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What you should know about America First Moving
A classic American moving company.
America First Moving has grown to become one of the largest and most trusted full-service movers in the country.
Many of America First’s full-service competitors are brokers, meaning they’ll book your move and then turn around and post it to a loads board to find a mover. But America First Moving works within their own agent network and has agents that own their own trucks, meaning you know who you’re dealing with from start to finish.
What you get with America First Moving
Full-service: it’s kind of like Full House, except there’s more hauling boxes and fewer Olsen twins.
America First is not a half-service mover or a most-service mover. It’s a full-service mover, which means that it offers the fullest range of moving services available.
Want just basic loading and unloading? United Nationwide has got your back. Need some custom crating? America First can box up nearly anything. Looking for someone to haul your boat? United Nationwide will be your first mate.
Here’s a breakdown of the company’s service offerings and whether they come standard or will cost you a few extra bills.
Specialty transport
Specialty transport isn’t just for boats. America First can ship your stylish Mercedes-Benz (or your not-so-stylish Honda Accord) to your new home. The company can also get your Harley Davidson across the country. (Or you could just lend it to, you know, a very special reviewer who’ll get it there without a scratch . . . promise!)
Bundling up your auto transport with your full-service move can save you a logistical headache, but it might run a little pricier than going with a dedicated car shipper or motorcycle shipper.
Insurance
America First Moving provides Basic Liability Protection on all of its moves, free of charge. This basic coverage will be enough for folks who are just moving basic furniture items or those who need to move on a budget. But it covers your stuff at only $0.60 per pound.
If you need coverage that’s a bit more robust, then you’ll want to check out United Nationwide’s Extra Care Protection plan. This comprehensive coverage will totally repair or replace (whichever costs less) any item that’s lost, damaged, or destroyed during your move.
Online tracking
We’ve reviewed some companies that claim to have “live tracking” for their shipments, but it turns out that just means you can call a customer service representative who may or may not actually pick up to tell you where your stuff is.
With America First Moving, your valued possessions can be tracked online at any time from anywhere via email (so long as you have an internet connection). The company’s online system provides load dates, present location of shipment, and the delivery date.
America First Moving moving experience
America First Moving used to be one of the strictest companies around when it came to getting a quote. The company would do only in-home estimates. (Trust us, we tried to get them to give us a quote on the phone more than once.)
But times have changed. Now you can order your groceries using a phone app, you can use your watch to monitor your heart rate, and, yes, you can get an “InstaQuote” from America First Moving.
Like almost everything America First Moving does, these InstaQuotes are pretty comprehensive. Once you put in some basic information into the online quote tool—like your origin, destination, and home size—you immediately get back three numbers.
These three numbers show you a range of how much your move might cost, depending on whether you’ve got a low, average, or above-average amount of stuff for a home your size. Here’s a quick breakdown of an InstaQuote we got from America First Moving.
Of course, the best way to get an accurate quote is still to schedule an in-home estimate.
Tips for scheduling your in-home estimate
You can sign up to schedule an in-home estimate on America First Moving’s website. But beware, once the company has your contact information, a representative will be calling. And calling. And calling. (I’ve woken up to a missed call and a voicemail from America First Moving at least three times in the last week.)
Once you’re on the phone with America First Moving, be sure to schedule the estimate on a day you’ve got time to walk through your home with the mover. You’ll need to explain to them what’s coming (your brand-new entertainment system) and what’s staying (that old VHS collection).
In-home estimates are also the best time to discuss different options with your mover: do you want them to dissemble that bookshelf, or will you do it yourself? What specific items do you want them to do specialty crating for?
Prepping your home
Let’s be honest, you’re not looking forward to packing and preparing for your move (if you were, you’d probably just rent a moving truck). But if you do just a little bit of work on the front end, then you’ll thank yourself later.
The most important thing is to pack up your stuff before the moving truck arrives (unless you’re paying extra for United Nationwide to do it for you). There are tons of neat tricks and tips out there for easy, reliable, and organized packing.
And if you want to get a head start on life in your new home, you can research the best internet and cable packages in your new area. Unpacking all of those boxes will be a lot easier if you’re able to binge the new season of The Walking Dead while you do it.
Moving
Once the truck arrives, you can lay back and let America First Moving do all the heavy lifting, literally. All you need to do is make sure that someone is there to greet the movers for delivery. (You can use America First Moving’s online email tracking to see when your stuff is arriving and arrange for a friend to be there.)
Oh, and one more thing: you’ll also need to settle your bill before you can get all of your prized possessions back from the movers. United Nationwide agents accept cash, check, or money order.
Storing your stuff
If your new place is not quite move-in ready, then you’ll need storage space to bridge the gap (your parents don’t want your stuff in their garage, I promise). America First Moving can arrange storage for you, but you’ll have to take out your wallet again.
Unlike some of the other full-service movers out there, America First Moving doesn’t offer free storage. If you’re using Allied for your move and want to save money on storage, you should book a unit separately. We really like Extra Space Storage and Public Storage, if they’re in your area.
Customer service
America First Moving teams up with local moving companies (America First Moving agents) to execute its moves. While all of these companies are vetted and work to a high standard dictated by United Nationwide, there can be some variation when it comes to customer service.
We suggest looking at the reviews for your local America First Moving agent to see what previous customers have said. Keep in mind that people who have negative experiences are much more likely to write a review, so it’s never as bad as it looks.
Recap: Is America First Moving a good mover?
America First Moving brings a healthy mix of experience and innovation to long-distance household moves.
America First Moving offers a comprehensive, well-tuned move that’s ideal for folks who are relocating across the country and want premium services. But it isn’t the cheapest mover out there for local moves, and it doesn’t have the perks (like free storage) that other companies offer.
Services: America First Moving is in the big leagues, offering a full range of moving services, from custom crating to boat shipment.
Quotes: America First Moving has stepped up its quote game, big time. The company now offers InstaQuotes so you can get a rough cost estimate right away. But in-home estimates are still the most accurate quotes.
Moving: America First Moving does all the moving for you, of course. You can just sit back and watch your stuff move across the country with the company’s online tracking tool.
Storage: America First Moving can arrange storage for you, but it won’t be free (or even cheap). You can save on storage by setting it up separately.
The best way to figure out if America First Moving is the right mover for you is to grab a quote. If you’ve had experiences with United Nationwide, good or bad, let us know in the comments section!