Q: Do you do long distance moves?
A: We go to NJ regularly. We also go to Philly, D.C., or Boston. We've gone as far as North Carolina! Send us the estimate form and we'll give you a flat rate quote for your long distance move.
Q: Are there hidden charges?
A: No. Your final cost will consist of the hourly rate we quoted you, the gas and materials charge and the stairs charge. These three charges are outlined in the quote we email you. If you decide to buy mattress bags we always have them available for $8/bag. You can decided if you want to use them on the day of the move.
Q: Does furniture disassembly or assembly cost extra?
A: No. Furniture disassembly and assembly is already factored in to the quote and will not incur extra fees. We mainly charge by the hour so if you’d like to save time and money you can take things apart beforehand. If you’d rather leave it to us, we come with a full compliment of tools and can quickly handle anything your furniture needs to move safely.
Q: Can you provide a COI?
A: If your building strictly requires a Certificate of Insurance (COI) you cannot use our services. A COI is a document that verifies with your building owner that a company is insured against property damages. We have never had any issues with property damages. Most buildings do not require a COI; the exception being some high-rises downtown and in midtown. Not carrying a million dollar property insurance policy is one way we're able to keep our prices low. If your building management asks for a COI inform them that you are doing a "self move" and we will pose as friends helping you out. We have done this hundreds of times without incidence. We do not have commercial plates, logos or shirts. If they are inflexible about the COI we will not be able to assist you. Customers oversight of this is the most common reason for cancellation. Please let us know ASAP if there are any issues. Insurance against property damage is different than insurance for personal items. Most often we actually fix pieces that have become unstable so that we can more safely transport them. In case of accidental breakage we operate on our own moral character as well as our standing on Yelp!. Our reviews speak for themselves.
Q: Do you charge a deposit to secure my move?
A: No. LightningVan is a cash only service and we don’t charge any booking or cancelation fees! Because this puts us at a disadvantage we do ask that our customers be as considerate and prompt as possible if rescheduling or cancelling. Give us some heads up!
Q: Can you fit a king sized mattress in the van?
A: Yes, we can fit a king sized mattress in the van. We have 12 feet of cargo space that over 6 feet high and 6 feet wide. We can fit your mattresses box springs and a TON of other stuff in one load.
Q: Do you supply boxes?
A: We do not supply any boxes. We don't have warehouse space to store them. We recommend renting reusable plastic moving bins or cardboard boxes from any storage facility, home depot, or UsedCardboardBoxes.
Q: Do you pack?
A: We ask that our customers be packed are ready to move when we arrive. We do not perform major packing ourselves. We prefer getting down to hard physical labor as soon as possible.
Q: Do you have a recommendation for a storage unit?
A: Storage units are pretty much all the same. Go with one that gives you the best deal, but make sure it's not so far away that you're going to pay the difference in travel time.
Q: How do I get rid of furniture or mattresses I don’t want? Will you help?
A: A bulk item is something that is too large to fit into a trash bin or bag. The Department of Sanitation (DOS) provides free curbside removal of bulk items from residential buildings. Bulk items can be placed curbside between 4 PM and midnight the night before your collection day. Appointments for bulk item pick up are no longer required and cannot be scheduled. Find your trash/recycling collection schedule here. We are happy to take furniture to the curb for pickup, but do let us know if this is part of your plan. Visit this site to review guidelines. Your building can receive a $100 ticket for leaving trash out at the wrong times. Building MGMT may pass that expense on to you. We suggest speaking with your landlord if there is an issue. Mattresses and boxsprings are required to be wrapped in plastic for disposal. We always have bags available for $8/bag. We will secure the bags around your bedding.
Q: Can I ride in the van with you?
A: We strongly suggest that you make alternative arrangements for traveling between your pick up and drop off locations. While we do have a jump seat in the cargo area a full load may prevent us from using it, plus, shifting loads can be dangerous. If you’re going a short distance (~10mins) you can likely ride up front with us.
Q: Do you charge for travel time?
A: Unless your move starts further away than our normal work radius we don't charge for the time it takes us to arrive at your pick up location.
Q: What can I do to best prepare for my move?
A: We really appreciate customers who take enough time to properly pack. Packing as best you can and following these steps will make the move faster, safer and will save you money!
• Remove shelves from bookcases.
• Bundle shelves, bed frame pieces and other similar shaped objects with tape
• Separate objects that may be traveling to different destinations.
• Consider covering your mattress. We will always have mattress bags available for $8.
• If an item needs to be taken apart, you can do it yourself to save time and money. If you're not capable we will disassemble and reassemble whatever is required at no extra cost.
• Pack primarily in stackable boxes. Use bags when boxes are impractical.
• Tape boxes shut rather than folding them closed. The seal adds structure and security.
• Consolidate loose articles to minimize the number of trips necessary to carry everything.
• Make large objects accessible to move first.
• Empty dresser drawers and tape them shut. Use tape that won't damage the finish!