Diamond Certified Video Reports
A and P Moving, Inc. in 5 Useful Answers
A and P Moving, Inc. - 5 Useful Answers - video transcript
We want to make sure that we are continuing to sanitize the trucks on a frequent basis, make sure our crews have the masks and gloves, and when we enter someone's residence, the first thing we do is keep social distance. But also, we make sure that we ask them if they have any questions, reiterating our understanding of what the needs are and wanting to develop a comfort level so they feel safe with who's in the residence and who's going to be doing the services. Also, just making sure before any job starts, we have the proper equipment on board so that way we're prepared and adjust to what the client's needs are. This way, there are no surprises and everything flows smoothly. When I was about eight years old, my dad took me with him on his office moves in San Francisco, and he used to pay me 25 cents every time I came to help him tag the floors. That started into developing and working in the summers and winters for him when he was a manager in sales with Beacon's company. Then, in 1990, he and two partners bought the agency. He asked me to come in as an office clerk at that time, thinking I would only stay probably about a year. 31 years later, I'm still here. I enjoy the opportunity to work with my dad and my brother. My dad has been a mentor for me in this industry, always in sales and helping me learn how to read situations, better position myself in understanding a situation. My brother has really been the rock in guiding our company as the president these past 18 years, helping us stay afloat, never having to lay anybody off, and being able to pursue through some very challenging times. The other enjoyable thing about coming to work every day is the customer satisfaction side. We take a lot of effort in making sure people are prepared to move. The greatest thing I always enjoy hearing from people is when they tell me, "You made this process so easy." Well, the first question they should always verify is that the company is in good standing with Diamond Certified because Diamond Certified really does an incredible vetting process to ensure the company is insured, licensed, and in good standing. The other thing also is to ask your chamber of commerce and realtors if they've heard anything about the company they’re getting estimates from. Ask the salesperson how long they've been in business, what the company’s current location is. Is the company a broker, meaning are they going to farm out your service to some other third party, or are their employees really going to be the ones doing the job? Does that company have independent contractors or do they have actual employees? Is the company involved in their community? I think people who are involved in their community care about their community, and they do a better job for people because there’s more of an incentive for a good effort. And just be careful of all the internet shell companies. A lot of people are doing business on the internet, which is great, but you want to make sure you know who’s actually doing the work that you’re requesting. One thing that sets our company apart is my dad, my brother, and I have each done every single position within this industry and within this company. We have all worked on the trucks. We’ve actually gone on pack jobs, we’ve been in the office, we’ve dispatched, we’ve done storage, we’ve done customer service. I think that enables us to have a stronger respect for our employees because we've been in their shoes. We know what it’s like to be asked every day to do what they have to do, and we would never ask an employee to do something we haven’t done. I think that separates us from the rest because not that many owners can say that. So, as part of relocating a customer's household goods, we had to move an 800-pound safe out of a historical home that was set back 35 stairs up a narrow road in Larkspur. It was so stressful. We brought in a specialty crane company who partnered with us to go into the residence, hoist this 1800-pound safe down to the landing, up and over parked cars on this narrow road, and into the back of our truck. It was so incredible to watch it play out, but it took a tremendous amount of planning for something that only lasted literally 20 minutes. But I’ve never had to orchestrate a behind-the-scenes effort like that before. It was crazy.
