FAQ on Moving & Storage

FAQ for Local Moving

Moving is an exciting transitional period. If you’re temporarily working with limited space, storage units are a convenient solution for local movers to temporarily stow away their belongings and reduce stress.

For over 20 years, Air1 Moving has provided California custom Storage solutions for temporary or long-term purposes. Our facilities are climate-controlled and secured with state-of-the-art security. Check out our About Us page to learn more.

A local move is defined as any move within 50 miles of your original location. Air 1 Moving and Storage’s Local Movers services start and end in the sunny state of California.

While moving is exciting, sometimes, accidents happen. We strongly recommend moving insurance, including for local moves. It pays to be protected. 

Professional movers are required to provide you with some coverage for your belongings but, for most people, it isn’t enough. Our Full Replacement Value/High-Value Inventory Insurance Plan is coverage you can rely on. Based on a calculated value you assign to your items before the shipment date, the value should equal the cost of replacing your items at your new destination.

It’s among the most comprehensive insurance plans, as it doesn’t reduce your settlement based on depreciation or co-insurance penalties.

Be sure to check with your moving company to review the details of your insurance options. 

If you’re hiring movers, the cost of moving insurance is influenced by the value of your possessions and the type of coverage you choose. Basic coverage is usually free and included in your moving contract.

More reliable coverage may cost around 1% of the total estimate of your items’ value. Discuss with your mover other moving insurance options. 

You can also opt for third-party insurance. The cost depends on the company and policy, but the prices range 1% to 5% of the total valuation of your belongings.  

The cost of a local move depends on various factors, including:

Size of the move: In terms of both weight and volume, the more items you’re moving, the more expensive it will be. 

Location and distance: Your current location and the distance of your move play a key role in the final price.The farther away your destination, the more the local move generally costs. 

Moving date: The time of year impacts the cost of the move. You’ll see higher charges closer to summertime. 

Additional fees: Examples of additional fees include whether or not the movers are carrying items up and down staircases, long carry service (If movers have to carry furniture and boxes a long way from your house to the truck), packing services and carrying large items. 

Local moves, on average, costs around $1,300.

We don’t surprise you with additional hidden fees for stops along the way. Hourly rates begin once our crew arrives at the moving site. You’re billed only for the time spent on your move, which includes the loading, driving and unloading. Our local rates are reasonable and fair.

Local moves are usually based on a flat dollar amount, per hour, for the time spent working on your move. Labour costs, services such as packing or climbing up stairs, assembling furniture and other add-ons are some of the variables that impact the hourly rate. 

Some local movers also provide a flat rate option. It’s generally the moving company’s estimated number of hours the move will take, multiplied by their hourly rate. Often, the flat rate includes the cost of add-ons, as well. 

Moving may entail downsizing your home, or relocating to a temporary location with limited space. Perhaps your new home is amidst a renovation, or you’re merging belongings from two households into one. 

Local Movers often require a storage unit as a convenient way to stow away their items during a move. 

Storage units also provide long-term space to stow away extra items you don’t use very often, but want to hold onto for future use or sentimental value.

Storage solutions can cost anywhere between $60 to $225/month.

The online storage marketplace, SpareFoot, says the “national average monthly price for all unit sizes is $87.15 a month, and the average price per square foot is $0.97 per square foot.” 

Many variables impact the cost of storage. Prices fluctuate depending on the location, unit size and whether the facility is climate-controlled. 

Location: Location is one of the main factors determining the cost of storage. Large urban areas, due to high demand, tend to be more expensive. Sometimes, prices are lower in less dense suburban areas. 

Size: The larger the unit, the higher the monthly cost. It’s a good idea to sift through your items and donate or give away the stuff you no longer want. Purging your inventory will help lower the cost of your unit.

Level of service: Full-service storage facilities usually provide extra services to make your storage process easier and less stressful. This includes pick-up and delivery services, which can cost more than self-service facilities. Self-service facilities expect you to pay separately for a rental truck and to handle the extra work of transporting your items yourself. 

Add-ons: Add-ons will increase the cost of your storage unit, and include storage bins, labor assistance or packing supplies, for example.

Time: Storage facilities sometimes offer rentals on a monthly basis. Contracts offered by full-service storage facilities vary depending on the company. Some offer monthly services, while others require a minimum of 3 months.

Storage facilities come in a variety of sizes. Contact us at (866) 552-2916 for details in order to find the right size for you.

Climate-controlled facilities offer an array of storage benefits. It’s important to consider whether your belongings deserve a climate-controlled unit.

While basic self-storage is sufficient for various household, business or yard items, a climate-controlled unit is strongly recommended for more sensitive items, including antiques, musical instruments, electronics, fine art and documents. 

Temperature & Humidity Protection: It isn’t unusual for wood furniture, antiques and musical instruments to suffer from warping, splitting, or cracking due to constant changes in temperature. Temperature fluctuations also damage fine art, books or business records due to temperature fluctuations. Climate-controlled facilities maintain a consistent temperature all year round.

Better Air Flow: Because climate-controlled facilities continuously circulate air to keep it clean, which helps protect items like electronics, books and documents. With self-storage units, you’re making special trips to the facility just to open the unit and fill it with some fresh air. You can save yourself the trip with a climate-controlled facility. 

Climate controlled units are often inside buildings with sealed and insulated roofs, walls, and floors, making them less susceptible to minor flooding or dirt. The chance of rodents or insects settling into your unit is also significantly reduced. 

Whether stowed away for a week, year or decade, you’ll find your items just the way you left them.

Peace of Mind: With a climate-controlled facility, your items are clean, safe and protected. While they’re usually more expensive, they provide the protection you need to keep your belongings in mint condition. The extra cost is likely less than the price for a replacement item – assuming it’s replaceable.

Storage facilities usually provide a list of restricted items. Dangerous items, such as gasoline, fertilizers, paint, chemicals, fireworks, explosives, narcotics and propane tanks, are usually not permitted. Other items usually restricted include perishable food, medicine and plants.

When selecting which items to store, questions to ask yourself include:

  • Do I need this item right away?
  • Will it fit in my new home?
  • Is this item worth holding on to, for instance, will I be using it within the next year? 
  • If I leave it behind, can I easily replace it?
  • Does this item have sentimental value? 

Below are several types of items commonly stored in storage units.

Seasonal Items: Some of your extra items will be relevant to the season, others will not be useful for another several months. Establish which items are out of season and will need temporary storage. If you’re moving in winter, for instance, pack away your summer gear and save yourself the hassle when unpacking your items in your new location. 

Seasonal clothes: Likewise, store out-of-season clothes and shoes until you decide a permanent solution. 

Holiday decor: Holiday decorations are another good example of items that won’t be relevant throughout certain times of the year, and can be stored away until the time is right. But if the decorations don’t take up a substantial amount of space, first consider if there’s a handy spot in your new home.  

Extra furniture: Moving is often an exciting time to redecorate. If you’ve got extra furniture on your hands and you’re not certain if you want to sell it, wrap it up and put it in a climate-controlled storage unit. Down the road, you may realize one of your extra side tables in storage would be the perfect piece for a spot in your new home.

There are several practices for carefully packing and storing your boxes and bags to avoid problems and damage in the future.

Label your boxes with the contents inside, and situate them in your unit in an organized way to make it easy to find whichever item you’ll need down the road.

 Protect against moisture and the eventual growth of mold by making sure your items are first clean and dry before being stored. Wipe down items with a microfiber cloth to remove dust and dirt. 

 Disassemble large items to protect individual parts, and use packing materials for sufficient padding. Pack boxes full, and seal them tightly.

 Keep in mind each item requires its own specifics as to how you can best protect in storage.

FAQ for Long Distance Moving

Also referred to as a cross-country move, interstate move, or a long-haul move, long-distance moves are defined as any move that’s more than 50-100 miles from your original location.

We offer Long Distance Movers services for any moves that start in California and cross over state lines.

We strongly recommend moving insurance. All interstate movers are required, by federal law, to offer Released Value Protection and Full Value Protection to customers. 

We offer two coverage plans you can rely on for your long distance move: the Full Replacement Value/High-Value Inventory Insurance Plan, and the Lump Sum Replacement Moving Insurance Plan.

Our Full Replacement Value/High-Value Inventory Insurance Plan provides coverage based on a calculated value you assign to your items before the shipment date. The value should equal the cost of replacing your items at your new destination. 

The Lump Sum Replacement Moving Insurance Plan is based on the total declared value or, in other words, the ‘lump sum’ of your shipment. You must declare a value equal to at least $8.00, multiplied by the total weight of your shipment. 

The transportation cost is based on our inventory management software that assigns industry standard weight/volumes to your items. The cost of moving long distance depends on various factors, including:

Size of the move: In terms of both weight and volume, the more items you’re moving, the more expensive it will be. 

Location and distance: The location and the mileage between the original and new destination significantly impact how much your long distance move will cost. 

Moving date: The time of year impacts the cost of the move. You’ll see higher charges closer to summertime. 

Additional fees: Examples of additional fees include whether or not the movers are carrying items up and down staircases, long carry service (If movers have to carry furniture and boxes a long way from your house to the truck), packing services and carrying large items. 

Long distance moves, on average, cost $4,890.

We always aim to get you the most affordable rates for your long-distance move. With packages starting at $999, we’re proud to offer secure and affordable long distance moving services. Discuss your moving needs with one of our moving experts, and we’ll provide you with an estimate.

To ensure our clients receive the same great service and value, we provide a detailed cost estimate of our services, before you’ll ever see a contract.

FAQ for International Moving

International moves require you work with people you trust. International moves are defined as any cross-country moves, usually to another continent, in which your belongings are transported through ocean freight transportation.

We’ve provided International Movers services for over 20 years. We’ve spent decades improving our workflow and investing in the best technology to help secure your possessions. We maintain a vast network of freight forwarders and we have dedicated years cultivating our relationship with airlines. 

Moving insurance is strongly recommended for international moves. Mistakes happen — your items could be damaged, lost or stolen. Moving insurance keeps you protected in the event of an accident. 

All international movers are required, by federal law, to offer Released Value Protection and Full Value Protection to customers. We offer two moving insurance plans: the Full Replacement Value/High-Value Inventory Insurance Plan, and the Lump Sum Replacement Moving Insurance Plan.

The Full Replacement Value/High-Value Inventory Insurance Plan provides coverage based on a calculated value you provide before the shipment date. The value assigned to your items should be equivalent to the cost of replacing them at your new destination. 

The Lump Sum Replacement Moving Insurance Plan is based on the total declared value or, in other words, the ‘lump sum’ of your shipment. You must declare a value equal to at least $8.00, multiplied by the total weight of your shipment.

We determine the transportation cost based on our inventory management software that assigns industry standard weight/volume of your items. We always aim to get you the most affordable and convenient rates for your international move. We determine the weight of the shipment, the mileage between your origin and destination and the labor costs.

The cost of moving internationally depends on various factors, including:

Size of the move: In terms of both weight and volume, the more items you’re moving, the more expensive it will be. 

Distance: What distance of your move plays a key role in the final price.The farther away your destination, the more an international move generally costs. 

Route: Due to competition, the more common the route is, such as moves between Canada and the United States or within Europe, the cheaper it generally is. 

Moving date: The time of year impacts the cost of the move. You’ll see higher charges closer to summertime. 

Transportation method: Shipping by sea is cheaper than shipping by air. Trucks will transport your belongings for both the start of the move and the end. 

Additional fees: Examples of additional fees include the movers having to carry items up and down staircases, long carry service, which is movers having to carry furniture and boxes a long distance to and from the truck, packing services and carrying large items. 

FAQ for Piano Moves

Moving a piano is a strenuous job that requires strategy and preparation. As the piano is often the most valuable and expensive item in the home, it’s essential it be handled with the utmost care. We strongly recommend hiring a professional moving company, with piano moving experience, to do the job right. 

Our seasoned experts offer safe and secure Piano Moves services. 

Transportation you can trust: You need to have all the appropriate equipment and supplies to properly move the piano. We typically transport pianos from the pickup location to our trucks using a heavy-load bearing furniture dolly with padded straps. 

Careful Handling: We invest time and care into your piano, making sure to lock the keyboard lid, evenly distribute weight, and absolutely never let tape touch a wooden surface. 

Expert Protection: It’s crucial to protect the piano keys and pedals. We carefully cushion and wrap the piano before it ever leaves your home. We secure your piano using dollies with padded straps. 

If you’re looking to store your piano during the move, we offer professional storage facilities, with state-of-the-art security, to store your piano safely and securely. Humidity and temperature are crucial factors preserving the condition of your piano — that’s why our units are climate-controlled, too.

Not necessarily. We’re professional piano movers and know exactly what needs to be done. However,  we do prefer that you be on the premises just so you can have peace of mind knowing that your piano is in good hands with us.

FAQ for Artwork and Art Installation

Artwork moves and installation should be entrusted in moving professionals who are experienced in handling and installing artwork.  

We provide expert Artwork & Art Installation Movers services. From the moment you call us, we do our best to understand your needs and deliver high-quality results. 

Range of art items: Whether you’re moving chandeliers, paintings, mirrors, tapestries or other wall hanging décor, we can properly mount your artwork in your new home. 

Precise Placement: Our installation system and precise art placement ensures your protection in the event of an earthquake or accident. 

Safety first: We always prioritize your safety, and take care of every detail to ensure nothing is scuffed!

If you’re looking to store your artwork during the move, we offer professional storage facilities, with state-of-the-art security, to store your piano safely and securely. Humidity and temperature are crucial factors preserving the condition of your art — that’s why our units are climate-controlled, too.

Yes, art insurance is important and must be considered for any move. Our team will advise the best packages suitable specifically for your artworks and/or art installation.

If you have any further questions about our company or how we work, please feel free to contact us using our quote form or in any convenient way. Every art mover in our team will be happy to help!

FAQ for STORAGE

Moving may entail downsizing your home, or relocating to a temporary location with limited space. Perhaps your new home is amidst a renovation, or you’re merging belongings from two households into one. Local Movers often require a storage unit as a convenient way to stow away their items during a move. Storage units also provide long-term space to stow away extra items you don’t use very often, but want to hold onto for future use or sentimental value.

Storage solutions can cost anywhere between $60 to $225/month. The online storage marketplace, SpareFoot, says the “national average monthly price for all unit sizes is $87.15 a month, and the average price per square foot is $0.97 per square foot.”

Many variables impact the cost of storage. Prices fluctuate depending on the location, unit size and whether the facility is climate-controlled. 

 

Location: Location is one of the main factors determining the cost of storage. Large urban areas, due to high demand, tend to be more expensive. Sometimes, prices are lower in less dense suburban areas. 

 

Size: The larger the unit, the higher the monthly cost. It’s a good idea to sift through your items and donate or give away the stuff you no longer want. Purging your inventory will help lower the cost of your unit.

 

Level of service: Full-service storage facilities usually provide extra services to make your storage process easier and less stressful. This includes pick-up and delivery services, which can cost more than self-service facilities. Self-service facilities expect you to pay separately for a rental truck and to handle the extra work of transporting your items yourself. 

 

Add-ons: Add-ons will increase the cost of your storage unit, and include storage bins, labor assistance or packing supplies, for example.

 

Time: Storage facilities sometimes offer rentals on a monthly basis. Contracts offered by full-service storage facilities vary depending on the company. Some offer monthly services, while others require a minimum of 3 months.