Whether it’s relocating to be closer to family, moving to a warmer climate, or getting a better handle on the cost of living, seniors are on the move. And when Budd Van Lines moves them, Budd gives them extra care.
“That’s important,” said veteran driver Billy Page. “We go above and beyond and do whatever it takes to keep our customers happy.” And according to Billy, moving can be particularly overwhelming for seniors…more than it is for other customers.
“We work with smaller crews, especially when we pack them. We take things slow and are very specific to carefully explain everything we’re doing.”
Load It Once a Huge Plus
Plus, our Load It Once (LIO) vans are a huge help. We can load and unload on narrow roads and get into neighborhoods in which larger vans cannot operate. A one-stop move rather than the hassle of needing a shuttle contributes to peace of mind, and this matters to seniors.
Combine that with the friendly and natural way Budd’s employees and crew treat senior customers, the outcome is a win. And what would you expect from a team that’s part of a family culture in which employees ideas and voices count. The goodwill spills over, and the fan status goes 2 ways.
A Mutual Admiration Society
“Seniors are among my favorite shippers,” says Billy. One just has to listen to Billy’s stories to understand why.
He recalled a couple who was relocating from New Jersey to Florida via Georgia where they were staying for a period while their Florida home was being renovated. The wife, a dog lover, took a real shine to Billy’s dog Teddy, who, back in the day, rode in the van with Billy and his wife, Deb.
The next thing I knew, she asked me if she could take him for a walk. When I told her it was against Budd policy, she said, “Honey, it’s OK, trust me”
What’s more, Billy said that when the couple were on the second leg of their journey from Georgia to Florida, they asked, ‘Are Bill and Deb available?’
“That was 2 or 3 years ago, and she [the wife] still talks to Deb on the phone!” he said.
“Actually, my wife is friends with a lot of customers on Facebook.”
Billy also recounted the story of a move with another older couple. The family dog was sick…seriously ill. The husband was away on business, and the wife was trying to keep the dog alive till her husband returned home. Finally, though, she knew she had to put the dog down, and she was a wreck. The next morning, Deb went with her to the vet.
The couple was so grateful—so much so, that the husband told his company how well Billy and Deb had helped his wife. In turn, the company sent a letter to Budd corporate to say what an awesome job Budd movers had done.
“It’s really gratifying to know we’ve made a difference at a difficult time,” Billy said.
Rotten Apples in the Moving Biz
“Sometimes, though, seniors are sad. They’re leaving a house where they’ve lived for a long time. Sometimes, they’ve had a bad experience with a previous move.”
Move coordinators make sure to put information like that in the notes, which helps when Budd goes in to pack and move a couple.
Billy said that there are so many stories of previous bad experiences. Seniors are often at the mercy of these bad agents. “A senior couple we were moving once had to wait 6 months to get their furniture!” He said that in other cases, movers have failed to deliver furniture on time or at all. Then they tell customers they don’t know where their furniture is.
There are a lot of these bad operators out there and customers have to be wary, particularly in the busy summer season. When so many of the licensed movers are booked, summer is a perfect time for these bad agents to move in and take advantage of customers.
“A good mover can make all the difference to a customer,” said Billy. “I’m proud to be part of a company where people come first.”
Seniors: Beware of Bad Movers
Licensed Movers – Regulated by the Division of Consumer Affairs; they are required to have insurance, a brick-and-mortar location, file their tariff for public record and a whole host of other requirements all intended to insure you are protected.
Unlicensed ‘movers’ – Uninsured and are operating illegally leaving you without protection or recourse should you have an issue. Operating or advertising as a Mover without a license is a crime.
Consumer Beware: There is not enough enforcement to monitor ‘Movers’ operating illegally. It is up to the Consumer to do proper research, which is difficult because of the pressure of closing dates that now average under 30 days.
Be Sure to Beware
Unlicensed ‘Movers’ – These companies may have been previously licensed movers who allowed their credentials to lapse.
That’s why it’s imperative that you check credentials.
Move ‘brokers’ – These brokers bid your move out to the lowest provider. ‘Brokers’ are not required to nor do they necessarily vet or qualify the ‘companies’ they refer. ‘Brokers’ make their money by making a sale; they do not perform the work. ‘Brokers’ do not necessarily know anything about the move process or the logistics of navigating a move and cannot serve as guidance in the process. Once they have collected their fee (deposit), they remove themselves from the process, and you are on your own to navigate the move. You as the customer do not know in advance who the ‘mover’ is who will enter your home or handle your goods. Someone will just show up on your moving day. As with unlicensed movers, you have no protection with a move broker and are leaving yourself in a very vulnerable position.
Some Red Flags That Represent Bad Movers
- They quote a cost without an inspection either in person or virtually.
- They use confusing words or have too many conditions for moving in initial quotes.
- They do not have a verifiable street address, and no license number on their website or paperwork.
- They ask for cash and/or a large deposit before the move. Bad actors may ask for money to be wired or sent by a digital format such as PayPal or Venmo. Never provide a deposit in this format, as you have no recourse to get your money refunded.
- They have all 5-star reviews. Even the best companies do not get right 100% of the time. Too many positive reviews can be an indication friends/employees have provided the reviews.
Courtesy of New Jersey Warehouse & Movers Association