SMOOTH MOVES LLC IN A NUTSHELL
We typically only operate as a two man crew so you get as much work out of two professional movers as you want. Sometimes people have us work two hours, others have us on deep into overtime on a fourteen hour day. We have no forklift other than being human forklifts. Rest assured, per man a lot of work gets done. We operate with a 24 foot household goods moving van. It pays to have us make multiple trips in town if needed and on statewide trips we can either get it all in one load for you or not. Other options for moving across the state with us include us loading our van and having us also load/unload your rental van or trailer to accommodate all your stuff.
FAQ's
Is there a minimum charge on hourly work? Yes. It is two hours. All hours are billed from truckyard to truckyard.
What don't you move? Pianos, gunsafes, pool tables, live plants, perishables, propane, household and lawn chemicals, paints, fuels and any other cargo deemed hazardous by Smooth Moves LLC. We are always happy to consult with you on how to get these items moved.
How can I best be prepared for the move? Box all loose items and pad and carton fragile items accordingly. All box tops should be level and taped shut. No books or heavy items in big boxes, small only (don't kill the mover). Lamps, pictures and artwork should be cartoned. We like to use our moving blankets on your furniture and be able to properly stack the boxed items. Have any necessary disassembling of items done in advance.
Should I take drawers out of the dressers? Ideally clothes should be wardrobe boxed or duffel bagged. Some dressers are light enough to move with drawers and or clothes in them. Remove heavy and fragile items from drawers.
How can a seemingly small move take longer than anticipated? Tight entrances, exits and hallways can make a big difference as doors may need to come off and blanketing and preparation can eat up time. Stair flights will add time. Lots of disassembling with tools can add significant time to a move. Carries of items that require the mover to cover "excessive distance" will add time to a move as well.
Do you do packing? No. We cater to the pre-packed move and like to "grab and go" (load/unload our van for you). We do refer the services of Marilyn Allen at Smooth Transitions of Western Montana for professional packing of your items. She can be reached at 406-822-2004 or 406-493-0603.
Do you have a storage facility? We do not.
Do you build crates for items? No.
Am I billed for fuel? No. There is no fuel surcharge included in the Smooth Moves LLC tariff.
Do you work on weekends? Rarely. Our overtime rate applies if we are available. The overtime rate also applies after 5 p.m. on weekdays and on any major holidays as well.
When can I expect a call back if I left a message for a quote? If we are in the field working on a move it may not be until afternoon or the evening hours. Worst case, first thing early the next morning. Don't worry, we really do want to get back to you and give you a quote, however, we don't make a habit of conducting phone business when we're working on a move. Your patience is greatly appreciated.
Do you call to confirm a move that is already on your schedule? No, typically we do not call to confirm your move once it is on the schedule. We will be there as it is scheduled as a sacred move day for you and a sacred day of work for us. You can call us if there is a potential change you need to make.
How far in advance should I book my move? As far as possible.
What types of payment do you accept? Smooth Moves LLC accepts cash and good checks only. No credit cards. Payment is due the same day upon delivery.
Disassembly/Reassembly. If any items require disassembly to ship, ie; washer/dryer hookups, beds needing tool work, bunk beds, cribs, wall shelving units, excercise equipment etc., it saves time to have them ready. This applies to items that require tools.
Be thorough in your description of your move so that we can be as thorough as possible in our estimating for you. All of Smooth Moves LLC's estimates are non-binding.
Have boxes packed and ready. If we come in on move day to find packed boxes and furniture only and don't have to wade through miscellaneous items, we are able to attack the project with maximum ease of loading the van.
Avoid having Smooth Moves LLC ship items that are not needed in your new home. Donations are a write off and some junk just ain't worth shipping anywhere...
MOVING INSURANCE
Smooth Moves LLC complies with the Montana Public Service Commission requirements but additional mover's insurance is not available from us. To purchase additional mover's insurance you can go to movinginsurance.com or other similiar sources.
TAX WRITE OFFS
For information on moving expenses and taxes you can go to smartmoney.com and search "moving expenses."
More FAQ's...
What is a "Bulky Article?" A Bulky Article is a large and unusual item that has an extra fee asessed to it in our tariff. Think riding lawn mower, large screen T.V.s, big dog kennels, jungle gyms, pianos (don't do 'em), gunsafes (don't do 'em), boats, motorbikes, grandfather clocks, hot tubs (don't do 'em), sheds, jet skis, snowmobiles, etc. etc. etc. Keep in mind we are a small streamlined operation...
Do you travel statewide? Yes we do, moves outside of thirty miles from the Missoula city center are billed according to our one-way mileage and weight charts. Weekend statewide moves have an additional loading fee per 100 lbs.