Ottawa’s most trusted and reliable moving company
Ottawa’s most trusted and reliable moving company
Most people would say that “value for money” is the most important factor in choosing a movers. Unfortunately, most people don’t have a whole lot of experience when it comes to assessing the value they are getting from a moving company.
One of the biggest mistakes a consumer can make when choosing a moving company is basing their decision on an estimated cost or hourly rate. These are arbitrary figures that rarely reflect the actual cost or effectiveness of a moving service. It is decisions based on these factors alone that have led to the majority of the widely publicized horror stories of the moving industry. In the end, the actual cost of a move can be much more than the just the total on the moving bill. Being informed is the consumer’s best measure to guard against being taken advantage of and to ensure a successful move.
The moving industry is largely unregulated in Canada and attracts a wide array of rogue, fly-by-night operators and unethical, opportunistic business models. Since moving is something most people don’t do on a regular basis, many companies in the moving industry view consumers as a passing target that they are not likely to do business with again. It is not uncommon for jobs to be “stretched out”, hidden fees to be tacked on, or even to have belongings go missing. The fact that most moving contracts give the moving company the legal right to keep a consumer’s belongings on the truck until they have paid, puts the customer at even further disadvantage should any of these issues arise.
Estimates are seldom accurate in the moving industry and are almost impossible to enforce. This is because the scope of the work to be performed is variable. Unless the moving company is handling the entire relocation process, including all packing and unpacking, and the consumer is not going to be in either the origin or destination locations from the time of the estimate until after the move is complete, there are just far too many factors that can affect the moving process. The moving company can easily claim that the situation is not the same as it was at the time of the estimate. They can claim the customer moved furniture around, wasn’t properly prepared, did a poor job packing boxes, packed more boxes than should have been expected, failed to mention some furniture, and the list goes on. There is always a way to blame inflated costs on the customer or circumstances outside of the movers’ control. Less than scrupulous moving companies and estimators will use this to their advantage, allowing them to “lowball” the cost of the move in order to secure the booking.
Hourly rates are another completely relative factor that can often leave consumers upset with the final bill. As with most products and services, costs are usually associated with a level of quality lending to the common saying “you get what you pay for”. While this is not always accurate, it usually does hold true in the moving industry. Most moving companies compete on price because the majority of consumers don’t know to look for more than that. In order to compete on price, they have to find ways to lower their overhead. Considering that labour is a very large part of operating costs for moving companies, it is usually one of the first areas they look to in an effort to cut costs. It is for this reason that most moving companies hire “swampers” to assist the driver with the move. The term “swampers” refers to general labour, day labour, part-timers, or just overall less experienced movers. They are usually paid significantly less than professional, full time movers and are often paid cash as temp labour. Less experienced movers will often result in moves taking longer, less professional handling of furniture, and a higher rate of damage to homes and belongings. These companies will also often skimp on equipment and supplies in an effort to further reduce costs. In comparison, a company that employs only full-time professional movers, professionally wraps all furniture, and spends money on proper equipment, will almost always be more efficient and present a much lower risk of damage. When taking these factors into account, a professional company charging $215 per hour for a 3-man crew could end up costing significantly less than a non-professional company charging $160 per hour for the same size crew.
Other things to consider when weighing value for money are insurance coverage and additional measures taken to protect your home and belongings. These two things usually go hand-in-hand. The more liable the moving company is for damages, the more they are likely to spend on experienced labour, proper equipment and supplies in order to mitigate that risk. A moving company offering full replacement value coverage through their actual insurance (very rare) is going to ensure that a full team of professional movers protects the floors with runners, put bags on mattresses, and wrap every piece of furniture before it leaves the house. Companies offering “basic coverage” (essentially uninsured) or “protection” (in house coverage – not insurance), are less likely to spend as much on preventing damage as they have less financial risk involved. More on insurance versus protection here.
While “Value For Money” is definitely an important factor in choosing a moving company, it should be secondary to “Choosing Good Movers”. Before comparing the value companies have to offer, consumers should ensure that they are comparing legitimate and reputable companies. Checking with the Better Business Bureau should be every consumer’s first stop when it comes to researching the reputation of moving companies or any home service provider. Accredited members of the BBB have agreed to be bound by arbitration in cases of disagreement between the service provider and the customer. This is a consumer’s best chance of recourse in situations where they feel they have not received the service they paid for or that the company has not acted in good faith. Unlike reviews on Google and most other websites, the BBB website is also an excellent source of verified reviews. Another excellent reference is the Canadian Association of Movers. Members of CAM have proven they are incorporated companies (not just a website), registered with WSIB (Workplace Safety and insurance Board), properly insured (cargo and liability), and must follow a code of conduct which is intended to protect consumers. While membership with the BBB and CAM are definitely important things to look for in a moving company, it should be noted that the intent of these organizations is to protect consumers, not to rate companies on their level of service. For example, you can have a junk removal company, a student moving company, and a high end moving company that are all rated A+ with the BBB but they are all going to offer different levels of service.
To ensure a smooth move, see Choosing Good Movers.
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!”
Ginette Thomas
“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!”
Domenico Patulli
“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!”
Hannah Mitchell
“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.”
Oona Woods
“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!”
Brendan Nolan
“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!!”
Maura Rubio
“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!”
Trevor Harris
“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.”
Emma B.
“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!”
Joanna Lynch
“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!”
Mary Sylvester
“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.“
Xiaoli Li
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 2024
