• A careful courteous reasonable reliable moving service.

RATES: The labor rate is $50/hr for myself and one helper. Additional helpers are $20/hr each. The Truck is $2/mile. The time and mileage are from when we arrive at the job until when we finish. I have a two hour minimum. This means if a job takes less than two hours I still charge for two hours. For each 15 miles away from Riverdale MD, add an hour to the minimum.

• A typical efficiency apartment generally has 12 items of furniture and 20 other things including boxes and takes 3 hours to move with two men for an approximate price of $160.
• A typical one bedroom apartment generally has 18 items of furniture and 30 other things including boxes and takes 4 hours to move with two men for an approximate price of 210
• A typical two bedroom apartment generally has 24 items of furniture and 50 other things including boxes and takes 5 hours to move with two men for an approximate price of 260
• A typical three bedroom house generally has 35 items of furniture and 75 other things including boxes and takes 6 hours to move with three men and two trips for an approximate price of 430.
• A typical four bedroom house generally has 45 items of furniture and 100 other things including boxes and takes 8 hours to move with three men and two trips for an approximate price of 570.

In all cases I work by the hour and the mile. NO FLAT RATES.

I try very hard to make all moves damage free. However if things are damaged I do not provide insurance on the goods, for my prices it would be impossible. If you wish that kind of service you should deal with a formal mover. Their rates are roughly double mine.

• Boxes... Pack boxes 30-50 pounds. When a box is full close the lid and seal it. Do not over fill them. Put books in SMALL boxes. Large boxes are for light things.
• A local company called Greenbelt Paper carries boxes at 1/2 the price of other places and they deliver. Call them at (301) 345-9472.
• Dressers... Chests and dressers are best emptied. However it is only necessary to empty drawers if a piece is heavy. If you can not budge one end of a dresser by pressing against it with your hip please empty it. Generally drawers do not make good boxes it is best to leave them in place. If a piece is light it is OK to leave things in the drawers as long as they are not breakable or spill able.
• Desks... Office desks are always best emptied. Bedroom desks are OK left full.
• Clothes... For fancy clothes nothing can beat a wardrobe box, but they are expensive and waste space. Plastic Trash bags  with plastic pull strings  work well. Put the sealed end on the bottom and tie the strings on the open end  around the hangers.
• Phone... You can ask the phone company to turn off the phone at your old place the day after you move and turn on the phone at your new place the day before you move. That way you have working phones at both places during your move.
• Parking ... If you live in a densely populated area such as Adams Morgan, Georgetown or Old Town Alexandria then it would be great if you could get Emergency No Parking Signs from your local police precinct. You must ask for them four or more days in advance. Three days in advance is too late to get them. Even if you don't get the signs it is helpful if you can park your car in the space closest to your door so we can put the truck there. Remember the back of the truck wants to be nearest to the door.
• The Last Box... Leave one open box for critical items which might be needed during the move. Things to place in the box include: hammer, pliers, screwdriver, scissors, knife, paper cups, toilet paper, paper towels, packing tape, plastic trash bags, etc. all things useful while loading and unloading. This box goes into the truck last and comes off first
• Plan ahead at your new place. It is most efficient to move each item only once. Plan where to place each piece ahead of time and we will place each item exactly where it goes. I don't mind moving things around repeatedly, but remember it takes time to do that. Mark boxes with their destination so we can put them where they go.
• The more thoroughly everything is packed and sealed in moderate weight boxes, the quicker and easier the job will go.

You may contact me by e-mail at jonathan@lathrop.com

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