For long distance moves, most moving companies require a pre-move survey to determine the size of the move and the amount of van space your goods will occupy. An accurate moving-cost estimate cannot be given without a visual survey of the goods to be moved. If we are able to see what you are planning to move, we can provide you with a written guaranteed not to exceed quote. There is no charge or obligation for a written quote.

If your move is small (generally within our 2,100-pound minimum charge) and you can provide an exact list of your items to be moved including the approximate number of cartons with packed items, a visual survey may not be necessary to provide you with a written moving-cost quote.

Local moves are charged by the hour. A written estimate is generally unnecessary unless the move is very large, or you require storage or a large amount of packing.

At Golden Eagle Moving Services, we require full payment at the time of delivery, unless arrangements with your employer are made in advance to be billed for our services. Payments can be made by cash, money order, traveler’s check, cashier’s check or credit card (American Express, Discover, Visa or MasterCard). Credit-card payments for long distance moves must be authorized in advance and are processed on load day. Credit card payments for local moves are processed upon completion of the move.Golden Eagle Moving Services accepts personal checks for local moves, but we do not accept them for long-distance relocation.

Most movers have their own state license issued by that state’s Public Utilities Commission, or another agency. These licenses usually apply on moves done entirely within the state. Golden Eagle Moving Services license issued by the California Public Utilities Commission is Cal-T-170177. Interstate Van Lines like United Van Lines are “registered”, not licensed. United Van Lines has been issued a certificate of authority to move household goods between any of the fifty states by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). United’s certificate is: US DOT 077949. Golden Eagle Moving Services has the authority to operate within the State of California using its PUC license and to participate in interstate moving as an agent for United Van Lines.

An appointment for an estimate should whenever possible be scheduled 4-6 weeks prior to the actual move date (6-8 weeks during the summer is better).  The actual move should be scheduled as soon as possible with “the earlier, the better” being the best approach.  During the summer long distance moves usually need to be scheduled as much as a month in advance though some exceptions for last minute moves are possible.

Volume for moving companies is usually highest during the summer months, particularly at the beginning and end of each month.  Volume is also high and capacity is lower during the end of the year vacation period.  Whenever possible it is best to move outside of these high-volume periods.

If the move can be scheduled for a time when vans and trained personnel are more readily available, Golden Eagle will be better able to meet your preferred delivery schedule.  Additionally prices vary throughout the year with prices being higher during high volume periods.  As always, plan ahead and schedule a moving-cost estimate well in advance to determine availability and price.

Golden Eagle Moving Services is fully prepared to provide you with a full service move. We recognize, however, that each move is different and that different people have different needs and budgets.

When you move locally (with a radius of approximately 100 miles) you are paying by the hour. Anything you do yourself, therefore, will save you money.

Here are some money saving tips. You can print these tips out at: money-saving tips for local moves:

1. BE ORGANIZED AND READY TO MOVE:
   Having all packing done and all furniture items totally cleared of knick-knacks and other small items, as well as having a clear pathway from the door to all areas of the house, will make your move go more quickly and save you money.
2. DO YOUR OWN PACKING:
   We have available at reasonable prices a full stock of all packing materials you will need. (We will refund 30% of the purchase price when you return purchased material after completion of the move).We offer free advice on packing. Please see our separate Packing Tips handout  or give us a call.
3. DO SOME OF YOUR OWN PACKING:
   Pack most of your belongings yourself but have our professional packers pack your valuable breakables and other fragile items that are difficult to pack.
4. DISCONNECT/RECONNECT YOUR APPLIANCES.
   Disconnecting and reconnecting of washers, dryers and refrigerator ice-makers can be time-consuming and doing this yourself will save you money.
5. DISASSEMBLE/REASSEMBLE FURNITURE ITEMS.
   Certain items must be disassembled before being moved. For example: beds must be taken apart, tops must be disconnected from two part hutches and mirrors must be removed from dressers. Doing this yourself will save money.
6. CENTRALIZE CARTONS.
   At the pickup boxes centralized in the garage or other central location near the door can be moved into the moving van more quickly than boxes scattered throughout the house. Ideally, boxes should be placed in stacks of similar sized boxes four to five feet high so that they can be readily dollied from the house to the moving van.At delivery each box can be placed in its specific room or all boxes can be placed in a central location. Placing boxes in a central location saves time and money, particularly when that location is the garage.
7. MOVE SMALL ITEMS BY YOURSELF.
   Boxes and many smaller items such as lamps, mirrors, wall hangings, pictures andplants are time-consuming to move, can often be moved in a pickup truck or even a car and do not necessarily require the special equipment of a moving company. One way to save a substantial amount of money is to move these smaller items yourself and have us move your major furniture only.

Started in 1981, family owned and operated, Golden Eagle Moving Services has an established history and track record of providing personal, quality services to families and businesses for more than 30 years. Only courteous, Movers handle your move on time and in uniform and our secure storage facilities keep your belongings safe, clean and dry.

An agent for United Van Lines, the industry leader and America’s largest mover of household goods, Golden Eagle Moving Services is widely recognized as one of the premier moving companies in Southern California. Through our numerous industry awards, we have been repeatedly recognized as one of the top agents for America’s number-one van line.

1. If possible, schedule your move for the middle of the month and avoid the summer months. The months of May-September and the first and last weeks of every month are busier.
2. Arrange for a moving-cost estimate appointment 30 to 45 days before your scheduled move date (45-60 days if you are moving during the summer).
3. Before our move consultant arrives to perform your estimate, decide what you will be moving and discarding. Make sure to show our representative everything, including basements, sheds, attics, garages and mini-storage facilities.
4. If you plan to pack yourself, start collecting suitable packing materials early in the process. All cartons must be closed and taped on both top and bottom ends.
5. Set realistic goals and deadlines to ensure that all packing is completed before our movers arrive on your scheduled day.
6. Protect yourself and our movers by disposing flammables, such as fireworks, cleaning fluids, matches and aerosol cans. Drain fuel from your power mower and other machinery, and discard partly used cans of oil, paint, bleach or any substance that could leak. Be sure the water is emptied from your steam iron.
7. Obtain a written appraisal of antique items to verify their value. Avoid waxing or oiling wooden furniture before moving because some products may soften the wood, making it vulnerable to imprinting from furniture pads.
8. Notify the U.S. Postal Service that you will be moving. Provide a forwarding address (temporary or permanent).
9. If you are moving at your company’s request, find out what portion of your relocation expenses will be paid by the employer. If all or a portion of the cost of your move is to be billed to your company, make sure that appropriate arrangements are made with us prior to the move.  We will be happy to invoice as long as your company provides a purchase order or letter of authorization and passes a credit check.
10. Make sure you understand valuation and the options available for your move and make a choice as to the coverage you want.
11. You, or a designated representative, must be available to Golden Eagle’s movers during packing, loading and delivery. It is your responsibility to do a complete walk-through of your former home, checking all drawers, cabinets, crawl spaces and closets to be sure that nothing is left behind.
12. Assist our movers by removing all fixtures that are secured to your walls, including pictures, posters, curtain rods, bookcases, shelves, coffee makers, microwaves or can openers.
13. Golden Eagle Moving Services strongly recommends removing all items from refrigerators and freezers. Defrost and dry each item at least 24 to 48 hours in advance. Wipe your appliances with a dry cloth. Then, leave baking soda or a bag of charcoal in each compartment to absorb any lingering odors or moisture.
14. Remove all valuables and personal items that you typically carry with you while travelling. Place such items in a secure location, as we are liable for these items only under certain, very specific condition.  Such items include but are not limited to:
    • Jewelry
    • Coin and stamp collections
    • Computer programs
    • Precious or semiprecious stones and gems
    • Rare collectibles
    • Personal or rare documents and manuscripts
    • Purses
    • Wallets
    • Suitcases
15. Twenty-four hours in advance of your move, unplug all electronic equipment: television sets, home computers, stereos, etc. Doing so ensures these devices will be at room temperature on moving day. Moving electronic equipment in which heat is still retained could cause internal damage.
16. Back up essential computer data; determine if computers require any special servicing for transit; and remove CDs, DVDs and disks from players, recording devices and computers.
17. Leave your utilities and telephone(s) connected until the day after Golden Eagle’s Moversare scheduled to load. It is best to be sure electricity, water and telecommunications are still available on moving day.

Golden Eagle Moving Services is fully prepared to provide you with a full-service move including all packing and/or unpacking of boxes. We recognize, however, that each move is different, that different people have different needs and budgets and that you may wish to do all or part of the packing yourself.

We have available at reasonable prices a full stock of all packing materials you will need and we will refund 30% of the purchase price when you return purchased material after you have used it.  We also frequently have in stock used cartons at ½ price of new cartons.

To help you with packing when you decide to pack yourself, we offer the following tips.  These tips are in our documents section and can be printed out: packing tips

1. PLAN AHEAD TO OBTAIN NECESSARY CARTONS: We can sell you any cartons you might need in addition to other packing material such as paper and tape. You might save a substantial amount of money, however, by obtaining cartons from other sources such as friends who have recently moved and/or stores. Starting to collect cartons a month or two prior to your move will make it possible to obtain enough cartons.
2. SELECT THE PROPER SIZE AND TYPE OF CARTON: Heavy items such as books, record albums, canned food, etc. should be put in smaller cartons. Some items such as large pictures, mirrors, glass tops and shelves, clocks and mattresses may require special cartons, which we can provide.
3. PACKING OF SOME ITEMS IS OPTIONAL ON LOCAL MOVES: When you are moving locally some items do not necessarily need to be packed. Items such as floor lamps, mirrors, large pictures and mattresses can usually be transported safely for short distances without packing. Generally, these items should be packed for long-distance moves and for moves into storage. Lamp shades must be packed if they are going on the moving van.
4. PACK ONE ROOM AT A TIME: Packing can appear to be an insurmountable task when viewed from the perspective of the entire house. Packing one room at a time (and staying with that room until it is fully packed) has the effect of dividing the overall task into several smaller and more manageable tasks. This approach also makes it possible to set realistic goals, i.e. pack the dining room today, the garage tomorrow, etc.
5. TAPE THE BOTTOM OF CARTONS: Taping the bottom of cartons before filling them prevents the contents from spilling out the bottom during the move.
6. HEAVY ITEMS ON THE BOTTOM/LIGHT ITEMS ON TOP: In each carton the heavier items should be placed at the bottom and lighter items on top to prevent damage.
7. USE A LOT OF PAPER: All breakable items should be wrapped individually in paper. Paper should be used to cushion the bottom, sides and top of cartons. Paper should also be placed between highly fragile and breakable items to prevent them from rubbing together.
8. PLACE BREAKABLES CORRECTLY IN CARTON: Plates should be stacked vertically as if in a dish drain; glasses and stemware should be placed in an upright position. Again, use plenty of paper on all fragile and breakable items.
9. CORRECTLY FILL CARTONS: Fill all cartons to the top without overfilling. Cartons with items sticking over the top cannot be properly closed or stacked; cartons that are under filled tend to crush when stacked. Always make sure each carton is filled totally to the top before closing. As small space at the top can be filled with paper, a towel, a blanket or other similar item.
10. CLOSE CARTON AND SEAL SHUT WITH TAPE: Cartons should be closed and sealed with tape to prevent damage and make stacking easier.
11. LABEL EACH CARTON: Use a felt pen to clearly label each carton with its general contents and the room it is to be placed in at destination. Label on the side of each carton rather than on the top so that cartons in stacks can be identified.  If a carton contains fragile items the word “fragile” should be written on the carton and an arrow drawn to show which end must be kept up.
12. STACK CARTONS: Time will be saved on your move if you arrange cartons in stacks of similar sized cartons four to five feet high. This enables the cartons to be easily dollied from the house to the moving van.We are always willing to offer free advice regarding the best way to pack various items.Always feel free to call or e-mail our office if you need help with packing or have specific questions.

Items of extraordinary value, such as jewelry, money, antiques and stamp collections, can be included in your shipment, provided you notify us of these items before packing or moving day.  However, we strongly recommend that you carry irreplaceable and expensive articles with you, or make other arrangements for their transport.

In the moving industry, items worth more than $100 per pound are considered to be articles of “extraordinary” value. To be assured that a claim involving these articles is not limited to minimal liability, complete and sign the High-Value Inventory Form and sign the “Extraordinary (Unusual) Value Article Declaration” box on the “Bill of Lading.” If no articles of extraordinary value are included in your shipment, simply write “None” on the form, and sign it. If you have questions about moveable objects, download our list of prohibited items.

Golden Eagle Moving Services handles moves to these U.S. states essentially like international relocation, except there are no customs regulations. Hawaii prohibits importation of certain items, and it requires a long, expensive quarantine period for animals and household pets. Please see our information above regarding international moves.