to moving my outdoor furniture?
No you don’t.  We will treat your outdoor furniture the same way we handle your indoor furniture – with great care.

 

How do I pack skis?
Generally, skis are best to be taken in your vehicle.  If that is not possible we can pad and transport your skis in our moving truck.

 

How do I pack a basketball hoop?
A basketball hoop takes up quite a bit of space.  Depending on the number of items you are moving we may be able to take the basketball hoop in its entirety.  Most of the time, however, you will want to have it broken down so it will take up less room in the moving truck allowing us to move all of your household items.

 

What is the difference between a local moving company and a long distance moving company in San Diego?
A local moving company like Discount Movers will move only within Greater Southern California whereby a long distance mover can move you anywhere in the country.  The difference in price for a local move can be quite substantial when choosing between a long distance moving company and a local moving company.

 

Do you offer unpacking services?
We will remove pads and place your household furniture and boxes where you want them to be placed in your new residence.  However, we do not open and unpack boxes.

 

Would your movers transport my fine jewelry?
All fine jewelry, gold bullion, Picasso’s, etc. should absolutely be transported in your vehicle.

 

Would your movers transport my fine jewelry?
All fine jewelry, gold bullion, Picasso’s, etc. should absolutely be transported in your vehicle.

 

I have some super sentimental things that I don’t want anything to happen to. What do you recommend?
We treat all your items with care but if there are certain pieces of furniture that hold a special place with you please let our movers know and they will be sure to accommodate your wishes.