Moving Experience: Jana’s Move with Mayzlin Relocation

Small moves might sound like a cinch to pull off, but as new Ohio resident Jana will tell you, it still takes a lot of planning to pull off a one-bedroom move. After a bad previous moving experience, Jana knew how important it was to find a quality full-service mover.

After scouring the internet for a few days, she ultimately chose Mayzlin Relocation because of their stellar reviews and world-class customer service.

So, how did Mayzlin stack up for her interstate move? In exchange for a moving stipend of $500, Jana shared her honest experience with the moveBuddha Better Moves Project.

In this review, Jana shares how she found a mover, what it was like working with Mayzlin, and what she would do differently for her next move.

Move day takeaways for Mayzlin Relocation customers

• Communication: Jana had only good things to say about Mayzlin’s communication. They were reassuring, professional, and there for her every step of the way.
• Pricing accuracy and transparency: Mayzlin quoted Jana $2,800 and charged her $2,900 because she needed extra moving supplies, which she admits was her oversight. She was very pleased with Mayzlin’s reasonable price, transparency, and affordability.
• Professionalism: Mayzlin’s moving crew was the peak of professionalism, taking great care of Jana’s items and going the extra mile.
• Timeliness: Mayzlin delivered Jana’s items on day five of a six-day window, which is fast. Jana wanted her items more quickly, though, so this is the only fault she could find with Mayzlin’s service (which we would say is still impressive!).
• Loss and damage: Mayzlin took great care of Jana’s items. Fragile items and a large, expensive painting all arrived in pristine condition thanks to their thoughtful packing, loading, and handling.
• Would Jana use Mayzlin again? Absolutely! Jana couldn’t believe the process went so smoothly and would recommend Mayzlin to anybody.

Jana needed help moving from Hamden, CT, to New Albany, OH

Jana snagged herself a new job in Ohio that required an interstate move. Although she only needed to move the contents of a one-bedroom apartment, a previous nightmare move made her nervous about this relocation.

Not only that, but Jana had a large, expensive painting that needed special packaging. She wanted to find a mover who would take great care of her belongings, communicate with her proactively, and be on time.

Jana’s move at a glance

Jana got quotes from two full-service movers

Jana started planning her move two months ahead of starting her new job. She started her search where 99% of all moveBuddha Better Moves Project participants start: Google.

She checked company reviews, but felt frustrated that most reviews were negative. With so many negative reviews out there, she struggled to find honest experiences. Then she found the moveBuddha site. Jana liked that she saw the good and bad of each customer’s move, which gave her a more balanced, fair view of each moving company.

Thanks to moveBuddha, Jana was able to narrow down her search within just two days. She requested quotes from Mayzlin Relocation and American Van Lines.

Mayzlin called Jana within seconds, which impressed her. She got a quote instantly on the phone. American Van Lines followed up later, but Jana wasn’t impressed by their pushy salesperson, so she passed on their services. Mayzlin was the cheaper option, anyway.

Jana chose Mayzlin for their affordability and quality service

Jana chose Mayzlin because their reviews noted their quality service. They also made a great first impression by calling her so quickly and giving her a quote over the phone. It didn’t hurt that their quote was exactly what Jana expected to pay for the move.

Mayzlin’s team did such a great job during the quoting call that she immediately felt comfortable with them. Mayzlin followed up with her, and she signed a contract to kick off the process.

She purchased packing materials from Mayzlin and full-service loading, transportation, and unloading. They charged her an additional fee for using the stairs and elevator, which is common. Mayzlin offered Jana packing services, extra insurance, and expedited delivery, but she didn’t take them up on it.

Mayzlin called her back a few days later to walk through the process. They called her a few weeks later to follow up again, confirming her belongings, building access, and documentation. They even emailed her notes about each phone call!

To prepare for the move, Mayzlin told Jana to pack fragile goods with bubble wrap and to put her mattress in a plastic cover. Jana followed their directions and also made sure to label all boxes with her new address—just in case.

Moving day was quick and easy

Mayzlin called Jana 48 hours before the move to confirm parking and loading information. They gave her a broad arrival window of 10 am to 1 pm, which they narrowed to 11 to 11:30 during a call the next day.

Mayzlin Relocation arrived right on time at 11:15 am. Their speed and efficiency impressed Jana. In fact, they inspected her packing job and helped her repack a few items that didn’t meet their standards.

She appreciated that they cared so much about her stuff and took extra steps to ensure nothing broke. Mayzlin did charge Jana $100 for the extra moving supplies, but she admits this was her oversight (and so-so packing job), so she didn’t mind.

Jana also appreciates how Mayzlin handled packing her painting. She watched as they carefully packed the art in a specialty box and wrapped it in bubble wrap and blankets.

In total, it took just under three hours to finish the job. Jana paid a $780 deposit to book the move and gave the movers an additional $1,000 cash on moving day. The remaining $1,120 would be due on delivery.

When Mayzlin left, the movers gave her their names and a six-day delivery window.

Delivery went smooth as could be

Mayzlin stayed in close contact with Jana while transporting her items. She was antsy for her stuff to arrive quickly since she was starting her new job soon. Mayzlin patiently gave her updates and called her with updated delivery information when they had it.

It took five days for Jana’s items to arrive in her new home in Ohio. Jana rates Mayzlin at a 4/5 for timeliness because of this, but we don’t think that’s entirely fair. A six-day window is pretty fast for an interstate move, and they arrived a day earlier than expected.

Most moving company contracts stipulate a 30-day arrival window, so five days is really good! But hey, Jana was about to start a new job and didn’t want to deal with movers simultaneously, so we get why she was itching to finish the move ASAP.

Mayzlin unloaded all the items in Jana’s new apartment, unwrapped everything, and placed boxes in the correct rooms. Everything arrived in pristine condition, including Jana’s prized artwork.

Mayzlin’s communication and transparency impressed Jana. They stayed in contact with her about delivery windows and always called her ahead of time. They communicated about extra charges and explained why they were necessary.

Mayzlin quoted Jana $2,800, and the move cost just $2,900, which is awesome. She couldn’t have been more thrilled with the result and that the move came in under budget.

Our take on the move

Mayzlin Relocation gave Jana a fairytale move. They did so many things right, from communicating with her to treating her items with care.

Jana also did a tremendous job staying engaged and involved in the moving process. Some customers hide in another room or run errands while the movers work. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it’s best to be present with your movers. That’s the best way to stay empowered and informed about your move. Plus, it gives you a chance to speak up if the movers overlook something.

To be honest, Jana’s expectation for timeliness wasn’t super reasonable. Mayzlin was well within the delivery window they gave her. Some moves can take up to 30 days, so five days is a remarkable feat.

We understand that Jana was stressed about her new job, but if you’re in a situation like hers, moving a little earlier is best. Mayzlin offered Jana expedited delivery, too. It’s an additional fee, but she probably should have taken them up on it to reduce the stress of moving.

Mayzlin’s quote was also on target. It’s not unusual for moving quotes to increase by as much as 20% in some cases, so a $100 difference between the quote and the final price is excellent.

What’s important to note here is when Jana moved. Her January move was during the off-peak season. We hear so many issues from moveBuddha Better Moves Project participants about communication, pricing accuracy, and timeliness—more so during peak season in spring and summer.

Mayzlin is a highly rated company, for sure, but Jana’s decision to move during the wintertime also played in her favor. If you’re flexible on move dates, try to move during off-peak season to enjoy a higher level of service and faster turnaround times.

The verdict

Jana rated her Mayzlin Relocation move as an overall 5/5. Communication was first-rate, they packed her items carefully, they were fast, and Mayzlin’s team was always respectful and professional.

All of Jana’s items arrived safely and on time, which is more than she could have asked for. She realized she’s not the best at packing, though, and wished she hired Mayzlin to handle all the packing.

Nothing surprised Jana during the move, unless you count her surprise at how smoothly the process went. She’s had previous moves that took way longer, cost three times as much, and damaged her items. She couldn’t believe her luck with Mayzlin.

All in all, Jana felt she got great value for the money, especially considering the quality of Mayzlin’s service.

Here’s how Jana rated Mayzlin’s performance on a scale of 1 to 5:

• Communication – 5/5
• Timeliness – 4/5
• Quote accuracy – 5/5
• Overall experience – 5/5

Do you have an upcoming move? Share your moving story with the Better Moves Project to earn a $500 stipend. Sign up now.

Check out these helpful resources before signing off:

• Moving Cost Calculator
• When to Start Packing for a Move
• How to Move on a Small Budget