Q: Tell us a little bit about your company Element Moving and Storage.
A: We began the company about five years ago. My husband and I opened up the business because we saw a need in Dallas for a moving company that does boutique services for clients.
We do any type of moving, we do packing, unpacking, crating, long distance and local moving, we do residential and commercial.
Q: What sets your company apart from others in the moving industry?
A: We consider ourselves a boutique moving company, meaning we give a little bit of extra personal attention to the client.
We specialize in high end moves, but we are still a very affordable company. We can do anything from crating your items to packing them, unpacking them and we just really individualize our service to each client.
We have a passion to do this the right way and make sure that moves are being done correctly.
Q: Does this business model have anything to do with why you won the Angie’s List 2013 Super Service Award?
A: Yes, for moving companies that is a very difficult service award to receive because moving is not easy. Moving is not an exact science, things do happen when people move. However, we really try to take care of our clients.
First of all, we try to eliminate any kind of damage because we really take special care of the items. We have extensive training for our movers, so they know exactly what needs to be done and we just make sure to take really good care of the clients.
Q: Did you find it difficult to break into a male dominated industry?
A: A little bit. I think that a lot of times it’s a little bit of a surprise for customers to know that this is a woman owned company, but I feel that gives us a little bit of a special touch.
Q: Can you tell us more about your green moving services?
A: We use wonderful packing crates, they’re super easy to pack in, it makes it so you don’t have to use so much packing paper and of course you don’t have to use boxes then. We do not use any bubble wrap and we make sure that all of our boxes are recycled boxes as well.
Q: What’s the most important piece of wisdom you can give to someone currently planning a move?
A: Definitely research the company you are about to book with, make sure that they are insured. Surprisingly, a lot of customers don’t know that the moving industry is a regulated industry. You have to be licensed by the U.S. Department of Transportation, by the Texas Department of Transportation (for us here in Texas) and a lot of people think they can just go an open up a company and it’s OK.
Customers don’t know this either, so it’s really important because you want to make sure the company you’re moving with is insured and is a reputable company. Check out online reviews, but use your wisdom and common sense to make sure that these are reputable review sites, not just written by the actual moving companies.
That’s why I always tell [people] to refer to site’s like Angie’s List where companies can’t write their own reviews. It’s paid from the customers.
And of course [the Better Business Bureau]. Make sure that they are a BBB accredited company and their rating is a B or above.
Q: What is your most memorable moving experience?
A: One of the moves that I went out to visit (which I often do just to give that personal experience to the customer) was a woman who was moving a Bed and Breakfast from Dallas to North Carolina. She had an antique piano from 1912 and just watching our guys go in there and without even talking to each other they just knew exactly what they needed to be doing.
Everyone knew where to stand, what to do, how to do it, wrapped it up perfectly. Within 10 to 20 minutes that piano was out the door, wrapped up perfectly and the customer, myself and another salesperson were just standing there in awe.
For the customer,it was not only amazing to see it happening so perfectly, but it was such an emotional experience for her because she was moving her home and moving her business that she was practically in tears. It was beautiful.
Q: Can you tell us a little bit about how you give back to the community?
A: We work with several different organizations, first one is called Move for Hunger, where we work with a local food pantry called Minnie’s Food Pantry in Plano who helps thousands and thousands of individuals who are in need of a good meal.
We accept donations of food and this is especially beneficial for customers moving long distance because it doesn’t really pay to move a box of peas and carrots. Whereas a local move you can put it back in your pantry, but on a long distance move it’s a great thing because you can give back to the community and you don’t have to pay to transport.
Me and my husband have a passion for this, and it really shows in the work that we do.
Q: Is that why you consider yourself the ‘next generation in moving and storage’ as your tagline says?
A: Absolutely!