Frequently Asked Questions, Moving With Smart Penny Moving®

Smart Penny Moving® has earned consistent 5-star ratings across Google, Angi, and the BBB because we treat every job the same way, prepared crew, transparent pricing, and a final walkthrough before we leave. We’re headquartered in Woburn, which means local moves across Greater Boston start and end faster than with competitors driving in from elsewhere.

We’re headquartered in Woburn, our trucks leave from here, our storage facility is here, and our crew knows Greater Boston from daily experience. That means local moves start faster, billing is more efficient, and you’re working with people who are accountable to the same community you live in. We’re also BBB verified and Angi recognized, with transparent pricing and no hidden fees.

As soon as you have a general idea of your move date. For local moves, 2–4 weeks in advance is usually enough. For long-distance moves, 4–8 weeks is better, and more during summer, when demand peaks. The earlier you book, the more flexibility you have on timing.

Local moves are priced hourly, the rate depends on crew size and truck size, and we charge from when we leave our Woburn headquarters to when we return. Long-distance moves are flat-rate, based on distance and volume. We give you a real quote before you commit, not a range that changes on moving day.

Yes, fill out the quote form on our website and we’ll follow up to confirm details and lock in your date. For faster service, call us directly at 800-611-2201.

Call or email us as soon as you know. We’ll do our best to accommodate the change based on availability. The more notice you give us, the easier it is to adjust. Last-minute date changes during peak season can be harder to accommodate, so reach out immediately.

USPS mail forwarding, your employer, bank, insurance providers, doctor and dentist, schools, utilities (electric, gas, water, internet), subscription services, and the DMV for your driver’s license and vehicle registration. Our moving checklist covers all of these, download it from the resources page.

Yes, senior moves are a specialty. We work at a pace that makes sense for the situation, handle every item carefully, and communicate clearly with both the senior and their family throughout. We regularly help residents transition out of long-held homes in Cambridge, North Reading, Framingham, and Woburn to assisted living facilities or family homes.

A coordinator walks through your home with you to understand the scope, what’s moving, what’s staying, any specialty items, access considerations at both addresses, and your timeline. We use that information to give you an accurate quote. For Woburn and Greater Boston customers, we can do this in person since we’re already local.

We own and operate our storage facility right here in Woburn, climate-controlled, 24-hour surveillance, starting at $89/month. Because it’s the same company, your belongings go from our truck into storage and back out again when you’re ready. No separate vendor, no additional coordination.

Call us now. Six weeks is workable but tight, especially in summer. Book your date immediately, then start decluttering and packing non-essentials right away. If you need packing help, include it in your quote, our crew can handle everything so you can focus on everything else a move involves.

Payment is made at the end of the job, once you’ve done the final walkthrough and confirmed everything is in order. We don’t take payment before the work is done.

Book early, declutter before we pack (less volume = lower cost), have boxes packed and ready before the crew arrives, and be prepared at both ends, clear pathways, parking available, decisions made about furniture placement. Check our How to Save Money page for 15 detailed tips.

Our crew arrives within the scheduled window, introduces themselves, and does a walkthrough before anything moves. Everything gets wrapped and protected before loading. We do a final walkthrough before leaving the origin, and another at the destination before we start unloading. The job ends with a final walkthrough confirming everything is placed correctly. See our full What to Expect page for a step-by-step breakdown.

Declutter before booking if possible, it simplifies the move and reduces cost. Sort into keep, donate, and discard piles. For items you want removed, we focus on moving, we don’t offer junk removal as a service, but can recommend local options.

Pack room by room, use proper moving boxes, label every box with room and contents, reinforce box bottoms with tape, and don’t overload heavy boxes. Check our Packing Tips page for all 25 tips from our crew.

Yes, download it free from the Moving Checklist page in our Resources menu. It covers everything from 8 weeks out to moving day and beyond.

Yes, with the right equipment and technique. Let us know about pianos, safes, large appliances, or any other oversized items when you book so we can bring appropriate equipment and staff the job correctly.

Yes, always empty drawers before the move. Full drawers make furniture significantly heavier and can shift or fall open during transit. Pack the contents in boxes labeled with the furniture piece they came from.

Yes, we do a walkthrough of the new space before unloading so you can tell us where everything goes. Items are placed where you want them, not just inside the door. If something needs adjusting after placement, we take care of it before we leave.

Keep them in a separate room or arrange care for the day. Pets underfoot during a move create safety risks for them and slow the crew down. Moving day is stressful for animals, a quiet space or a friend’s house is the kindest option for them.

We’re fully licensed and insured for every job. Everything gets wrapped before it moves, furniture blankets, stretch wrap, corner pads. The truck is loaded strategically to prevent shifting. And we carry additional insurance for specialty items. If something does get damaged, we handle it, that’s what insurance is for.

Yes, we handle college move-ins and move-outs at universities across Greater Boston including Harvard, MIT, Northeastern, BU, Tufts, Framingham State, and others. We know the dorm access rules and elevator reservation requirements. Semester storage is available at our Woburn facility starting at $89/month.

We move in rain, snow, and cold, Greater Boston weather doesn’t stop us. We take extra precautions: floor runners to protect your floors, extra wrapping on weather-sensitive items, and covered loading where possible. Truly dangerous conditions (ice storms, blizzards) are the rare exception where we’ll discuss rescheduling with you.

Yes, we offer junk removal as part of our moving services. Whether you need items cleared out before your move, during the process, or after you’ve settled in, we can take care of it. Call us at 800-611-2201 or mention it when you request your quote and we’ll include it in the plan.

Yes, boxes in every size, packing tape, packing paper, bubble wrap, mattress covers, and shrink wrap. Free delivery on orders of 25 boxes or more. Order through our materials page or call 800-611-2201.

Yes, full packing means our crew handles every room, every shelf, every item using the right materials. Partial packing is also available if you want help with specific rooms or fragile items. Packing is included in the hourly rate, no separate fee, just materials cost.

Mid-week moves (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) are typically cheaper and more flexible than weekend moves. If your schedule allows it, a mid-week date often means more availability and less competition for time slots during peak season.

Start with USPS mail forwarding at usps.com, this covers most mail automatically. Then update your address with your bank, employer, insurance providers, subscription services, doctor, schools, and any government agencies. Our moving checklist has the full list.

In Massachusetts, update your license at the RMV, you can do this online at mass.gov/rmv or in person at any RMV location. You have 30 days from your move date to update. You’ll need your new address and your current license.

Call us at 800-611-2201 to ask about current discounts and promotions. We appreciate military families and want to make the process as straightforward as possible.