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“Social distancing.” “The new normal.” These coronavirus-era catchphrases testify to the global pandemic’s isolating effect and impact on day-to-day life. Here’s another term to know: virtual estimates.

Despite difficult circumstances, people still want or need to move—whether to a neighboring state or across the country—even as COVID-19 persists. That’s why virtual estimates are essential during this masked and touch-free time.

Pivoting

Calculating the cost of moving traditionally had involved inviting an individual inside your home. This professional would walk from the kitchen to the dining room to the living room to the bedrooms, all the while estimating the price of your move. That was then. This is now.

Thanks to technological advances, customers now enjoy a choice of online, social distance-approved tools just as accurate as the old-fashioned method—only safer and far more convenient.

Zero contact

Are you a big DIY fan? Many National Van Lines agents offer ReloQuote (powered by Yembo)—a state-of-the-art estimating tool. Using your smartphone or tablet, YOU move room-to-room taking snapshots of your belongings. Average time to complete: 15 minutes. Plus, there are no appointments to make, keep,  cancel or reschedule with your national movers. That means you can get an estimate any time of day or night. How’s that for the utmost in convenience?

FaceTime

Do you enjoy face-to-face contact, but still want to remain in the virtual estimates world? FaceTime might be your best choice for receiving a highly accurate interstate-moving estimate. This telephony tool allows you to survey your home in real time to obtain a clear-cut idea of what it will cost to move across the country. Your moving-estimate expert will talk—and virtually walk—you through this easy-to-use process. If you have questions during your appointment, you can ask and obtain an answer in real time.

Safe moving

On top of our pledge to as a National Van Lines agent to Make Moving Easy, JT Melia Moving & Storage is working hard to help protect your health and well-being. We’ve adopted the preventive steps recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for containing the coronavirus.

This includes monitoring the health of our office employees, in-home estimators, drivers and moving crews. In addition, we’ve advised our team of long-distance moving agents to follow these same guidelines.

We’ll get through this as we navigate COVID–19 together. Rest assured, we’ll always do what’s best for our customers, whichever season you choose to move.

Trusted for 50+ Years

JT Melia Moving & Storage is the top trusted Houston moving company for over 50 years. Being a family-owned and -operated moving company means pride in all we do. We’re Houston strong and treat every client like family. We handle and load your household items with great care—just like we would our own. We only use hand-picked employees (never contractors) so you can rest assured about the people you’re allowing in your home.  Contact us today for a FREE honest and accurate moving quote: 713.683.8585.

Relocation is a high-contact/hands-on activity. There’s no two ways about it. Cross country movers must pack boxes, lift furniture and transport belongings. In plain lingo: Professional movers must touch your stuff.

During the pandemic, the idea of a pro movers knocking at your front door might seem at odds with shelter-at-home orders and social-distance guidelines. However, it’s probably the exact opposite. By choosing an interstate mover to help you, you’re lessening your contact with others and helping safeguard your family.

How can that be?

Safe and sound

A DIY move forces you to personally purchase packing paper, buy boxes and rent a truck. These activities increase the chances you’ll encounter contagious individuals and COVID-contaminated materials. Plus, you risk passing that exposure to friends and family who want to help you move for just the price of pizza and beverages.

But if you hire a member of the National Van Lines family of interstate-moving agents, such as JT Melia Moving & Storage, you not only lessen your physical burden, you leave packing, loading and unloading to relocation professionals trained to wear masks, use gloves, practice state-of-the-art hygiene and properly store materials, such as cardboard shipping boxes (capable of carrying coronavirus contamination for up to 24 hours). We’re making sure our pandemic procedures protect you.

Safely tucked away in your home until moving day, you’ve protected yourself and your family from unneeded risk.

Health homework

How do you know national moving companies are adhering to the current coronavirus-containing federal guidelines? Are all cross country moving companies practicing safe-moving techniques by following preventive practices as defined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention?

Search a company’s website, Facebook posts and tweets. Do they contain info about what steps that company has taken to protect you? Do their photos show drivers and moving-crew members masked and gloved? Is the company ready and willing to answer your safety questions? Are they offering pandemic procedures to protect you?

Virtually amazing

On top of our pledge as a National Van Lines interstate-moving agent to Make Moving Easy, JT Melia Moving & Storage is working hard to help protect your health and well-being. We’ve adopted CDC’s guidelines, including monitoring the health of our office employees, in-home estimators, drivers and moving crews. Our pandemic procedures protect you whether you move during autumn, winter, springtime or summer.

Trusted for 50+ Years

JT Melia Moving & Storage is the top trusted Houston moving company for over 50 years. Being a family-owned and -operated moving company means pride in all we do. We’re Houston strong and treat every client like family. We handle and load your household items with great care—just like we would our own. We only use hand-picked employees (never contractors) so you can rest assured about the people you’re allowing in your home.  Contact us today for a FREE honest and accurate moving quote: 713.683.8585.

You can move your vehicle cross-country without touching the gas pedal. Sound impossible? Not only is it possible, it’s often the preferred way to transport your car, van, SUV or truck when relocating to a new home.

National movers trained in vehicle cross-country moves can make sure your automobile arrives safely at your destination. So, hardly a single mile will register on the odometer—no matter what time of the year you pick to move.

Reduce those rigors

Just because you’re moving hundreds of miles on your interstate move doesn’t mean you have to subject your car to the rigors of the road. That means no oil changes. No new tires. No wear and tear (that goes for your frame as well as the car’s). No long-distance driving on strange roads and highways. No getting lost. No breakdowns. No headaches. “No” to all of that rigamarole. “Yes” to a stress-free move. Plus, you’ll know exactly what to expect on moving day.

Moving from NYC to California with you at the wheel would put somewhere in the neighborhood of 2,800 miles on your car (and your family). Figure in around 50 hours driving time, too.

Even if your long-distance moving expedition is shorter than moving from NY to LA (say, moving from Texas to California or moving from Florida to Colorado), the same issues come into play (just on a somewhat smaller scale).

Triple threat

As a National Van Lines agent, JT Melia Moving & Storage works with three top-rated car-shipping services to offer a variety of options. Rest assured, as a full-service moving company, we wouldn’t place trust in our third-party automotive pro movers without a thorough vetting process. Plus, we offer convenience. With our coast-to-coast network of cross country moving companies, chances are we can answer “yes” when you ask, “Is there a moving company near me?”

Montway Auto Transport provides 24/7 customer service, 12,000 driver/carrier partners and 220 terminals nationwide. In addition, Montway can ship to destinations around the globe. Plus, this car mover offers a rental-car provision and a car-wash plan. Get this: If a shipment is delayed past the delivery spread, Montway provides a rental car—up to $30 daily—until your vehicle is delivered. Montway’s car-wash plan provides for an exterior car-wash reimbursement of up to $20 for vehicles delivered in “approved dirty condition.”

The other two car-moving companies—Advectus Transportation Services and Reindeer Auto Relocation—offer tremendous service and customer satisfaction, too.

In addition to cars, Advectus Transportation Services ships boats, motorcycles, RVs and heavy equipment to or from any U.S. or foreign destination. The company’s clients include Fortune 500 companies and dealerships.

Standing behind its tagline—“real.personal.service.”—Reindeer Auto Relocation provides 24/7 service. Plus, the company responds to last-minute changes with its same-day pickup service.

Prep time

How should you prepare your vehicle for the trip ahead when you hire cross country movers to move a car? Divide the process into several steps to get your vehicle in tip-top shape to ship.

Clean machine. Ensure your vehicle is clean inside and out. Wash the exterior. Rid the interior of clutter and personal items. Vacuum rugs. Notice damage? Photograph and document.

Top and bottom. Top off windshield wash, engine oil, transmission fluid and coolant/antifreeze. Reduce gas to about one-quarter of a tank. This safety measure reduces the risk of fire or explosion while still ensuring your vehicle’s fuel system isn’t damaged while in transit. Notify your mover about any fluid leaks to help in proper vehicle positioning.

Alarming situation. Reindeer Auto Relocation says to turn off alarms. Provide your mover with any special instructions for starting a vehicle or disarming an alarm.

Do the tighten-up. Remove specialty and/or aftermarket parts attached to your car, such as a spoiler or bug shields. Ditto for racks designed to transport luggage, bikes or skis. If possible, fold back your side-view mirrors and lower your antennae. Close all windows, moon roofs and convertible roofs. Holes, open seams or gaps in the windows? Cover with a tight-fitting tarp. This prevents air and moisture from damaging the car.

Document damage. Note your car’s damage (photos are indispensable) or operating issues. Tell your mover about any operational issues in case he needs to move your car during an emergency. Keep this documentation handy; you’ll need it when your car is delivered. Fully inspect your vehicle at delivery. Compare its condition to your documentation. Notify the mover of any issues you see before signing any documentation accepting delivery.

Trusted for 50+ Years

JT Melia Moving & Storage is the top trusted Houston moving company for over 50 years. Being a family-owned and -operated moving company means pride in all we do. We’re Houston strong and treat every client like family. We handle and load your household items with great care—just like we would our own. We only use hand-picked employees (never contractors) so you can rest assured about the people you’re allowing in your home.  Contact us today for a FREE honest and accurate moving quote: 713.683.8585.

Concerned about COVID-19? Try our virtual move-estimate calculator, ReloQuote. It’s our social distance-approved/zero-contact way to get you moving fast. Or call 877.590.2810 for answers to your questions plus conduct a FREE online moving quote.