ClickCease

FAQ

Common Moving Questions

How should I prepare for the upcoming move?

This depends on which type of service the customer needs. The majority of people pack their own belongings prior to moving day. In that case we have planned for moving services only and our crews intend on going in and having everything prepped for their arrival. This includes all boxes being packed and sealed with tape on the top and the bottom, electronics removed from entertainment centers, and drawers being emptied into sealed boxes. Should you need professional packing services, please discuss this with your moving advisor before scheduling the move.

Furthermore, all appliances need to be disconnected such as refrigerators that have water lines connected, water lines from washers, gas lines from dryers, and any type of propane tank from outdoor heaters and barbecue grills. We also require that barbecue grills be cleaned out and grease cans or traps be removed. Additional information can be found on the moving checklist section of our website.

When is the ideal time to move?

Weekdays are typically a better time to move as the majority of people work Monday thru Friday. For this reason most moving companies charge a cheaper weekday rate vs a higher weekend rate. At Aloha Movers, we keep our rates low every day of the week and don’t raise our prices on the weekends.

When speaking in terms of price, moving has a tendency to fall on the weekends as the vast majority of people are typically available. As we don’t raise the price for weekend moves, this works out well for our customers.

Seasonally, summertime is the peak season for moving companies. Busy months generally start in April and last throughout September.

What type of advanced notice is needed for a move?

It is suggested by the powers that be that moves in the State of California be scheduled at least 3 days in advance. This does not always happen, but there are multiple reasons for the 3 day advanced notice rule of thumb. Availability being the most important aspect. Secondly, most 3rd-party insurance companies require policies to be set up no less than 3 days prior to moving day. This ensures that they have your inventory on file and your policy active. Lastly, adequate time to pack is critical so that we can stay within the budget parameters set during the moving interview.

Aloha Movers is open 7 Days per week and can be available at last minute if the man power and resources are available. We treat every project individually and have a proven track record of coming up with creative solutions to accommodate our customers. We do this while maintaining their best interests for a safe, efficient, and cost effective move.

What areas of San Diego or southern California do you service?

While we are headquartered in the heart of San Diego, we provide services to all of southern California. We’ve moved plenty of families from San Diego to Los Angeles for example, and vice versa. For a list of our most common cities please visit our moving service areas page. Please note this is not a complete list.

Does Aloha Movers charge additionally for anything?

Aloha Movers does not have any hidden charges; however there are a couple of select items we do charge additionally for. These items are pianos, gun safes, pool tables, sub-zero refrigerators, and for moves requiring balcony hoisting. All of these things are within reason and sanctioned by the Public Utilities Commission in the Maximum Rate 4 Tariff or Max-4 Tariff Rules and Regulations for moving used household goods and personal effects within California.

If you have additional items on top of your original set inventory, please understand that this takes additional time to do and therefore a “Change of Service Order” will need to be signed to ensure that you understand it will cost more. More items require more time. We do a walkthrough of every move when we arrive and we will go over the inventoried items and discuss the logistics of your move.

Should you request additional services such as unpacking or extra deliveries, then additional charges will apply.

Does the truck come with the moving service?

We are a full service San Diego moving company. Depending on the size of your move you will be assigned 1, 2, 3, or 4 fully equipped moving trucks. They all come fully prepared with dollies, large appliance moving equipment, furniture wrap, and furniture pads to protect your items during transit. Each truck contains ample pads, blankets and straps to protect your unwrapped furniture items during transit. We keep our truck fleet clean and tidy, and believe that our image is reflected in how we keep our equipment. Our trucks use an air-ride suspension and are sealed water tight for those occasional Southern California rains.

Does Aloha Movers provide insurance?

All licensed, insured, and bonded moving companies in the State of California are required to offer Basic Valuation Insurance coverage. This insures customer belongings for $.60 per pound per article and is included in the price of the move. Considering every move is unique, different situations call for different solutions. 99% of our customers do not purchase additional insurance coverage beyond that. However, should you need to have protection above and beyond, your Moving Advisor can point you in the right direction or walk you through the process over the phone. Customers are required to set up 3rd party Full Valuation coverage policy more than 3 days in advance, and will need to provide the insurance company with a specific inventory list that we will verify once onsite.

Should I do my own packing?

Packing and prepping your own belongings can be a double edged sword. Yes it does cut down the price, but packing is also very tedious and needs to be accomplished properly. We implore all of our customers to have everything packed and prepped to move. Including all dressers, all drawers, and misc items packed into industry standard sized boxes. We also require that all boxes be sealed with tape on the top and the bottom to keep the box shape sturdy. If you cannot make the necessary time it takes to properly pack and prepare, then this will make the move considerably longer to complete.

Keep in mind that your boxes and packing materials should be sturdy and suitable for transit. Be mindful not to over-pack boxes or make them too heavy. Please note that movers are not liable for any damage incurred to items that customers pack on their own. Please checkout our packing tips if you do decide to venture on your own.

What about liquids, flammables, and propane tanks?

In the State of California professional movers are not allowed to take hazardous materials over the highways. These items include detergents, liquor, compressed gases, explosives, paint, gasoline, varnishes, grease, and oils.

Can I leave clothes inside of dressers for the move?

We require all dressers, night stands, chests, buffets, credenzas, hutches, armoires, china cabinets, curio cabinets, and anything that has contents be completely empty prior to our arrival. There are several valid reasons for this approach and each of them with everyone’s best interest at heart. The primary reason is that furniture is not designed to be moved with content inside. The joints, feet, and legs are all susceptible to damage. Secondly, in negotiating the items to and from the truck, dressers may have to be turned in certain ways that could become an issue. Lastly, items potentially falling out of the dresser could result in injury to our staff.

What about my appliances and electronics?

Though we do have the tools and knowledge to handle the task, liability would not be covered. This is waived when we are providing packing services. We recommend disconnecting any gas lines, cables, hoses, and vents from all appliances at least 1 day prior to moving day. This will prevent any unknown issues with them during your move should there be any flooding or leaking gas. If you are not able to perform these tasks, we suggest consulting with your local utilities company and have them assist prior to moving day. These steps will help pave the way for a safe and successful move.

How does Aloha Movers calculate moving rates?

The clock starts upon arrival at your door and ends when the move is completed to your satisfaction. We typically have a 3 or 4 hour minimum with a nominal flat rate for fuel. Once a move has exceeded the minimum time, billing continues in 15 minute increments at the same hourly rate. Should there be any type of stop between locations it will be discussed prior and will not reflect on your bill.

Why should I hire professional San Diego movers?

Hiring professional San Diego movers is full of value. The time and effort it takes to pack and move all your belongings can be a tedious task. DIY moves will take considerable effort, time, and multiple trips in either a car, friends truck, or rental truck. Furthermore, rental trucks do not come with the luxury of having all the equipment, furniture wrap, and moving blankets. This will leave your items in compromising scenarios as you may not be able to adequately protect and secure them. It is easy to underestimate the risks and costs with doing it yourself, which is the main reason to hire professionals.

Please note that rental truck companies advertise an attractive rate that doesn’t factor the entire cost of the move. When completed costs are itemized, it’s common to realize the savings isn’t that significant. Fuel, insurance, tolls, mileage, parking tickets, environmental fees, and taxes can quickly add up. In some cases even exceed the cost of hiring professional movers, thus hiring Aloha would be the smart decision for any home moving services or business moving services.

Contact Us

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.