If you have any further questions or concerns, give us a call.

When Selecting a Mover

• Make sure the company you select is fully licensed. You can verify a licensed company on the California PUC website.
• The California PUC movers handbook should be provided at time of estimate free of charge.
• If an on site estimate is being done, feel free to ask the company for a not to exceed price contract.
• Make sure the company is fully insured. They should be able to provide proof of insurance if asked.

For Your Move

• Try and secure a couple of parking spaces in front of both locations for the move.
• If you have elevators in your building, make sure to reserve them for moving day. Sole access to the elevators will ensure an expedient and efficient move.
• Confine your pet to an out-of-the-way room to help keep them from being scared or running off. You might consider boarding them at a local kennel until you are settled.
• Fragile boxes should be clearly labeled and pointed out to the movers.
• You can leave items such as clothes and linens in drawers, however please remove anything that is fragile or can spill, such as perfume.
• We will bring wardrobe boxes, free of charge for all of your hanging clothes. Therefore leave all hanging clothes until the day of the move.
• Mirrors and pictures over 3 feet can be left on the wall for our movers to wrap properly.
• Please let us know about plants you may need moved and do not water them for at least 2 days prior to the move.
• Have a big cooler on hand..Leave refrigerated items in the fridge until the day of the move and we will pack your cooler with them before we leave.
• Prepare a box with all the essentials to get you through the move and the first day. Keep all personal effects in this box as well. This includes important documents, purse/wallet, checkbooks, passports, heirlooms, jewelry, cell phone(s), chargers, medications and toiletries. Pack this box and keep it with you.
• Everything else in the home (minus furniture, of course) needs to boxed and clearly labeled. Please label the box with it’s contents and where it belongs in your new destination.
• Call your providers to cancel your phone, cable, WiFi, DSL or anything else you need to disconnect.
• Call your providers to set up appointments for phone, cable, WiFi, DSL or anything else you need to be comfortable and connected in your new place.
• Notify post office of new address and update address with insurers, credit card companies, banks and other important places you receive mail from.

It is important to weigh your options and consider switching providers at the new location.

Verify Connectivity Options:

Generally speaking the Bay Area has three worthwile choices for broadband internet: AT&T, Astound, and Comcast. Visit their respective websites and verify that service is available in your area.

AT&T offers a DSL service which maxes out at 768kbps upload and 1.5mbps download. Their least expensive, $15/month, service offers speeds of 50kbps down – to put in perspective a 3G (cell phone) connection gets 350kbps+ and and costs $25/month. At 50kbps you won’t be doing much downloading, but if you are a light PC user and only use the internet for email, facebook, and news this is the perfect choice. Youtube and similar services, however, will be slow. Expensive DSL is not recommended as it is nowhere near the speed of cable and costs the same.

Astound is a local cable broadband provider, they offer competetive rates and will often match prices with the competition. While their monthly options are generally lower priced and faster than Comcast counterparts their standard installation fee runs at a huge $200. Do this: refuse the $200 installation fee and request the $19.99 installation, tell them you’ve done it before and that Comcast is charging less, they will drop the price. I recommend Astound as their support is not outsourced and you always speak with someone in California, additionally they have local offices where you can simply drop in.

Comcast is not one to compete, they are, however, great at providing periodical promotional offers. If the prices are the same I recommend using Astound, but, as they say money talks – and if Comcast gives you a better price then take it.

Avoid Bundles:

While bundles are a great way to save money if you use every service they are also a great way to add unnecessary expenses. A favorite is bundling landlines, something that is becoming less and less necessary. While you might be saving from the total projected value count whether it is less to only buy the options you need individually. As a replacement for a land-line using Gmail and Google Voice is the best free solution, or if you really like paying money you can give skype $2.99 per month for unlimited US calling.

Avoid Unnecessary Contracts:

Unless you are getting a killer deal avoid signing a term contract. Even if an offer is limited to a term explain that you may not be at this location for that long but would like to take advantage of the offer anyway and will continue being a loyal customer after the time is up. Just  be nice to the person on the phone and they will help you.

Avoid Rental Fees:

ISPs offer you the choice of buying your own equipment or renting out theirs. It is often times a worthwhile investment to purchase a high quality Cable or DSL modem with built in Wifi. Alternately the cheaper but slightly more complicated solution is to buy a second hand modem from ebay and a wireless router for $30-40 online. Research the type of connection and modem you need by inquiring with the support staff. ATT needs an ADSL Modem while Comcast and Astound require Cable Modems. Please do not waste your money at the local store, their prices are nearly double, instead check out this website for the latest deals on Routers.

Avoid Prolonged Wait Times:

Is your move coming up but  the internet technician is scheduled to show up one week later? Don’t risk it!

Often times the installers are contracted, meaning they can shuffle their appointments as need be. If you call and threaten to cancel because a competitor is able to install it sooner they will quickly let you know that they will be able to do so as well. This may not always work as you may get an uncooperative sales person, hang up and try again

This article was written by Aleksandr Oreshkin of Bay Area Tech Pros – a local IT Consultation and Website Development company. Bay Area Tech Pros has extensive experience dealing with the three aforementioned companies and these hints are secrets of the industry.