Many moving companies lose jobs because they cannot safely handle specialty items like gym equipment, crating, TVs, cribs, washers, beds, and grandfather clocks. This playbook shows moving company owners how to use third party moving services to protect the customer, reduce claims, and close more jobs.

Follow us to stay ahead of what’s working in the moving industry.

How Moving Companies Can Use Third Party Services to Win More Jobs

Some moving leads are lost before the estimate is finished. The customer has a wall-mounted TV, gym equipment, a crib, a grandfather clock, a pool table, or items that need crating. Your salesperson says, “We do not handle that.” The customer keeps shopping.

Third party moving services help a moving company say yes without taking on work the crew is not trained to do. The goal is simple: protect the customer, protect your company, and make the move easier to sell.

When Should a Moving Company Use a Third Party Service?

Use a third party when the item requires special skill, creates extra liability, or could cause a claim if handled wrong.

Third Party Service Decision Checklist

• Use third party help if the item must be dismantled or rebuilt by someone experienced.
• Use third party help if damage would be expensive. Examples include TVs, pool table slate, grandfather clocks, and custom crating.
• Use third party help if safety is involved. Cribs are a serious example because a bad reassembly can create risk for a child.
• Use third party help if your crew is “not sure.” If the person doing the work cannot confidently protect the item from point A to point B, do not assign it to them.
• Use third party help if the customer expects a full-service move. Saying yes to specialty work can help you avoid losing the job.

Which Specialty Items Should Your Estimators Look For?

Your estimator does not need to be a technician. But they do need to spot items that can slow down the move, create claims, or require a separate vendor.

Estimator Specialty Item Checklist

• Gym equipment: Often best dismantled before the crew arrives so movers can load it quickly.
• Beds: Some customers now expect beds to be taken apart and put back together.
• Wall-mounted TVs: Movers may remove the TV but not the mount, or may need a third party to crate it.
• Cribs: If anything is missing or does not fit correctly during reassembly, leave it apart.
• Grandfather clocks: Harder to service because experienced clock technicians are becoming rare.
• Washers and dryers: Old hoses can leak after reconnecting.
• Pool tables: Slate is expensive and should not be handled casually.
• Photocopiers: For office moves, check if the unit is leased and whether the servicing company should move or reset it.
• Items needing crates: Statues, fragile pieces, and high-value items need exact dimensions.

How Do You Prevent Claims on Simple Reassembly Work?

Many claims come from basic mistakes: bad loading, loose hardware, missing parts, leaking hoses, or reassembling something that should have been left apart.

4 Claim Prevention Rules for Specialty Work

• 1. Do not rebuild unsafe items halfway. If a crib has one missing piece or does not go together correctly, take it back apart so nobody can use it.
• 2. Replace risky washer hoses. If hoses have been connected for years, rust and buildup can cause leaks at the new home. Make the customer aware and consider adding new hoses to the bill.
• 3. Separate all hardware by item. Do not throw parts from five rooms into one box. Bag the bed hardware, dresser hardware, and other parts separately.
• 4. Attach parts safely. If hardware is taped to an item, wrap it in paper first. Do not put sticky tape directly on wood or metal surfaces.

What Information Should Sales Send Before Ordering Crating?

Crating is not a guess. It is three-dimensional work. If your team sends poor measurements, the crate may be too small, too large, too expensive, or useless.

Crating Request Template

• Item name: What is being crated?
• Exact height: Do not say “approximately.”
• Exact width: Measure the full width.
• Exact depth: A photo of the front is not enough.
• Photos: Front, back, sides, and any fragile areas.
• Do not add extra space yourself: Let the crate builder decide how much protection to add.
• Do not reduce the size: A crate that does not fit creates a customer problem and a wasted cost.

How Can a Moving Company Build a Better Third Party Process?

The best third party system is simple for sales, operations, crews, and customers. A1 Movers Services described a model where moving companies send the job details, and the third party provider coordinates technicians across Canada and with partners in the U.S.

Simple Third Party Workflow

• 1. Spot the item during the estimate. Train sales to flag gym equipment, crating, beds, TVs, washers, cribs, clocks, and other specialty items.
• 2. Collect photos and details. For common items, a description may be enough. For specialty items, send photos and exact measurements.
• 3. Schedule before load date when possible. Gym equipment, for example, can be dismantled the day before so the crew is not delayed.
• 4. Confirm service at destination. If the move is going from one city to another, coordinate reassembly or service on the delivery side.
• 5. Keep the moving crew focused. Let movers move. Let specialists handle the items that create liability.

What Mistakes Should Moving Company Owners Avoid?

• Letting unqualified crew members “try it.” If they are unsure, they should not do it.
• Saying no too quickly. You may lose the job when a third party could have solved the problem.
• Waiting until move day. Third party services can often help quickly, but a week or two of notice is better.
• Ignoring old-school skill loss. Many experienced people who handled clocks, crating, and specialty work have retired.
• Not training sales on operations. Salespeople should understand boxes, packing, loading, access issues, and high-risk items.

Quick Win: Fix Your Parts Bag Process Today

In under 30 minutes, create one rule for every crew: hardware from each item gets its own labeled bag. The bags can go in one parts box, but they must be separated by item.

• Example: “Master bed hardware” in one bag.
• Example: “Dresser mirror screws” in another bag.
• Example: “Crib hardware” in a separate bag with extra care.

How to Apply This This Week

• 1. Review your last 10 estimates. Look for jobs where specialty items created risk or caused you to lose confidence.
• 2. Build a specialty item checklist. Add gym equipment, TVs, beds, cribs, washers, clocks, pool tables, photocopiers, and crating.
• 3. Train sales to collect better details. Require photos, exact measurements for crating, and notes about customer expectations.
• 4. Create a local vendor list. Identify who can help with crating, gym equipment, clocks, appliances, and TV services.
• 5. Update your move process. Decide which work your crew can do and which work must be sent to a third party.

To hear the full conversation behind these ideas, watch Why Movers Are Losing Jobs Without Third Party Services and visit the Movified YouTube channel.