Your Cookeville Movers

Generally, moving companies can give you an estimate over the phone. In some cases, movers may need to visit your home in person to give you an accurate quote. If you answer yes to any of the following questions, you may need an in-home estimate:

• Is your home 1,500 square feet or larger?
• Do you have any large or bulky items (e.g., safes or pianos) that may be difficult to move safely and securely?
• Does your home have any narrow hallways, doorways, or stairways that furniture cannot fit through?
• Will movers have difficulty parking a 26 ft. truck close to your home?
• Are you moving out of state?

The best time to book your upcoming move is at least one month before your desired moving date. Moving schedules fill up fast, especially during the spring and summer months, so you’ll want to give yourself enough time to land on your local franchise’s schedule with your preferred move date.  

With more than 40 years of experience in the moving industry, we are well equipped to handle any move situation. From local to long-distance moves, business and in-home moving, packing services, and storage solutions – we are able to take the stress out of your move, and get you where you need to go. We have a 96 percent customer referral rate across our system, proving we truly are the Movers Who Care®”!

We offer additional valuation coverage as an optional benefit to our customers who want it. We just want to make sure YOU have a choice. We will ask you to sign an acknowledgement for the valuation coverage you choose so we both understand your express selection of that level of valuation.

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK reserves the right to repair any damaged goods, or replace, them with items of like kind and quality at our discretion.

There is no single best box for moving. Different items require different types of moving boxes. To avoid damage during the move, you’ll want a combination of standard sized boxes:

• Small box (1.5 ft³): best for heavy items such as books, canned goods, shoes, etc.
• Medium box (3 ft³): best for items without a uniform shape such as lamps, lamp shades, or small kitchen appliances.
• Large box (4.5 ft³) and extra-large box (6 ft³): best for light items like pillows and bedding.
• Picture box: best for framed artwork, mirrors, and other thin items that are fragile and breakable.
• Dish barrel and dish pack inserts: best for packing dishes and other fragile kitchen items.
• Wardrobe box: best for clothes on hangers.

Keep with you anything you or your family will use on the day of your move with you. Common items include snacks, toilet paper, paper towel, phone chargers, a change of clothes, toothbrush/toothpaste, and your kids’ favorite toys. Additionally, medications, important paperwork (e.g., birth certificates and social security cards), and anything highly valuable or sentimental (jewelry, credit cards, bank account information, etc.) should be set aside. On your moving day, place these essential items in a box or bag that you’ll carry with you to your new home. 

Even with additional valuation coverage, items with a value greater than $100/pound, such as jewelry, coins, stamps, and other highly valuable items, must be individually identified and their value declared before you move. Be sure to ask your mover about these items, because without identification, even with additional valuation coverage, such items included in your household goods shipment are limited to a maximum value of $100/pound.

All major credit cards are accepted. Additional payment options may vary by location.

Please do not pack jewelry, coins, cash, collectables, extremely fragile items, liquids/food, illegal substances, anything flammable, ammunition/firearms of any kind, hazardous materials, nail polish/nail polish remover, and batteries.

You can often get boxes straight from the moving company you hire. Alternatively, large hardware stores often carry a good selection of moving supplies. Keep in mind, the size of your vehicle when picking up your boxes. Many large and medium boxes will not fit in two-door or small, four-door vehicles without having to be folded, which can damage the structural integrity of the box. Make sure to ask about the return policy for boxes in case you buy more than you need. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®, for example, will purchase back any unused boxes whereas other companies may not.

If you are reusing old boxes or getting boxes from a retail or grocery store, check to make sure the boxes are clean, free of bugs, and do not have water damage, mold, or other structural damage that could cause the box to buckle during the move. While you can save money using free or old boxes, you do run the risk that they could cause damage to your items during the move.  

1. Create a list of local moving companies you plan to research.
2. Get a quote from each mover. Make sure to get moving quotes directly from a company’s official website or phone number. Working with movers directly cuts out any middlemen and will result in the lowest price.
3. Get a feel for each moving company’s reputation by reading reviews from real customers.
4. Ask whether each company is licensed and how they’re insured.
5. Determine how each mover’s schedule works. Is your delivery date guaranteed? Will the same person who loads up your belongings transport and unload them as well?
6. Make sure you’re comfortable with how each mover charges, their cancellation policy, and whether or not a deposit is required.
7. Choose whichever company best fits your move; everyone’s needs are different.

Determine the square footage of your house. Based on the square footage, you can estimate how many boxes you’ll need.

• Less than 500 sq ft: 3 – 12 large boxes, 8 – 15 medium boxes, 12 – 18 small boxes, 2 – 5 dish barrels, and 3 – 5 wardrobe boxes.
• Between 500 – 999 sq ft: 5 – 15 large boxes, 10 – 20 medium boxes, 15 – 25 small boxes, 3 – 6 dish barrels, 3 – 6 wardrobe boxes.
• Between 1,000 – 1,499 sq ft: 10 - 20 large boxes, 15 - 25 medium boxes, 20 - 30 small boxes, 4 – 6 dish barrels, 5 – 7 wardrobe boxes.
• Between 1,500 – 1,999 sq ft: 15 – 25 large boxes, 20 - 30 medium boxes, 30 - 40 small boxes, 5 – 97 dish barrels, 5 – 10 wardrobe boxes.
• More than 2,000 sq ft: 20 – 30 large boxes, 25 - 35 medium boxes, 40 - 50 small boxes, 6 – 9 dish barrels, 8 – 12 wardrobe boxes.

Our box guide can also help determine the number of boxes you need to correctly pack for your next move. 

1. Choose the appropriately-sized box. For heavy items, such as books, use a small box. For lighter items, like throw pillows, use a larger box.
2. Assemble your box. Fold down the flaps on the bottom of the box — smaller flaps should be folded down before the larger flaps. Then apply moving tape to the seam. If you’re packing something heavy, apply extra tape.
3. Crumple up pieces of packing paper and place them on the bottom of the box for cushioning.
4. If the items you’re packing are fragile, wrap them with packing paper. Use tissue paper for especially delicate items such as china.
5. Place each item in the moving box. Be sure to pack similar items in boxes, which makes unpacking much easier.
6. Pack the box as tightly as possible without overcrowding it.
7. Add extra packing paper to the top of your box if there’s extra room, so your items cannot move around while they travel.
8. Once your box is packed, secure the box with packing tape. Boxes should always be taped shut to easily stack during transport.
9. Label your box with its main contents and the room it belongs to. 

       More detailed packing tips can be found here. 

1. Decide what you will pack in the moving box. Packing similar items in each box will make labelling easier.
2. Label each box on the top and sides, indicating what contents are in the box (e.g., utensils, books, or sheets).
3. Label each box with what room it belongs in, so the movers know where to place it in your new home (e.g., if the box contains your sheets, mark it master bedroom). This will simplify the unpacking process since you won’t have to move items from one room to another after unloading.
4. Number each box. Knowing how many boxes you’re moving in total will help ensure that nothing gets lost during the move.

Although our move teams do everything they can to prevent damages — including padding and stretch wrapping furniture and other delicate pieces, unfortunately damages can still occur.

If during your move, or following your move, you notice damage to an item, your home, or business, we ask that you contact your local TWO MEN AND A TRUCK franchise office as soon as possible with information to begin the claims process. They will explain their process and next steps for working toward a resolution. Each state is regulated and have their own requirements for how damages are resolved, and our franchises work within those guidelines to ensure damages are taken care of.

To speed up the process, we ask customers to be prepared with information regarding their damaged piece. We will typically ask the make and model or manufacturer’s name of the item. In some cases, a franchise may request photos of the damage.

Keep in mind, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK does not sell insurance, but does offer additional coverage through valuation.

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK has a 96% referral rate which is a reflection of our efforts to provide customers with the best possible experience and this extends into the claims process.

Although our movers are trained to never ask or hint for tips from customers, they are allowed to accept tips should customers feel inclined for the hard work they received.

In terms of what to tip the movers, we encourage customers to tip whatever they feel is necessary for the job that was completed.

Yes, but you must identify exactly the items for which the coverage is purchased, and declare a corresponding increase in the value of your household goods shipment, before we begin your move.

This depends on your personal situation. Hiring professionals like TWO MEN AND A TRUCK ensures your entire move is taken care of by our teams, while moving yourself means you’ll be responsible for doing the heavy lifting, renting a truck, finding help, and more. You can see more about the differences between moving yourself and hiring professional movers here.