Gift for those that help us move

[All American]

In my neighborhood, people usually buy pizza or something as a way to say thank you. Also, some cold lemonade or water is always appreciated.

 

[Chelley00]

Please remember that not everyone can afford movers.


Providing a meal is a great idea. Muffins, coffee, juice, fruit for breakfast. Sandwich platters, chips, drinks, cookies for lunch. Simple, and breakfast can be set out at the old house and lunch at the new one.

Send a thank you card after.

 

[prncess674]

Please remember that not everyone can afford movers.

Well the OP has been to WDW and stayed onsite 5 times in the last two years, per her signature. I am assuming hiring movers is in her budget.

 

[si-am]

Well the OP has been to WDW and stayed onsite 5 times in the last two years, per her signature. I am assuming hiring movers is in her budget.

Most people also factor moving costs into the costs of buying a home/relocating.

 

[Jenny-momof3]

Around here...we all help out when someone is moving. I honestly don't know a single person who hired a moving company.

First and foremost....please reimburse people who are offering up their trucks and SUV's for gas. We have a big Hemi truck and have helped move soo much stuff over the years. But it's a major gas hog! And only once has someone offered to fill the tank for us. To help my sister in law move we spent over $200 in gas alone! I have to admit that left a bit of a sour taste.

Other than that...food and snacks the day of the move is always greatly appreciated. And making sure everything is ready to go and labeled. Weve done more than our fair share of packing for people that didn't have things ready.

 

[sk!mom]

Hire movers. Having a few friends over to assist with small things is acceptable, but a house full is rude. Unless you are 20 yrs old and moving from the dorm to your first apartment you don't ask friends to move a house full of stuff.

This!

At this time in my life most of my friends have back pain, bad knees, etc... and wouldn't feel up to heavy lifting either. If you must have friends and family do it. Then definitely have bagels, donuts, breakfast burritos on hand in the AM, sub sand. at lunch, and then pizza and beer when you finish. I would then follow up with thank you cards with restaurant gift cards inside.

My 86 year old grandfather just moved 600 miles to be back closer to family. He paid two of our young (20's) family members to drive to where he was, help him empty his house, pack a truck with what he wanted for his new much smaller home, and drive the truck back. They were willing to help hm without pay but he wouldn't hear of it and insisted on paying them. We, more middle aged family members, were scouting out moving companies as we weren't up for all that heavy lifting at this stage of life. He didn't like the idea of strangers touching his stuff, though.

 

[fletchers5]

My husband and I are the local movers for friends...seems like we are always moving someone....we just moved two friends within the last year. The last one was in October...my husband ended up with a hernia....this cost us $400.00 with copay's and doctors visits and a week off of work. We are in are upper 40's...I told my husband that is it....no more helping people move...especially the big stuff...don't mind helping with little stuff.

 

[disney*mom*82]

First of all thank you for all the input here. I most defiently planned on preparing food while they helped and would like to invite them all over either later that day or the following weekend for a nicer meal. I was thinking of also giving them gift cards, also thought of a little basket with snacks/BBQ sauces and spices, etc.

As far as hiring a moving company goes, that is nothing we have or would think of. No, we are not 20 anymore, I am 28, DH is 30, we have several of our friends helping, we have not asked one single person to help, our friends have asked us over and over our move date so they can help, thats just what people around here do. We like to help out our friends, even if it means taking time from one day of our precious weekends. We are starting the smaller moving a week before the "big move" day and plan to have most of the boxes and smaller items moved. When we have everyone comming to help us, we are renting the largest U Haul that they have available, along with dollys, etc. We do label everything very clearly and will have everything ready. We are not moving too crazy far, we live just outside of town and are moving to the next closest town, maybe a 15 minute drive. And yes Prncess-we have been to WDW 5 times in the past 2 yrs or so, and yes, we are even professionals ourselves, both teachers, sure we would have money to hire movers, but we are from a small rural area and I honestly dont even know of a moving company around here. We do not expect people to help us, but are happy to have their help and will be showing our gratitude to them.

Again, thanks for the replies, all I was asking for was gift ideas, not moving ideas, I can handle that!

 

[mjkacmom]

Maybe this is regional? Around here, friends would be insulted/offended if people paid good money for movers when friends and their trucks etc are free....

Pizza and beer at the end of the day is the norm here....plus cold non-alcoholic drinks and food throughout the day for all helpers. Or coffee/hot chocolate/tea if it's nasty out...maybe some chili or soup?

Maybe it's regional - I can't imagine being over the age of 25, and asking people to help you move, trucks or no trucks. Most would probably offer up $ to help the movers! Nobody has any free time. Now, sometimes one will ask for help moving a large piece of furniture. Honestly, I don't know of a single person who has asked for moving help from anyone in close to 20 years (actually, that's not true - my IL's asked for help 15 years ago, and we helped, but we were moving too, so didn't help as much as they wanted - and we never asked anyone for help).

 

[Wilsonfamily4]

We have a circle of friends that always help each other move. I think we would all feel bad if someone tried to pay us. But there is always drinks offered and when moving is done there is always plenty of pizza.

I do agree with others about making sure you are ready. Once, and only once so far, a family pretty much had us packing and moving. That is annoying. Plus we were going under beds and in areas that can get dirty and dusty. YUCK.

We are moving next month, about 8 minutes away, and I plan on being completely packed. They will just be grabbing boxes and furniture. My dad is bringing his trailer so will be paying for his gas. It doesn't actually take that long to move a family if they are prepared.

Because of these friends we do not factor in moving costs as a previous poster stated. I also don't think it is fair to say that a family went on vacation so they can pay for a moving company. I always think this is silly when I people mention this, and it is all over the DISboards.

 

[3goofyboys]

Hire movers. Having a few friends over to assist with small things is acceptable, but a house full is rude. Unless you are 20 yrs old and moving from the dorm to your first apartment you don't ask friends to move a house full of stuff.

I agree, it must be a regional thing (we're in the west and there is a "chip in and get it done" attitude around here, we're very community oriented as a rule). I have helped countless people move and when we move people help us. Isn't spending time with your friends and family what those "precious weekends" are for? If someone doesn't want to help, they don't have to.


OP: I agree with the poster with the poster who said have everything ready. Not that you would do this, but there is nothing more frustrating to me than to walk into a house ready to be "moved" and find out that the house hasn't even been packed. I'll help you move, I do not want to help pack your underwear drawer or under your bathroom sink. I would just do food and maybe some $5 starbucks cards. We're getting ready to move soon and this thread has been very helpful!

 

[disney*mom*82]

Everything will be ready...we are home with a snow day that may turn into a snow week...I told DH that God works in funny ways! We now have several ful days just for packing, hoping not to lose power though.

 

[3goofyboys]

Everything will be ready...we are home with a snow day that may turn into a snow week...I told DH that God works in funny ways! We now have several ful days just for packing, hoping not to lose power though.

Good luck with the move!

 

[ceecee]

Hire movers. Having a few friends over to assist with small things is acceptable, but a house full is rude. Unless you are 20 yrs old and moving from the dorm to your first apartment you don't ask friends to move a house full of stuff.

I agree, we've done it both ways and hiring someone was so much easier, faster and safer on the furniture. We have also helped friends moved and it has been a nightmare, we would never have told them however. One had a three story townhouse on a steep hill and we moved them 30 minutes away. Started at 8:00 am and ended at 11:30 pm! They had chips, pretzels and beer (we don't drink) and then for dinner they ordered in pizza. We were starved when we left, but almost too tried to eat. That being said, once our friends reached a certain age most hired movers.

 

[Crystal0608]

I just moved end of last year and it was $15/hr x's 4hrs times 4 helpers, so $240 labor plus a 24ft rental truck. I also provided soda, water, & cookies.

 

[sk!mom]

My husband and I are the local movers for friends...seems like we are always moving someone....we just moved two friends within the last year. The last one was in October...my husband ended up with a hernia....this cost us $400.00 with copay's and doctors visits and a week off of work. We are in are upper 40's...I told my husband that is it....no more helping people move...especially the big stuff...don't mind helping with little stuff.

See that's exactly where we are. My DH is a lifelong weightlifter- in the gym for at least an hour every day. He looks like a guy who can handle the heavy lifting. However, in reality, he's an almost 50 year old accountant. As he likes to say, "these muscles are purely recreational."

He, also, happens to drive a truck so people ask. After an injured back from helping to move props for Nutcracker 2010 followed by a bad case of bursitis in his elbow from moving a desk at work, he's had to start telling people that he just can't help out. He's a helpful guy who actually is a bit depressed by the fact that age is starting to take a bit of a toll.

 

[2disneyboys]

we have helped lots of friends and family move and will continue to as long as we are able. However, if we can't or don't want to then we say no... no one can "take advantage of you" if you don't let them

With that said, having things packed & labled (which you OP said you will) is the BEST gift. Gas gift cards are always nice to help cover any gas costs should they need to drive for you (sounds like they won't have to but you never know) of course, food and snacks and drinks available is another big one. mail them a thank card... this is so old fashioned, but I don't know anyone who has rec'd a thank you card in the mail and it didn't make them feel nice.

as far as an actual gift... I think it's a nice thought but I don't think people would expect a gift in addition to the items mentioned above. do they have kids? maybe an afternoon/night of babysitting and a gift card to a restaurant?

maybe a big popcorn basket with a $5 movie gift card and some small movie type snacks would be a nice gesture... you can put a note in it about kicking back and relaxing after all the hard work of moving us or something... I do like the basket w/ the grilling stuff ideals... thats a good one too. I have never gotten a "gift" for helping someone move (other than being fed all day and my gas taken care of) and I don't recall ever expecting a gift. Its a nice gesture to show people how much you appreciate thier help.

 

[disney*mom*82]

thank you for the popcorn idea, that may be more suitable for this time of year. I think I may do popcorn bucket with movie gift card, candy and a pizza certificate.

I really hope our weather is better by then though. We have 1/4 inch of ice now and should get another 1/2 to 1 inch now followed by 8-20 inches of snow. I was really hoping for an early spring! If it is too nasty we may have to push back the big move by a week. I should mention we are not taking a lot of our furniture, we are buying new, so that helps.

 

[dizkids]

I also don't think it is fair to say that a family went on vacation so they can pay for a moving company. I always think this is silly when I people mention this, and it is all over the DISboards.

Agree!

But, i would never tell the OP what to do except offer personal opinion like everyone else. I myself would hire movers. I have done it both ways. I found that even when we we had friends i still felt the need to pay them, but thats me. If OP has back problems well then i so will her friends. However, it was stated that she is not taking all the furniture so thats a blessing for her friends.

As for a gift. I would suggest supplying them all the food and drinks needed to keep them energized during the move and thanking them with a giff card to go out to dinner.

 

[disney*mom*82]

If OP has back problems well then i so will her friends..

I dont know what that mean? My back problems are nothing related to moving, I have scoliosis, spina bifida occulta, and extra disc, 4 extra bones that join my spine to my tailbone, my tailbone sits 1.5 inches higher than norm due to the fused bones, and more. Im not trying to get a debate on here nor am I asking about hiring movers. Our friends that have offered their assistance, are the only ones helping us, and that is more than enough. We dont live in a huge house and we do not have a ton of huge pieces that need moved. I was just trying to get good ideas for some small gifts to give these guys that will help us out. I do thank those that have given some good ideas and am still open to ideas. I did not expect this thread to turn into one where people are questioning my way of moving, my vacations, health, professionalism, etc.