Moving FAQ
Are you bonded and insured?
Our movers are not bonded, as they are full time employees of Blue Whale® and are fully insured by us.
What if something gets damaged during the move, what are my options?
You can always purchase additional valuation or insurance. Just please let us know before the day of the move so we can make sure the proper paperwork has been filed. For more information about that feel free to call the office to speak with one of us.
For any additional information about the Texas regulations, please take a look at the Texas DMV website.
When should I call to book the job?
We typically ask for one to two weeks’ notice to schedule a move. This time will extend out to three to four weeks advance notice during the peak summer months. It is entirely dependent on our schedule, as we book on a “first come, first serve” basis.
How will you move me out of state?
Our long distance moves are provided in the same way our local moves are – door to door. Where larger national moving companies will have multiple inventories travel through checkpoints and warehouses cross-country, often changing trucks and crews along the way, your interstate move with Blue Whale® will be handled by the same crew, in the same truck, in just a matter of days. As we are based in Austin, often this method has us returning home with an empty truck and unfortunately that does keep our costs higher than those same national chains.
The weather looks like it’ll be rainy/sleety, will you still be able to move me?
Provided that the weather conditions are workable, we will absolutely complete your move. Torrential downpours, hurricane winds and other extreme conditions will likely cause us to postpone your move in order to protect your belongings, but light rains or cold weather are not an issue.
How will you move my piano?
We will bring all necessary materials, such as moving blankets and a piano board. However, we are unable to move pianos up or down any full flights of stairs. Two or three steps at the entry of the home will not be an issue.
Can you move my gun safe? It’s pretty heavy.
Gun safes can get heavy, and are charged accordingly, however most of the time they do not require an additional bulk item fee. However, if the safe is over 500 lbs in weight it would be outside the scope of what we feel we can safely handle with our equipment and will refer you to safe specialists.
What are bulk items?
This can be a tricky question and needs to be handled on a case by case basis. A table made entirely of marble would be a good example of a bulk item, as it is above average in size and weight, and would require a specialized crew with the right equipment.
Can you disassemble my pool table?
We are unable to disassemble and reassemble pool tables. Additionally, we are unable to move pool tables that have a one piece slate top. We will move three piece slate top tables, provided they are disassembled and crated ahead of time.
Will you move me into a different storage facility?
We will move you and your home anywhere you would like! We do also offer storage in the Blue Whale warehouse, and would be happy to share the benefits of storing your belongings in our facility.
I don’t think I can give an accurate inventory, can you come out to my house?
We offer in-home estimates Monday through Friday, with appointments available between 10 am and 4 pm. While we are glad to provide a complimentary on-site estimate for any home, we strongly recommend them on homes larger than 1,600 square feet.
Do I have a specific sales person that I have to talk to each time I call?
Not at all! Every member of the sales team can help answer questions, make adjustments, or schedule you for a move.
Should I tip? How much is standard?
There is no expectation for a tip, however it is always appreciated by the movers to get a little extra afterwards. As far as how much, this can always be hard to know as there’s no “industry standard” to fall back on. What we generally see is about 5% – what that looks like is for a move of $500-$750 the tip total would be about $25 to $40, or $10 to $20 per mover. Bottom line, a tip is a gift and should be based on the quality of service that you received, so go with what feels right.