Ottawa’s most trusted and reliable moving company
Ottawa’s most trusted and reliable moving company
The most expensive part of any long distance move is usually the cost of travel for the moving crew. The travel cost is the portion of the overall moving cost that pays for the movers, truck, fuel, motel, downtime, and any other costs that the moving company may incur during the trip. Different moving companies have different ways of passing on this cost to the customer. With most small and medium-sized local moving companies, the customer will be charged a flat rate or by the hour for ‘travel time’. Larger companies, such as van lines and inter-provincial movers usually incorporate this cost into their overall charge based on weight. There are a few companies, usually freight forwarders, that incorporate this cost into their overall charge based on space used in the truck (cubic or linear feet).
When paying a flat rate for travel time, the customer can save money by sharing the cost with others. If the customer can be flexible on timing, the moving company can usually manage to book other moves with similar destinations that can be loaded on the same truck. Depending on the size of the other moves and their locations, customers may realize substantial savings on their travel charge.
A flat rate for travel time is based on distance or estimated time. When the travel charge is based on a flat rate, that cost does not change unless the customer changes the locations involved. No matter how long the crew is on the road, or what obstacles are encountered, the cost remains fixed. It is for this reason that customers are most comfortable with this method. It is the only method where the travel charge can be 100% guaranteed before the customer even books the job. However, few moving companies will offer this option.
Billing an hourly rate for travel usually only occurs with local moves but is sometimes used for local long distance moves as well. This can be done by charging for exact time or by fixed time. Billing by fixed time is the most common of the two as it offers the customer a firm amount to budget for. Exact time is based on the actual time the crew spends getting to the job, between the locations, and back to the office at the end of the job. Instead of billing for travel time, some moving companies just charge moving time from the time the crew leaves the office until the time they return to the office after finishing the job. This is the least preferred method as drivers can encounter heavy traffic, accidents, drive too slow, or take too many breaks. When charging by the hour for travel, movers often impose additional fees such as fuel and mileage surcharges.
When dealing with larger loads, such as the transport trailers utilized by the van lines and inter-provincial haulers, this cost is almost always incorporated into the overall charge based on weight. With the possibility of a dozen customers in a trip and many different loading and unloading points along the way, this is about the only way they can accurately bill in proportion to the amount the truck was used for each job. The customer is given an estimate or quote based on an estimated weight. The downside to this method is that the customer will never know the exact charge until the truck has been weighed at a weigh station which could change the estimate or quote. As the customer does not have a weigh scale at the destination, little can be done to argue the figures. Almost all moves billed for in this manner will be subject to fuel and/or mileage surcharges.
Consolidated loads with one city of origin and with one destination city can sometimes be billed by the amount of space used on the truck. This can be calculated by volume (cubic feet) or by the length of the truck box that they occupy (linear feet). This method is not common and is usually employed by commercial freight forwarders as a method of subsidizing the cost of a shipment. They would pack the residential content on the truck or trailer, put up a plywood wall and secure it, and then fill the remainder of the container with commercial goods on pallets. This service is only usually offered for inter-provincial and, more commonly, international moves. This method can save moving customers a lot of money in most cases but there are drawbacks. These companies are not moving companies. The customer is responsible for loading and unloading the truck or hiring movers to do it. There is usually no padding, protection or straps available to secure items. As they are not moving companies, their insurance will usually not cover damage to household items and will be limited to accident coverage. You will have to try to convince your homeowners insurance to let you purchase a rider to cover your belongings in transport.
341+ Reviews
“Thank you Matt for helping us schedule a last minute move. Everything about this company is up-front, professional and service oriented. You get a detailed written estimate and know what to expect. The moving team of Aaron and Jesse are experienced and professional. They were efficient, courteous, responsible and responsive to questions and requests. They disassemble, reassemble and place the furniture at your new destination. I highly recommend First Rate Movers to do your moving. We will definitely use them again . Thank you First Rate Movers for the smooth move!”
“We have only great things to say about First Rate Movers! They’re the best movers we’ve ever worked with! The team is super fast, professional and organized. If you’re looking to hire a moving company that will handle your belongings with care, the choice is easy, go with First Rate Movers. We’re happy we chose them. Matt is really dedicated to handling any questions or concerns. If we could give a higher rating than 5 stars, we would! Thanks so much for helping us move!”
“Great service. The 2 guys showed up on time and moved very efficiently! We were very happy we went with First Rate Movers this time around. It made our lives easy and the owner Matt was able to squeeze us into their schedule during one of the busiest times of the year. He was very up front and transparent with the cost and what it all included. Nothing broken, nothing missing and they made sure not to damage a thing! Thank you!”
“The team of Wes, Rob and Adam moved us and they were professional, personable and fun. They were tireless, took an interest and paid outstanding attention to detail. They truly are moving professionals and it showed within minutes of them beginning their work. If we could ever bear the thought of moving again we would 100 percent use First Rate Movers. We would totally recommend this company.”
“I was really impressed with every aspect of this company from the first phone discussion on the estimate right the way through to saying goodbye to our moving team. It was clear I was talking to people that knew their stuff and for whom integrity was important. They wanted to deliver an excellent service with no surprises. They did just that!”
“Absolutely amazing. From the first call with the owner, to the actual moving day, the experience was great. Information and quote were accurate, there were calls prior to moving day to double check everything, and then moving day was the smoothest move day we’ve had. Cody, Courtney, and Francis were super quick and efficient and did an amazing job. They first did a quick review of what needed to be moved, and then got to wrapping and getting it all in the truck. We were shocked how quickly and how much they were able to move in a short amount of time. They went above and beyond with our appliances. And there was no damage to anything! Great job!!”
“Everyone we interacted with was amazingly professional and kind. Our items were handled with extreme care and the movers were quick, friendly and efficient. Thank you for helping us through what could have been a scary move between two cities. The price was great and the service was even better. Can’t thank everyone at First Rate enough!”
“Great experience from start to finish. Matt was very helpful and responsive to our questions when booking. And our crew on moving day, Wes, Zach and Cody, were the kindest, hardest working movers ever. Professionnels all around. We had some tricky pieces to move and they problem solved it and got them in! They also communicated with us throughout the move to make sure they had not missed anything and, once we were at our new house, that everything was where we wanted it. We highly recommend them and will use First rates movers again.”
“Would recommend this moving company! My sister used them for her move from Toronto to Ottawa, and was very impressed. So we called and booked them for our move from apartment to town house and they were super friendly, efficient, and did a fantastic job moving everything!”
“Nothing but praise for the team that came moving day! They arrived early, with encouraging smiles and respectful introductions. They carefully wrapped, carried and loaded quickly and skillfully,
paying particular attention to fragile artwork.
After a short lunch break, they unloaded and placed all items as requested and the whole move was completed well within the shortest estimated time. I couldn’t have been happier with their service!”
“First Rate is right. Aaron and Zach were quick, professional, and courteous. They were an hour early, and able to complete the job with time to spare. Would not hesitate to recommend First Rate to anybody looking for movers.“
151+ Reviews
“Just finished a move from Toronto to Ottawa by *** * ***, couldn’t be happier with how smoothly the entire process from booking to moving and unloading went. Amazing crew!! Having had awful experiences with moving companies in the past (price gouging, wasting time, damaging furniture) I was so scared to use any company. These guys had an opening that aligned with my moving needs and the professionalism, swiftness and respect for belongings was unmatched. I will never move with anyone else as long as I stay in their catchment area!!”
“Moving ranks high on the list of life’s most stressful events. A company who can reduce that stress to its lowest levels merits your business. This was our second move with First Rate, and once again **** and his crew came through. He provided clear and timely feedback and was true to his word. His packing crew was punctual and efficient, as was the moving crew. First Rate ensured a smooth, hassle-free move. Highly recommended.”
“First Rate Movers moved me to a new apartment very recently. **** made the planning go smoothly by providing information regarding available dates, informing me of what information they required, as well as useful information about packing for the move. The quote and actual price were quite close. On moving day the crew, **** ******* *** **** arrived right on time. They were quick, well organized, careful with belongings and very willing to readjust placement of furniture. Throughout they were calm, patient, friendly, and helpful. Thank you for making what has been a very stressful time easier.”
“The team at First Rate Movers was awesome! From the moment I reached out to **** at First Rate for information and a quote, I got a quick response and all the information I could have ever needed. We had so many boxes and the layout of our home made it horrible to move, but the First Rate Movers guys were professional, funny, really nice and seemed really happy to be doing the work they were doing. The team treated our furniture with care and diligently packed and unpacked the truck. They were very receptive to guidance and constantly asked where I wanted things placed in the new house.”
“We had such a great experience using First Rate Movers for our move and I would definitely recommend them. From the start, communication with **** to get the quote and book the date was easy and clear. Our moving crew were ***, **** and **** and they were super efficient, professional and friendly. They arrived on time, protected everything well and were done faster than expected. We had a lot of big and awkward furniture to move out of a small townhouse and they moved it all with no issues.”
“The movers arrived on time and began work immediately. Very friendly and efficient workers. All my furniture and items of concern to me were wrapped thoroughly, everything arrived at my new address without any damage.”
“It is easy to see why this company is called “First Rate” Movers, and why they have an A+ rating with The Better Business Bureau. From the initial call with the owner to the completion of our move, we were extremely pleased. They actually made moving an enjoyable experience . It reduced our stress, when we saw how professional and efficient the movers were, in padding and wrapping everything to prevent any damage. The team were also polite and pleasant in answering any questions or concerns we had. It’s a pleasure to recommend this company.”
“We hired First Rate based on client testimonials. As it turns out, you’re all right about how good First Rate is! This was not a small move with more than 300 boxes, and they got the work done in 2 days (one regular day, the second day they worked longer), without damaging anything. We had scheduled 3 days so we were really pleased to see the work done in 2 days. Saved us money. We definitely recommend First Rate to anyone who’s looking for a smooth move!”
“The crew that did my move was courteous, professional. Although working on a hourly rate, they hustled and yet were meticulous and ensured that everything was wrapped up properly and loaded without damaged to the house or the furniture. I have done numerous moves and this was by far the best one I had.”
“Matt solved that problem and we were off to an excellent start. The team was friendly, efficient and careful with our belongings. We moved on a rainy day but nothing got wet and there was no damage or lost items.”
“First Rate Movers already moved me 4 times within Ottawa area. They are my preferred moving Company and every time everything was moved to my new home in impeccable state. Nothing lost or broken. Since they know what they are doing and are very efficient you end up saving money. I highly recommend them with no reservation.”
“I used them before when I bought my first place 10 years ago. Happy to see the quality of service was just as excellent as it was back then. They were fast and even faced with several obstacles (sectional couch that was built inside my old place) they managed to have all the tools are care to get the job done without any damage to the property.”
Whether moving locally or to/from Ottawa within Ontario, you can count on First Rate Movers. Let us know how we can help. We’ll be in touch ASAP.
© First Rate Movers Inc. – Ottawa Moving Services 2021
