Moving involves more moving parts than most people expect, from scheduling and packing logistics to customs paperwork on an international relocation or downtime planning for a business moving office. A relocation coordinator exists to manage all of it, so customers can focus on the transition itself rather than the countless details behind it. Therefore, at Able Moving & Storage, every customer is assigned a dedicated relocation coordinator who schedules moving dates, answers questions, and manages logistics from start to finish.
Able Moving & Storage provides residential moving, commercial relocations, and international moves across Reston, VA, and the greater Washington metropolitan area, along with storage solutions for customers who need it. Every service comes with a relocation coordinator attached, giving each customer a single point of contact who understands their move from the first estimate through final delivery. To request your free moving quote, call (703) 330-3772 today!
Below, our relocation coordinators Anni, Helena, Matt, Cathy, Mandy, and CJ discuss the role of a relocation coordinator in your upcoming move:
How Our Relocation Coordinators Help Residential Customers
Q: What’s one thing customers are often surprised that you help with?
A (Anni Todd): “I think customers are most surprised by how much the crew helps with logistics and space planning. Help the customer map out a room and place items where they look best.”
Q: What’s one mistake people commonly make before a move, and how can they avoid it?
A (Anni Todd): “I think one mistake is not getting rid of stuff; declutter so you’re not moving everything you will eventually get rid of later down the road.”
Q: What is a common question you receive from customers?
A (Matt Miles): “Can I receive a quote? This is usually the initial conversation that opens the door to a potential customer. This is the opportunity for us to explain some of our services, while introducing them to their amazing estimator.”
How Our Relocation Coordinators Support Commercial Relocations
Q: What do you think is the secret to a “zero-workdays-lost” objective?
A (CJ Weverink): “Communication. You have to keep up with communication. Email or call. It keeps the momentum going and keeps things from slipping through the cracks. Communication is truly the key to all relationships.”
Q: What’s one thing you have noticed that often gets overlooked when planning a relocation?
A (CJ Weverink): “One of the most commonly overlooked aspects of a business relocation is how items are packed and labeled. It may seem as simple as putting a ‘Move’ label on a box, but in a corporate environment, an organized labeling system is essential. Proper labeling helps ensure that furniture, equipment, files, and supplies are delivered to the correct locations, making the unpacking process much more efficient.”
Q: What advice would you give to a business about their relocation, including storage needs and handling?
A (Mandy Leung): “Proper labeling of items that are being moved, stored, or disposed of. We do try to group items together (ex. All items from ‘Red Room’) to the best of our ability, but when organizing storage in our racks this is not always possible. Ensuring that all ‘Red Room’ items are properly labeled ensures that those items make it to the right place when it comes time to deliver your storage to the new office.”
How Our Relocation Coordinators Manage International Moves
Q: What’s the main difference customers need to know when coordinating an international move versus a domestic move?
A (Helena Major): “The biggest difference is the customs clearance process in both the origin and destination countries. Many countries have strict import requirements and require extensive documentation. Additionally, all vehicles leaving the United States must go through export clearance to verify they are eligible for export before they can be shipped.”
A (Cathy Powell): “Documentation. Paperwork is a key component with international moves.”
Q: How do you help customers navigate customs and documentation requirements?
A (Helena Major): “I use resources such as IAM and FIDI to provide customers with accurate information about customs requirements. I also work closely with our destination agents to confirm country-specific regulations and encourage direct communication between the customer and the destination agent. This helps customers begin gathering the required documentation early. In my experience, this is one of the most important parts of the process because even a small mistake can result in delays and additional charges from the shipping line.”
A (Cathy Powell): “The US Customs forms can be a bit intimidating; I am always happy to walk the client through the forms over the phone.”
Professional Moving Tips from Our Relocation Coordinators
Q: What’s one mistake people commonly make before a move, and how can they avoid it?
A (Matt Miles): “It is important to understand that in moving, you are drudging up memories and lots of valuable items to yourself. Speaking from experience, it can be a time-suck to look through closets, shelves, and drawers at the multiple items we’ve acquired over time. Having our team pack can save lots of time, as well as knowing that your items are packed by people who know what they’re doing.”
A (Helena Major): “One of the biggest mistakes is packing their own belongings. For international moves, it’s essential that our crew packs and loads all items. As the Transportation Service Provider (TSP), Able is responsible for the shipment. If a customer packs items without our knowledge, it could result in fines—especially if prohibited or restricted items are included. We make sure customers understand they should not pack their own boxes. If they do begin organizing items ahead of time, we ask that all boxes remain open so our crew can inspect the contents on moving day.”
A (Cathy Powell): “Not working/planning ahead. Time is money, especially with an international move. My recommendation is to closely work with your coordinator to best prepare as to avoid any unnecessary fees.”
Behind the Scenes of a Successful Move
Q: What happens “behind the scenes” that you share with customers, so they feel confident that their home belongings are in good hands?
A (Anni Todd): “We treat everything like it’s our own. Regarding how we wrap and protect the belongings from start to finish.”
A (Matt Miles): “Knowing how long our operations manager has been working magic helps the customers feel like everything will go swimmingly. It’s easy to count on people who have proven time and time again their reliability.”
Memorable Moving Stories from Our Team
Q: What’s been the most unique or interesting move you’ve coordinated?
A (Helena Major): “One of the most interesting moves I coordinated involved transporting armored vehicles for the Department of State. Because the vehicles were too large for standard enclosed containers, we had to arrange for open-top containers and hire a crane service to safely load the vehicles for shipment.”
A (Cathy Powell): “A top executive with an extensive high-priced art collection. Happy to report all went well!”
A (Matt Miles): “Moving someone who has lived in a home for 17+ years. It takes multiple days to pack, load, and deliver that many adventures and memories. Even if the move is only a few miles away, there are a lot of items that have been acquired.”
A (Mandy Leung): “Working with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation has probably been the most personally rewarding for me. On top of that organization being run by the kindest people, I get to feel like I’m supporting a good cause with every move or event that we support. I’ve been lucky enough to attend their in-person events as well, and seeing the impact that we can make on an organization like that is very fulfilling.”
A (CJ Weverink): “WWI Sculptural Maquette! It was such an honor to help with that project, getting it to its permanent home. I love history so I definitely geeked out a little.”
Meet Your Able Moving & Storage Relocation Coordinators
Q: One word customers would use to describe you?
A (Anni Todd): “Communicator.”
A (Matt Miles): “Informative. I try to let them know everything I can to help them with their move and make their transition to a new place as peaceful and successful as possible.”
A (Helena Major): “Helpful.”
A (Cathy Powell): “Helpful.”
A (Mandy Leung): “Adaptable.”
A (CJ Weverink): “Responsive.”
Q: Favorite organizational hack?
A (Anni Todd): “I don’t really have one but just keeping everything neat and in its place.”
A (Matt Miles): “Don’t get caught up on the little things. Make piles and go through them later, but fixating on the little things in a room or desk will make you go absolutely crazy.”
A (Helena Major): “Adobe Acrobat.”
A (Cathy Powell): “Trying to see the whole picture makes for a smoother process. Some might call this overthinking (and they may be right!) but I try to anticipate any hiccups that could possibly occur as to best avoid them.”
A (CJ Weverink): “Labels and Resealable Bags! Whether I’m organizing at home, in the office, or preparing for a trip, these two items are my go-to tools. Labels make it easy to identify where everything belongs, while resealable bags are perfect for keeping items together and preventing them from getting lost.”
A (Mandy Leung): “Adding the specific Project Number for whatever an email is pertaining to at the bottom of my emails. On high-volume email days, this makes it significantly easier to track which project any given email is referring to.”
Need a Moving Office in Reston, VA? Let Able’s Relocation Coordinators Guide the Way
A relocation coordinator’s job is to take the weight of logistics off a customer’s shoulders, whether that move is across town or across the globe. Able Moving & Storage’s team brings that same support to businesses moving their office in Reston, VA, and to every residential, commercial, and international relocation across the region, backed by decades of experience navigating even the most complex moves. To request your free moving quote, call (703) 330-3772 today!