I had never hired movers, but I'm disabled and can't walk much nor lift heavy boxes. My realtor recommended Unicorn Moving.
Alan came and did my estimate 20 days before my move. I explained that I would have a lot of stuff packed before my move, so I questioned the $20,000 estimate. Alan said he overestimated because he didn't know how much I would box up, but I would only be charged for work done, which he thought would be less than $15,000. Since the estimate said $10,000-$15,000, I booked it.
Steven was the lead mover of 8 movers and 4 trucks. Steven told me that a cash tip was expected, so I should go to a bank. I did a Google search that said $50 per mover was a generous tip.
I was not able to supervise all 8 movers, but I gave directions about what I wanted. I noticed one of the movers packing a very big box, and I asked if the box would be heavy, because I can't lift much. He told me he was only putting light things in the big boxes. I asked another mover if they were labeling the boxes, and he said they were labeling boxes by room.
Before leaving, Steven asked if I got the tip money. He was confused when I gave him $400, because he had wanted $4,000, $500 for each mover. I told him that was a lot. Steven said he could get the bill down to $9,000, so with the $4,000 tip, my total cost would be $13,000. I said I would need to get the cash from the bank in the morning.
After Steven left, I texted him to see if he had accidentally taken my dolly. He said he would return it. I then texted him that we were cleaning up a lot of trash on the lawn- pizza crusts, empty bottles, empty tape rolls. My neighbors even complained that trash was left on their lawns, and several movers had been lying down on their lawn. (I suspect, so I could not see them.) I found it odd that the movers left so much trash when I had a dumpster. Steven apologized and said he would deduct some from the bill.
I then went to shower and found out that my toiletries and towels had been packed up, so I couldn't brush my teeth, etc. Luckily, I had extra towels and could shower.
In the morning, Steven said the total cost for the move would be $9,363.28. I said I was going to hold onto the $4,000 cash tip until I got the final total, because I didn't want them to change the total after they got their cash.
I was moving stuff to my storage place and to my house in Houston. When I got to the house, Ryan came to get the keys for my storage units. I directed him to stack all my tubs together and to stack the boxes by room, and to save a walkway in the middle for easy access.
Steven then arrived and started unloading at the house.
Ryan came back after they had finished unloading at storage, and the other 6 movers helped Steven. When they were done, Steven told me that the movers were so mad from unloading at storage that they didn't want a cash tip anymore and wanted their hourly rate. I asked why the guys were upset, since the 10' x 30' units were roomy and on the first floor. Steven said the guys were upset that they had to unload really heavy boxes (which they packed) without a dolly and it was hard to move with 6 movers unloading. I asked why they didn't have any dollies, and Steven said the dollies were on his truck. I asked why they didn't come get them, since the storage place was less than a mile from the house. Steven said he didn't know, but my new total was almost $18,000. I was very upset, and Steven said he still wanted to work with me, and he could lower the bill to $14,300 if I gave them a $1,700 cash tip. I gave the $1,700 to Steven which he distributed to the movers, and they left without showing me what they had done.
At my house, boxes had been thrown into the shed with a pile of unboxed clothes on top.
At storage, the first unit was crowded, the light switch was blocked, and there was no walkway. My second unit also had the light switch blocked, but there was a walkway. None of the boxes were labeled. And there were several huge open boxes where stuff had been thrown in.
Later, I saw that I was billed for $16,972.67, and not $14,300. read more