Frequently Asked Questions

How soon should I schedule my move?
How do I get an estimate of my moving cost?
Do you conduct on-site surveys?
What types of payment options do you offer, and when is payment due?
What is your load limit for moving my belongings nationwide?
How do you protect my belongings?
Do you provide packing services?
What kind of moving vans do you use?
Do you perform background checks on your moving crew members?
How do you protect me if my belongings are lost or damaged in shipment?
Are there items that you cannot transport?
Can you provide me with any tips to save me time and money?




How soon should I schedule my move?
It’s never too soon to schedule your move. The more lead time you can give us, the better we can meet your needs. Our nationwide long distance moves typically ship throughout the contiguous United States twice monthly and feature deliveries within one to twelve days, depending upon distance. You can expect a call from your delivery team one day prior to their arrival. A. Allen Moving & Storage takes pride in our experienced drivers and low turnover rate, with most having been with us for many years. Should you need to move and receive your possessions on a specific date, ask us about our premium expedited delivery service.

Top



How do I get an estimate of my moving cost?
Our experienced professionals can give you an accurate time estimate for your local move over the telephone. They will just ask you a few questions about the size of your residence, how far you are moving, the quantities of your belongings, and the extent of any packing you may request. We don’t charge any hidden fees – you know what our fees are before your move begins. Call us at 713-957-2070. Nationwide moves pricing is based primarily on the amount of van space that your items will occupy and the distance we will travel to deliver them. When you supply us with a listing of your items, we will then calculate a guaranteed price based on your listing. You are, of course, free to add or delete items prior to your move. We will adjust your price up or down depending upon your final decision of what you wish to move. Call us at 713-957-2070 or toll-free at 800-387-0388.

Top



Do you conduct on-site surveys?
Since we perform numerous small nationwide moves, we are unable to survey all of them, due to the large number of individual moves. For larger household and office moves, we may schedule a convenient time with you to perform a free survey and provide you with a written estimate within 24 hours of the survey.

Top



What types of payment options do you offer, and when is payment due?
For local moves we accept cash, local checks, and cashier's checks. Payment is due to the driver upon completion of your move. We also accept, for your convenience, Visa®, MasterCard®, American Express®, and Discover™ cards during our normal business hours. For nationwide moves, we collect payment prior to unloading your shipment at its destination. In this case, we accept cash, cashier's checks, or credit card.

Top



What is your load limit for moving my belongings nationwide?
A. Allen Moving & Storage specializes in small nationwide moves. Our loads range from a one-piece shipment up to a normal-sized, fully furnished one-bedroom apartment or (depending upon space availability) a lightly furnished two-bedroom apartment.

Top



How do you protect my belongings?
Each piece of furniture is wrapped in heavy quilted blankets, and any drawers are secured in place. We also use clear plastic shrink wrap on all of your upholstered furniture and utilize thick mats to protect your floors. All glass, marble, and granite pieces should be properly packed. For a small additional charge, we will provide the proper cartons, bubble wrap, and corrugation to protect your fragile items. Computers, stereo components, other electronics, table lamps, vases, glass and marble tops, etc., must be boxed and/or properly packed. For certain antiques, large glass and marble tops, and other fragile pieces, we can refer you to providers of specialty crating.

Top



Do you provide packing services?
Yes, we have careful and experienced employees to pack the contents of your residence. We provide this service for nationwide as well as local moves. For larger packing and moving engagements, we pack homes and offices on day one and move on day two. Our packing supplies are very reasonably priced.

Top



What kind of moving vans do you use?
A. Allen Moving uses 24 and 26 feet long bobtail vans, so we have plenty of space, but our trucks are small enough that we can also maneuver through some of the tightest streets. Our vehicles are clean and well maintained.

Top



Do you perform background checks on your moving crew members?
Yes, our movers’ backgrounds are verified through the Texas Department of Public Safety and through a national database, prior to entering your residence.

Top



How do you protect me if my belongings are lost or damaged in shipment?
We have different options of protection for you, depending on which one you choose. The option you select determines the basis upon which any claim will be adjusted and establishes our maximum liability. Our liability for loss or damage is based upon state and federal tariffs, and has certain limitations and exclusions. Carrier liability is not insurance; it is a tariff-based level of our liability. If you desire insurance, you should consult your insurance company representative about available insurance coverages. A. Allen Moving does not offer insurance.

Released Value – Alternate Level of Liability
We provide a free level of liability to protect your belongings in case of loss or damage.  In the event of a claim for loss or damage, this liability provides reimbursement to you at the rate of 60 cents per pound, per article.

Full Value Level of Liability
Full value liability is available for purchase at $10, $15, or $25 - depending upon your chosen level of deductible ($500, $250, or $0, respectively) - per $1,000 of your shipment's total valuation. The minimum shipment valuation is $5,000. Please note that the entire shipment’s valuation must be declared for this option.

Top



Are there items that you cannot transport?
Items that are flammable, corrosive, or explosive are hazardous materials and cannot be moved by us. Examples include but are not limited to acids, ammunition, car batteries, fertilizers, fireworks, gasoline, paints, poisons, propane tanks, most household chemicals.

Also, items of a perishable nature should not be moved with us. Should you have questions about any substance you are planning to transport, please call us at 713-957-2070 or toll-free at 800-387-0388 for answers.

Top



Can you provide me with any tips to save me time and money?

Yes, the following is a list of some things you can do to reduce time on the job and your cost:

  • Have everything packed and ready to move.
  • Before the move, segregate any items that you plan to discard. Moving time is a good opportunity to eliminate items of diminished use.
  • Disconnect refrigerators, icemakers, washers, dryers, other appliances, and electronics. Stereo components, computer equipment, DVD players, etc., should be packed in boxes.
  • Disassemble beds or other types of furniture in this category. Disassemble outdoor playground equipment.
  • Transport as much of your electronics, valuables, breakables, important documents, and sentimental small items as you can yourself.
  • Light-weight clothing may be left in your dressers and chests of drawers.  However, please remove and pack loose items such as breakables, jewelry, heavy items, and all documents and valuables.
  • Don’t over-fill or under-fill boxes, and be sure to tape them securely at the top and the bottom. Also, be sure to use the right box for the job: larger boxes should be reserved for lighter items to prevent rupture of the boxes, and book boxes are perfect for…what else…books!
  • Mark “FRAGILE” on all boxes containing breakables.
  • Label all boxes according to the room to which they belong in your new residence.

Top