Frequently asked questions
GENERA QUESTIONS
WHAT ARE YOUR TIMES OF OPERATION?
Our office hours are 8 AM – 8 PM on Mondays – Fridays, 9 AM – 6 PM on Saturdays, and 9 AM – 3 PM on Sundays.
Our moving hours are Monday – Sunday 8 AM – 8 PM. However, we can work outside of normal hours of operation in the case of an emergency move.
WHEN SHOULD I BOOK MY MOVE?
Our company works on a first-come-first-served basis. What this means is that the earlier you get in touch, the more likely we are to work on your preferred moving schedule.
We recommend making your reservation at least 3-4 weeks in advance. But if you are planning to move in the middle of the month on a weekday, 1-2 weeks in advance should suffice.
HOW DO I BOOK A MOVE WITH EMPIRE MOVING?
There are several ways you can book a move with us. You can fill out our online moving quote form, send us an email or simply give us a call today.
Our contact information can be found
here.
I AM MOVING IN FROM OUT OF STATE. CAN YOU HELP ME UNLOAD WHEN I ARRIVE?
Without a doubt. We do pod loads and unloads, truck loads and unloads, and other labor that may require heavy lifting.
DO YOU BRING SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT WITH THE TRUCK?
Yes, Empire Moving trucks are fully kitted out with all the equipment and supplies that could be needed on the day of the move.
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO MOVE?
The best time to move is when you need to move! Empire Moving is here to provide you with moving services 7 days a week, right throughout the year.
Our busiest time traditionally, as for every moving company, is during the summer months, usually the period between May and September. End months are also, understandably, a buzzing time, as are the holiday weeks.
While the date may have a bearing on the availability of trucks, loading crews, and overall moving costs, we will work to accommodate you and see to it that your transition is as smooth and hassle-free as possible.
DO I NEED TO BE THERE WHEN THE MOVERS ARRIVE?
We advise being present at the beginning and end of your move to make sure all the boxes have been ticked. This also makes it easier to get all the paperwork done.
However, we do not tie you down at the residence throughout the entire move, but we propose that you be on-site as much as you can, given questions could arise at any time.
If you cannot be present at the end of the move, you are allowed to appoint someone else to sign on your behalf, although it is important to have this in writing.
DO YOU OWN YOUR OWN TRUCKS?
Empire Moving owns a modern fleet of trucks equipped with GPS and maintains them in-house. Each truck boasts air-ride suspension to ensure maximum cushioning of your assets.
I NEED TO CHANGE MY MOVING DATE, IS THAT POSSIBLE?
Of course! Just get in touch with us as soon as you can if your move dates change. We will process any changes to the plan and discuss updates. Please remember that your estimate may change based on the dates you selected.
PACKING QUESTIONS
CAN I PACK BEFORE THE MOVERS ARRIVE?
You don’t need to do any heavy lifting as that’s what we are here for.
If you would love to assist, the best place to start would be with your personal items and other valuables like jewelry, not to mention things like medication, phone chargers, and other such essentials.
CAN I PACK THE DRESSER DRAWERS WITH ITEMS?
This will depend on how heavy the dresser is and how many flights of stairs each location has. By and large, we recommend packing all items and leaving your drawers empty. This especially goes for loose items that need to be packed in boxes to prevent damage or loss.
CAN I PACK FRAGILE ITEMS MYSELF?
We recommend leaving the packing of fragile items like china, glass and crystal to one of our trained professionals. However, we also understand that some people are more comfortable doing this on their own.
In such a case, we strongly advise wrapping all the items individually with plenty of cushioning (think bubble wrap or packing paper), leaving a space of about 1/2 an inch in between.
The heavy items should go to the bottom. All boxes should be properly sealed and labeled “FRAGILE”.
WHAT ABOUT MY JEWELRY AND OTHER VALUABLES
It is best to keep jewelry, precious stones and other valuables – documents (deeds, bank bills, drafts, etc.), stamp collections, money, and other personal items – with you at all times.
HOW DO YOU HANDLE ART AND ANTIQUES?
Empire Moving is an experienced, licensed and insured art mover that applies the best packing techniques to ensure your cherished art pieces arrive secure and in perfect condition.
We use special wrapping and padding materials when packing art pieces and handle them with kid gloves, making sure to shield against moisture, dust, dirt, and sunlight.
ARE THERE ITEMS YOU CANNOT MOVE?
Yes. Empire Moving does not move firearms, explosives, illegal drugs and substances, and any items or products that could be considered dangerous. For example, toxic chemicals and ammunition.
Also, depending on the move (local or long-distance), living things like pets and plants could apply.
RESIDENTIAL MOVING QUESTIONS
DOES EMPIRE MOVING DO LOCAL MOVES?
Yes, we do inter-building, local, intrastate (within the same state) and interstate (between states) moves. Basically anywhere within the United States.
HOW DO I PREPARE MY HOME FOR MOVING DAY?
Prepare your home for the moving crew to make things easier and smoother and avoid any last-minute costs.
Mark and separate boxed items that won’t be moving from those being transported. Set aside the valuables that you packed yourself, including jewelry and precious stones, documents, and other important items.
Prepare appliances such as refrigerators, washers, and dryers for moving by disconnecting them well in advance. Clear the walkways and porch of things that may impede movement and remove all the small throw rugs from traffic areas as they could cause slippage or tripping.
WHAT SIZE MOVES DOES EMPIRE MOVING PROVIDE?
We can assist with moves of all sizes, be it small single item moves or full house moves. The size of the move doesn’t matter. However, we have a 2-hour minimum.
COMMERCIAL MOVING QUESTIONS
ARE YOUR MOVING CREWS TRAINED IN COMMERCIAL MOVING?
Absolutely. Every single member of the Empire Moving team is not only trained in the best methods and practices as relates to movers but also extensively vetted.
This means our crews consist of top professionals well versed with how to pack, load and move everything, ranging from desks and filing cabinets to modular furniture and workstations.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF FLAT SCREEN MONITORS, CAN YOU HANDLE THEM SAFELY?
Yes, you can trust our expert movers to handle your monitors with utmost care. We also place protective covers over the monitors during transit.
DO YOU MOVE PCS?
Most definitely. In fact, we not only move PCs, but our team can also help you in disconnecting and reconnecting them, leaving your IT staff to focus on the overall system.
CAN YOU HELP US PACK OUR OFFICES?
No worries, we can assist with all your office packing needs. We will discuss the task, outlining our responsibility, your responsibilities, as well as the procedures, equipment, and materials involved.
HOW DOES EMPIRE MOVING HANDLE CLASSIFIED MATERIALS?
Our move team will work hand in hand with your security staff to create a schedule to move secure files in accordance with the most stringent requirements.
We can arrange a “line of sight” monitoring of the move, with your people escorting the sealed, locked trucks.
HOW DO YOU SET UP THE FURNITURE IN THE NEW SPACE?
Empire Moving has an onsite project manager who will devise a labeling system to mark the office, down to the exact placement of the items.
Prior to the move, the project manager will lay out the floor plan for each office in the new space using identifying labels and directional signage to enable efficient placement of all items.
LONG-DISTANCE MOVING QUESTIONS
DO YOU CALL BEFORE DELIVERY?
Yes, we do. 24 hours before delivery.
DO I NEED TO BE ON SITE FOR DELIVERY?
If you can, the better. However, you can also assign someone else to receive the delivery on your behalf. Just furnish us with their name and contact information.
HOW LONG DOES IT GENERALLY TAKE FOR MY ITEMS TO ARRIVE?
Our interstate and long-distance moves have a delivery window of anywhere between 7-15 business days.
The delivery schedule begins from the first date you will be ready to accept your shipment.
We strive as much as possible to deliver within this window.
Sometimes, however, unforeseen events can lengthen a move – traffic, extreme weather, natural phenomena like wildfires in California, etc. Such events are not common, but in the event of any hold-ups resulting from such occurrences, we will adjust our delivery schedule and let you know in advance.
We are always in constant communication with you throughout the move, so share with us all available and updated contact information.
PRICING QUESTIONS
WHAT ARE YOUR RATES?
Empire Moving charges by the hour or a flat rate subject to several factors, including the type of move (local, intrastate or interstate), number of staff needed for the move, scale of work among other considerations.
Each move is different but we will give you a FREE personalized quote containing an accurate estimate of what you can expect to pay.
With us, there are NO vague quotes or hidden charges awaiting you at the end of the move. Everything is done above board. Our rates are reasonable and we regularly carry out market research to ensure we keep them super competitive.
WHY DO I NEED AN IN-HOME ESTIMATE?
You don’t need to, but in-house estimates help us to give you a more precise quote.
A consultant from Empire Moving will visit your home to assess the household possessions to be transported. This allows us to determine the amount of truck or pod space that will be sufficient, and also puts us in better stead to give you a more accurate estimate.
Our consultant will discuss details of the move with you, including packing services, dates and more, and answer any questions you may have, before providing you with a customized written estimate.
WHAT IS A BINDING ESTIMATE?
A binding estimate or binding cost of service specifies, ahead of time, the exact cost of the move based on the services requested or considered necessary at the time the estimate was calculated.
Should you wish to add items to be moved or require additional services after the initial estimate – for example, packing, a shuttle, etc. – you will incur additional charges.
WHEN SHOULD I GET AN ESTIMATE FOR MY MOVE?
The best time to obtain a quote for your move is as soon as you know you will be moving.
DO I PAY WHEN I REQUEST A QUOTE?
No. Our quotes are free of charge and we do not ask for upfront payments or cash deposit. You can obtain a free quote by filling your details
on this page.
WHAT FORMS OF PAYMENT ARE ACCEPTED?
We accept debit & credit cards, cash, cashier’s check, and money order. We also accept Master, Visa, American Express, and Discover with a convenience fee.
WHEN DO I PAY FOR MY LOCAL MOVE?
If it is Flat Rate move: The complete payment (all remaining balances) is due at the beginning of your move after the foreman ( the crew leader) does the walkthrough and confirms with the office that everything is according to estimate.
If it is an hourly rate move: A payment for local moves is collected prior to unloading the shipment at the final destination.
WHEN DO I PAY FOR MY LONG-DISTANCE MOVE?
For long-distance moves, we require 50% of the total moving cost to be cleared at the time of pickup. The remaining balance is due at delivery. All charges must be settled prior to unloading the shipment at the final destination.
HOW ABOUT DEPOSITS AND CANCELLATION FEES?
For local moves, we require a deposit of 20% of the estimate which is factored into the total cost.
For long-distance moves, we require a 20% deposit of the estimate which is factored into the total cost.
The deposit is NON REFUNDABLE.
Empire Moving does not have a rescheduling fee but you will need to let us know 72hours prior to your move; otherwise, you will be charged a 25%fee; and if you don’t notify us before a moving crew is dispatched, you will be charged a 50% fee. If you reschedule your move, the 25% fee will be refunded after the move is completed.