Maintaining customer satisfaction is a crucial aspect of any business, but it’s even more important for moving companies that have earned the prestigious Diamond Certified award. For Metropolitan Van & Storage, Inc., the key to achieving and maintaining high levels of customer satisfaction is attending to the individual needs of its clients throughout every step of their moving and storage projects. “Responsiveness is our number one priority—if something isn’t right, we act on it immediately,” says President Dennis Paulley. “Ultimately, we want to be known for providing unparalleled customer service. Our customers know they can always call us and talk to somebody who can take care of them.”
Metropolitan Van & Storage has been providing local, national and international relocation services for residential and commercial clients throughout Northern California since the 1940s. The company takes a full-service approach to moving, offering everything from packing and crating to modular furniture installations. It also provides long-term and in transit storage at three locations in Benicia, Sacramento and Mountain View.
Unlike less experienced moving companies whose lack of organizational skills limit their ability to effectively handle certain aspects of their clients’ relocations, Metropolitan Van & Storage takes a meticulous approach to every job that includes keeping an inventory of all relocated items, recording their pre-move conditions and keeping track of their whereabouts so there’s no confusion once the move is finished. “Our organizational skills also extend to our storage services,” adds Mr. Paulley. “We use a state-of-the-art, Web-based system that lets us quickly access specific boxes, files and documents, all of which are cataloged and stored in a secure warehouse.”
Another distinguishing attribute of Metropolitan Van & Storage is its ability to effectively communicate with its customers throughout the course of their moving projects. “We assign a representative to each job to stay in close contact with the customer and handle all the paperwork involved with the move,” explains Mr. Paulley. “Our customers really appreciate having this point of contact, because they know they’ll always have someone to answer their questions and address their concerns.”

Before hiring a moving company to handle your next relocation, make sure you do the math.

Most long-distance moves are priced by weight, which means it’s important to take stock of your belongings before any work begins. Assessing the size, age and condition of large fixtures and major appliances relative to the cost of moving them can save you a lot of money—often, the cost of moving an older appliance outweighs the benefits of keeping it. “Moving a refrigerator or washer from the West Coast to the East Coast costs about $500, so if those appliances are more than 10 years old, you’re better off donating them and buying new ones after the move is complete,” explains Dennis Paulley, President of Metropolitan Van & Storage, Inc. in Benicia. “It doesn’t make a lot of financial sense to move old appliances, and your moving company should point that out to you.”’
Moving during summer 
Many people take advantage of summer weather and seasonal breaks from school/work to tackle big moves—a practice that coincides with a hike in fuel prices, which inevitably affects the costs of long-distance relocations. The higher cost of fuel during the summer months can increase the price of a move by three to five percent, so consider scheduling your move for another time of year.
Valuables 
If you’re planning to move valuable mirrors, paintings or pictures, make sure you tell your moving company beforehand so they can prepare to provide special care. Wrap small mirrors, pictures, paintings and frames in unprinted newspaper or paper pads (available from most moving companies) and place them on their edges in cartons. Never place printed newspaper directly against paintings—the ink can negatively affect the painted surfaces.