Size matters plenty, but bigger isn’t always better…
FALSE PERCEPTION # 1:
Have truck, can move, right?
Spatial orientation is a rare, rare skill, it’s the difference between one and two or more trips, or a half-full and unbalanced load (damage-alert). It can save you time, fuel and frustration, so no matter what size truck you have the use of; make sure you have a skilled and experienced packer.
A 3-4 Ton vehicle, packed correctly, can move a flat or townhouse if the packer knows what he’s doing, and because you’re in a complex with brick-paved roads, nothing bigger is allowed in anyway. But you didn’t know that? Of course not, who can remember some rule the body corporate made once upon a time when they had the roadways paved…
And these restrictions on heavy vehicles are actually a result of badly paved roadways in the first place. Cheap paving gets damaged by heavy vehicles (if they’re loaded to full weight capacity, like with bricks, of course). So now you also need a shuttle bakkie with a trailer to transport everything to the truck waiting outside, someone at the truck to watch that your things don’t get stolen, and a whole lot of double handling, before you even leave the old place. Worst of all, this takes a lot of time, so you’d better be sure you can afford it all.
FALSE PERCEPTION # 2:
I need a big truck for one load
I live in the suburbs, I have a 4-bedroom house, so I need a very big truck to do it all in one load. That load might take 3 or 4 hours to pack into the truck, while you stand around and watch, and wait, with nothing else to do but say “careful!” for effect, every now and then. If it’s a long-distance move, this is the only option, but what about local moves...
The truck may be an 8-Ton but there are only 3 seats, so that means a driver and two assistants, no wonder it takes so long!
Remember that you need to repeat the process and stand there for all that off-loading... But once your furniture is all offloaded and standing on the lawn, it’s carry time. Now you need to tell the handlers where to put each item and there are three of them (each carrying something for a different room) and one of you. Now you’re running around to show every guy where to put every item, and they’re coming in fast, and your helper can only stand somewhere safely out of the way or keep the kids out of the way. Remember, they’ll only put something down once, no time for long-term décor decisions…
The idea is to stay in control, so after all the waiting, after a very long stressful day, you’re playing ‘chicken without a head’ and then you’re left with a sliver of daylight to make up beds, get the TV going for the kids, find the towels and soap to bath them and settle in for the night yourself, probably very late. To make things worse, your helper has gone home, there’s been no time to unpack pots to cook, everyone wants help to find their pyjamas and clothes and shoes for ‘tomorrow’, no laundry got done, the toothbrushes need to be found and toothpaste unpacked … Talk about stressful, no wonder so many people get the ‘flu, and more than one divorce is the product of a stressful move.
FALSE PERCEPTION # 3:
Two trips take double the time
This is only true when distance is an issue. Whether you have no choice to use a smaller vehicle, or want to avoid having a once-off loading cycle, opting for a half-size vehicle instead of a full 8-Ton can be a good choice for short-distance or local moves. It takes the same time to load the same amount of furniture, so this option means that the loading may take an hour and a half, with off-loading and placing taking around 45 minutes.
Two trips gives you time to set up beds and even unpack while the second trip takes its course. Many of our clients prefer this option because of the lower stress levels required. It means that you need one person at each address, which is why we personally supervise loading for all moves, giving you the flexibility you need. This also allows us to provide larger crews which we transport to site in the management vehicle where necessary, so while you control off-loading, we take care of your wrapping or boxing needs while the first load is in play.
The only additional time needed is for the truck to drive to the delivery address and return once off-loaded, handling crews get an extra rest period (lunch), meaning they can work better, and as long as the distance is within 10-15 kilometres, no time is actually lost while mandatory breaks are taken on-site.
As for costs, we don’t charge for distance on local Centurion moves, so if you prefer your move with two loads, the fuel is on us. Please bear in mind that running costs on a larger vehicle are higher than on a smaller vehicle, so you may find that not only is this option less stressful, it is more cost effective.
FALSE PERCEPTION # 4:
Size Matters: A truck and crew is a truck and crew, all movers do the same thing
If you believe that you will get the standard ‘tin can with two warm bodies’ from a large organisation, you’re probably right. Most large moving service providers have many vehicles and crews, international brands and funding, and you’re only one of many clients to which a truck and crew get despatched every day. These organisations rely on brand recognition and the economy of scale.
Naturally, you can opt for a ‘one man show’, who may hire his crew from the side of the road (he may employ a driver or a packer and drive himself), which will at least give you the advantage of some supervision and personal service. Chances are there’s no in-transit insurance, vehicle tracking or a higher authority to direct any complaints to if you’re unhappy with the service or handling of goods.
The above examples are the two extremes you can expect in the market. We fit somewhere in-between, but with one difference – the size of the crew and the truck is determined by your needs and we are flexible enough to customise your move experience. As a proudly South African family business with over 50 years’ good standing, we’re hands-on and you get the best of both worlds, professionalism and personalised service. All our vehicles are enclosed and equipped with blankets and strapping for the safety of your furniture in transit. Live tracking and in-transit insurance are also included, and we utilise only professional, trained and experienced crews, with on-site management support. We are a 100% woman owned SMME with excellent references and a 5-Star Google rating.