Long-term relationships are an essential ingredient to success in today’s real estate marketplace. Your jobs as Realtors should not end at closing – by providing a little extra “TLC,” you can potentially secure lifelong business. Helping clients find a safe and reliable moving source can be a great start.

Moving is one of the most stressful activities in a person's life, hands down. But with the right kind of planning and care, you can help make your client’s relocation a piece of cake.

Step One: Planning Ahead

When plotting cross-town moves, most people don’t feel like lifting a finger. This explains why more and more residents are taking the safe, affordable and convenient route of hiring a company that specializes in local moves. By trusting professional movers to handle the heavy lifting, your clients can focus on the countless other details associated with changing addresses.

Encourage clients to start planning their move at least four to six weeks before the desired moving date. Waiting until the last minute can be a recipe for serious headaches, especially when it comes to retaining the services of a mover. Summer is always the busiest time of the year for movers, and the beginning and end of each month are traditionally busier than mid-month (rent and mortgage payments are due on the first), regardless of the season.

Step Two: Obtaining a Moving Estimate

Do a little research before presenting clients with the names of three moving companies. Because regardless of whether you’re recommending a contractor, cleaning service or Chinese restaurant, you put your reputation on the line when making a referral. Steering a client down the wrong path could come back to haunt you, so make sure you can vouch for the businesses you endorse.

Advise clients to contact each mover and have them explain the services listed in the estimate provided. They should then compare each estimate to see which mover best suits their specific needs. The best local movers will customize each move within a specified budget, regardless of if a customer wants to transport a single couch or the entire contents of a large estate.

Step Three: Packing Wisely

But before your clients hit the road – whether on their own or with the help of a local mover – they should devote valuable time and effort to the packing process. Start by compiling a room-by-room inventory of things that need to be moved to the new residence, items that can be moved to storage or another facility, and those that can be discarded or donated to charity. Note that many moving companies also offer packing and unpacking services and supplies.

And remember: the heavier the items, the smaller the box. A common packing ‘no-no’ is to simply toss everything into one huge box, which will only make the haul more challenging.

Use The Web

The U.S. Post Office has made its Movers Kit available online at Moversguide.com. Visitors can complete the Change of Address form and access other information to make their relocation official. MaketheMove.com is a convenient Web service that enables people to transfer utility, phone, wireless, Internet and cable services with a few clicks of the mouse.

Here are a few other helpful links to pass along:

• Motor Vehicle registration for all 50 U.S. states: www.usps.gov/moversnet/motor.html
• Online voter registration: www.fec.gov/votregis/vr.htm
• IRS Change of Address form: www.usps.gov/moversnet/irs.html

Melanie Bergeron is president of the Lansing, Michigan-based Two Men and a Truck® International. Founded in 1985, Two Men and a Truck® is the nation’s largest local commercial and residential moving franchise system, with more than 116 locally owned and operated locations in 25 states with a current fleet of more than 740 trucks. Visit http://www.twomen.com for more information.

Published: May 9, 2003

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