The Impossible Move

Found this article out there in cyber space and I liked it...


In the world of household goods moving, is there really anything that's 'impossible' to move? The short answer is no; if a customer wants it moved and is willing to pay the fees to have it transferred from one location to another, we van operators and movers will get the job done.

Moving household goods requires a huge amount of common sense. For example, loading a van — heavy on the bottom, lighter on top, square to the leading edge, fill to the rear and pad wrap anything not in a carton. Like I said, common sense.
And it applies when accomplishing the 'impossible' move too. So what does common sense have to do with managing your van operation in order to have a profit left at the end of each move?

Common sense will make your van operation successful so you have the money going to the house, making it all worthwhile.
With the cost of fuel, labor and taxes all increasing, along with stagnant rates and new or revised government regulations being applied, making a living in the moving business looks like it's 'impossible.'
But just like loading a truck, generating the necessary revenue, keeping costs down and having a profit at the end require using the same approach as you do when you're managing a move: common sense.
Let's do a few comparisons. While walking up to a house for the first time to move its occupants, you're forming a plan. Whether you're moving that family across the street or the nation, you must have a plan. And to have a successful van operation, you also must have a plan. Think about your business.
When you first enter the house, you tell the shipper you've brought everything with you that's necessary to protect the floors and walls from damage. Compare that with making sure you've got everything to keep your business from being damaged, from workman's comp and liability insurance to the shipment valuation coverage in case of damage.
Next we would do the "walk through" where the shipper would point out everything that didn't go. Each non-moved item would be tagged with an orange dot sticker so it was easily identified. Are you making things too complicated when doing your recordkeeping with too many expense categories and subcategories? All you really need is your laptop and a good book keeping program to track your revenue. Or if technology befuddles you a portable file should hold all the files and needed paper work paperwork needed for business bookkeeping.

The inventory always started in the room with the most difficult to load piece in the house. What's the most difficult thing about running your own business? The accounting, right? Get yourself a good program, like I mentioned above.
Each room's items were inventoried in a clockwise fashion, starting at the door and working along the walls, then working my way to the center of the room. Set your major goal, that of the money needed for the house each month, and make sure it includes your salary.
As I completed a room my crew would commence disassembling items as needed and wrapping all the items that wouldn't fit in cartons in pads. What expenses are you running up each month that you could easily cut out, to make a bigger profit?
By creating a step-by-step plan of execution for the move, we don't waste any action, we control damage, and nothing is left behind and we have developed a routine of tasks necessary to guarantee everything is completed.
Having a business management plan which lays out the routine, the steps you need to follow to insure success as a business is no different than the steps necessary to insure a quality move. This is more crucial today than ever before.
Make every move count.