Be aware of the following (long term renter). Owner says he can't (won't) negotiate…read more 1. Changing Prices National self-storage companies use a system called "revenue management" to set their prices. At the national storage conventions, owners take classes about how to use this software to increase revenue by raising prices on customers. What is revenue management? This practice is what airlines and hotels use when they quote you a different rate for the same flight or room based on demand. Big storage companies do the same thing, reassessing their prices hourly. This means if they only have one 10 x 10 unit at the moment you check, it might be priced at $200 a month (compared to $100 last week). You can get the same unit at a company that is not using this software for much less. Why are they doing this? To make sure they are charging you the highest price they can get away with to maximize their revenue. 2. Increasing Rent All the Time When you sign a contract with one of these companies, you think that you've locked in a price for the rest of your lease, right? Not true. Almost all contracts in the self-storage industry are month-to-month. This means they can increase your rent at any time with a 30-day notice. National companies increase rent for current customers frequently, oftentimes twice a year. So, a unit you thought would be $70 per month suddenly costs you $115 per month. If you stay a year with that new rate, you'll be dishing out an extra $540 you hadn't budgeted for originally. 3. Charging High Fees National self-storage companies often reel you in with attractive pricing or a special but get you with fees. You may think you're paying only $70 per month, but wait, there's more: Admin fee ($20-$30) Lock charge ($20-$30) Late fees ($50-$60 for more than 30 days late) Deposit fee ($25-$45) Those fees add up, especially if you stay in your unit for a long time. Your bill inevitably ends up being much larger than you initially planned. 4. Ripping You Off with Insurance The big storage companies try to squeeze every possible penny out of you. One of the ways they do this is by requiring you to buy their storage insurance. While it seems like it adds value for customers, storage insurance is just an additional revenue stream for storage companies. Often, the insurance provider is the self-storage company. Other times, it's a third-party provider that gives the storage company a monthly kickback for selling policies. Public Storage automatically enrolls you in its insurance program, and you have to opt-out later to get out of it. They don't even offer good coverage. When you try to make a claim, you'll find the policy is selective in what it covers. Storage insurance is just an easy way for national storage chains to make an extra $15 to $25 per month from you. In fact, most renters have homeowners or renters' insurance that automatically covers items they've put in storage without additional cost. Our experience in managing 5,000 storage units is that it is very rare -- under 1% -- for something to happen that affects the contents of a storage unit. If you wrap your furniture in thick plastic wrap available on Amazon, and pack all your other items in plastic crates with tight lids, you will avoid almost all of the possible incidents that can affect your contents. That effort would eliminate rodent damage, mildew, and water damage, plus protect against absorbing the smell of the unit. The only thing left that could happen is theft. You have dropped your risk to .1%. Let's look at what would happen if you somehow incurred a loss: If you buy their insurance and stay for two years paying $25 extra a month, and if their policy covers the damage you incur, you have paid $600 for the insurance plus the $100 deductible. So you would have to experience over $700 in damage for it to help you. Do yourself a favor and spend $100 on packing supplies and rely on your homeowners or renters policy. 5. Making You Buy Their Expensive Lock Unfortunately, most national storage companies require you to buy their lock for $15-$20 (or more) instead of providing one to you free of charge. You can get the same lock at the local hardware store for $6.

So easy to register online. Spotless 5x7x8 unit, perfect for OOS student at UMD-CP to store larger…read moreitems for summer. Made our end of year move so much easier! Thank you!

We have had Zip Moving and Storage now for two moves and have two more scheduled with them. We've…read morehad nothing but excellent customer service and support throughout both moves. They were flexible with us as we had to reschedule due to weather, and had several complicated moves that were handled very well. As with any move, we took care ourselves to wrap things, communicate our needs and expectations, but I would do that with any mover. Ask questions, clarify and explain what you want. All furniture was wrapped carefully with moving blankets and secured and all breakables were treated with care. I've never seen a team of people work so hard!

Moving with Zip was a great experience. They set me up with a moving coordinator named Dean who…read moredid a great job helping to plan the process and ensure it went smoothly. The moving crew was fast, efficient, careful, and friendly. They handled my fragile items with care and insured that they arrived undamaged. I would definitely hire Zip again.

I usually refrain from writing negative comments unless it's really bad, but I think certain…read moreelements are worth highlighting . Draw your own conclusion. 1. First, with a positive, the follow up and customer service is great. It has to be, due to the following comments listed. 2. Moved a 1 bedroom apt( bedframe , mattress, dresser , 2 TVs , and a sofa), and it took 5 hours , with a locked elevator , in the same building, separated by 2 floors.Everything additional was boxed or bagged. No loose items. 3. They attempted to change the charges the day of the move , even though we had confirmed less than 24 hours prior. Claimed the 3rd person Was due to their double booking, snow , etc . And the additional man would speed up the process . Did i mention this simple 1 bedroom move took 5 hours for an in building, one bedroom transfer? Does that seem expedited ? Everything was a group effort, and teaching moment. this slowed the move down. For example, it Took 20 minutes of discussion to figure out how to disassemble a bed frame efficiently . Constantly going back and forth to the moving truck on the clock ( for what idk ) . If not watched , disappearing for 15-20 minutes at a time . 4. I was advised that I could leave my dresser items in the drawers, and they could move them efficiently. I now have to find someone to take my dresser apart, due to items some how making their way to inside unreachable areas insiders dresser. 5. I have to find someone to reassemble my sofa. They didn't put it back together. 6. You're charged 30 minutes to and from . So, you owe an hour before they start . They didn't have to leave the property, but charged me fuel . How do you charge someone fuel, and time for arrival, and departure ? Seems like the rate is only labor . You're also charged for any items used to rap to transport furniture . The intimation that they try to give you when you book is that is inclusionary. 7. With a discount, A DISCOUNT, this move cost me $1,000. Between the random 3rd man up charge , wrapping items for the large furniture , fuel charge , insurance that they make you cover that they don't disclose until the last minute that is almost $200 additional ... 8. Moved my items into the hallway, and left them there unattended while moving. 9. Even if you pay by phone, they want you to write your credit card information on a random piece of paper. It's a hard NO, for me. Yes, I signed, and let them go about their business. It's exhausting to keep debating obvious discrepancies, and hidden fees during a move which is a top 3 stressor in general. Just .... Don't . Use someone else .

Moving company: All My Sons Moving & Storage 7642 Dynatech…read moreCt, Springfield, VA 22153 804-315-3030 Manager: Rusty On Wednesday morning at approximately 8:04 AM, I contacted All My Sons Moving & Storage to ask questions regarding their moving services in order to determine whether I wanted to move forward with using their company. Unfortunately, my experience with both the employee and management was extremely disappointing and unprofessional. The employee I spoke with, Laura, appeared to lack the necessary knowledge and understanding of the company's services and pricing structure. During the call, I asked whether there would be any taxes or additional fees beyond the quoted flat rate. Laura responded by saying, "From what I have been told... no." I explained that I needed a clear and definitive answer and requested that, if she was unsure, she transfer me to someone who could provide accurate information. Laura placed me on hold and later returned to the call still unable to provide a direct or confident answer. I then expressed that her inability to answer basic questions made me feel as though she was not knowledgeable regarding her position. At that point, Laura became confrontational, spoke over me repeatedly, and insisted that she had already answered my question clearly and that she was fully capable of doing her job. Her tone and attitude became increasingly hostile and unprofessional. Due to her behavior, I stated that I no longer felt comfortable continuing the conversation with her and requested to speak with a manager. Instead of professionally transferring the call, Laura continued arguing with me. Roughly 15 minutes into the conversation, she then informed me that the call was being recorded. At no point at the beginning of the call was I advised that the conversation was being recorded, which I found highly concerning. I was eventually transferred to a manager named Rusty. Unfortunately, the interaction with management was no better. While attempting to explain my concerns, Rusty repeatedly interrupted me. When I asked if I could finish speaking, he responded, "Yes, if you would like," in a dismissive manner. After I explained the issues I experienced with Laura, Rusty stated that he "couldn't play sides" and would need to listen to the recording. I never asked him to take sides; my intention was simply to make management aware of the poor customer service experience so that no future customer would have to endure similar treatment. Rusty then stated that they "rarely receive complaints like this," implying that my concerns were unusual or questionable. I responded by saying that simply because complaints are rare does not mean poor treatment is impossible. Rusty accused me of misconstruing his words, which I was not doing. I was simply responding to his statement. He then claimed there appeared to be a "communication issue," when in reality the issue was the unwillingness of both the employee and management to acknowledge the unprofessional behavior and poor communication that occurred during the call. At that point, I informed Rusty that I felt the same confrontational attitude was being displayed by management and that I no longer felt comfortable trusting or spending my hard-earned money with the company. I then ended the call. Shortly after 9:00 AM, I received a voicemail from Rusty stating that he had reviewed the recorded call and believed the employee had answered my question. The voicemail entirely ignored the employee's inability to provide clear information, as well as the hostile and dismissive behavior displayed throughout the interaction. This experience was extremely disappointing and reflects a significant decline in customer service professionalism and accountability. As a hardworking United States Army Soldier, I dedicate my life to serving and protecting this country. I should not have to endure disrespect, hostility, or dismissive treatment simply for asking reasonable questions as a potential customer. I sincerely hope this matter is reviewed seriously so that future customers do not experience the same level of poor customer service and unprofessional conduct that I encountered.

I used Dream Team twice, and have been very happy both times. They are very flexible in…read moreaccommodating your needs, no matter how small the job. The first time, we were just moving a mile across town and we just needed help with moving the heaviest items. I will say that the movers were very late, but they did contact me and keep me informed of their slow progress through traffic that morning. The two guys who helped move were efficient, courteous, and professional. For example, before moving my china cabinet, they went over the pre-existing damage, and then made sure I inspected it after the move. For the second move, two years later, we had a bigger move. It took 3 men 6-1/2 hours to load our house into the truck, which was within the range of the quote I was given beforehand. One of the movers was the same as the earlier team (I can't remember his name now, unfortunately), and he was great - friendly and a good leader for his team. They worked really hard, taking virtually no breaks, and were again courteous and professional.

Very impressed. This was my first major move, and although I didn't have alot of stuff…read morehe was very careful with my things. He was very friendly and helpful. He was on time, efficient, friendly, and ready to work. Most of all very patient with me because I had some paperwork to fill out at the leasing office. He could have gotten impatient and had an attitude with me but he waited patiently and helped me move my stuff into the apartment with no damages to my stuff. I recommend this business to anyone! Please Support Dream Team Mover #1 LLC!

I'm having trouble finding the right words to describe our experience with Potomac Moving Company,…read morebut "amazing" and "game changers" come to mind. This was an interstate move (DC to PA) in less-than-ideal conditions (we had to move an adult family member out of the apartment). The crew, Roberto and Harry, were empathetic, caring, and incredibly efficient with packing, loading, and unloading the one-bedroom apartment. I spent the day worrying (needlessly) that the storage unit I had rented was too small. The crew fit all of the items neatly and safely into a 5x10' unit with room to spare. I've never seen anything like it. I also want to give kudos to the front office. They were the first company to respond to my inquiry, answered all of my questions patiently, and kept us informed about when the crew was arriving. The value that we received for the price was off the charts. Put Potomac Moving Company at the top of your list. I would not hesitate to call them again for a move if the need arose.

PMC was invaluable for my move from one Arlington neighborhood to another. They worked hard, were…read moreprofessional and took good care of our belongings. Roberto was our crew lead and he was a great communicator and team leader. I was so comforted by their approach and impressed by their focus. I would recommend them without hesitation and will gladly call them on future moves. Andy M. Arlington, VA

The process of moving to a new home can be an exhausting experience both emotionally and…read morephysically, but this team managed to make the whole process sound and look exciting and manageable. They were punctual, full of life, well-organised, and confident, which instantly made me feel at ease. All the boxes and valuable objects were handled with care, as they must have known they were not just dealing with a piece of equipment but with a memory. The fact that they were friendly indeed transformed the mood of the day. What otherwise would have been stressful turned out to be smooth and uplifting. They provided not only moving services but also real assistance during a major life change.

Today is 5/27, the day I should receive my belongings as I was told. The window for delivery is…read more10:00 am to 3:00 pm and I have yet to hear from the driver nor from u s relocations, the "broker". So, I called to get an update and wouldn't you know the person I needed to speak with is no available for another two hours and I still can't get any update. This is about the sorriest communication experience I have had in my 71 years of existence. If I have to ever deal with this type of experience again, I will call it quits lol. Next update will be if and when they get here.

Thank you so much to Ryan Preller for being so helpful! I work for a nonprofit and we needed to…read moreprint retractable banners and a step-and-repeat to be ready within 48 hours for our gala (because shipping from another company was delayed). Ryan managed to get an exception from the printing location to print the step-and-repeat immediately and ship it overnight from Texas to arrive in time for our gala. He also gave us a big discount on the overnight shipping and applied our nonprofit tax exemption. We are so grateful to Ryan for making our big day possible!

Parking can be NOT fun to find in this area for a quick FedEx run, but despite that, this is a good…read moreFedEx. It's spacious with all your office (and snack) needs. You can print, pick up a calendar, or ship something. Sending papers to Portugal was easy thanks to the helpful staff!

I miraculously found Nando's Movers on a desperate Google search after another company (Anytime…read moreMovers) failed to show up. Anytime Movers repeatedly failed to answer calls and didn't respond to my voicemail/email until it was too late. Lo and behold, their phone system wasn't working and they mistakenly booked me for an afternoon spot instead of the morning spot I requested ... absolutely unacceptable. Nando's picked up on the first call and was able to dispatch two movers to my location within 30 minutes as promised. That was a huge sigh of relief because it's nearly impossible to find last-minute help during summer. The rate was very competitive to move the contents of 1-bedroom apartment into a storage unit: $120/hr with a 3-hour minimum. Although I didn't like the 3 hour minimum, the total rate was still cheaper than most other companies since they don't tack on bogus travel/truck or supply (tape, shrink wrap, etc.) fees. In the end, my move only took 2 hours which I was very pleased with. The movers were polite, courteous, and were happy to oblige to any special requests I had. Due to the covid-19 pandemic, I appreciated that they kept their masks on at all times even though it was hot and humid outside. They wrapped my furniture snugly in shrink wrap, cardboard, and/or blankets. Anything that needed to be disassembled was done so in the correct manner. (Typically this needs to be done for IKEA/particle-board furniture, which I had alot of. But since I was moving these into a storage unit and not another apartment, they were fine with keeping most of the furniture intact which I preferred) I was absolutely stunned with how quickly and efficiently they moved my items, it was almost like everything was choreographed. In the end, they got all the furniture and boxes efficiently stacked into a 75 square foot storage unit. I was afraid my storage unit was going to be too small, but they did a great job and I ended up with 10-15 sqft of space still available. Nothing was damaged at either my apartment or in the storage facility. Excellent work. I'd definitely utilize Nando's Movers again if I had to move again. I probably will after the pandemic is over and I return to office work in the DMV area.

A Nando driver drove my wife's car into a curb at the intersection of Conn Ave & Bradley Blvd at…read moreapprox. 1PM on Mon, Sept 21st, damaging the rim and destroying the tire. My son was also in the car and was terrified. The cost to replace the rim & tire is $1,650. That's a tight stretch of road for those who know it, but doesn't excuse bad driving. When I called the corporate office to report it, they said there was no accident so its not their problem. I dont expect them to pay the bill, but how about a little compassion or even an apology? Certainly worth questioning to character of the owners here and would suggest those looking for movers go elsewhere. Brian Kochan