General & Pricing FAQs

U.Santini strives to provide the most exemplary moving experience. We take pride in the way our movers treat our customers and their belongings, and we hope you would consider rewarding their efforts. Providing a gratuity is a significant and appreciated gesture. Moving is a demanding task, and your expression of gratitude is highly valued and impactful. The industry standard is 10% – 20%, and is not encompassed within the initial estimate.

While the amount above is a good starting point, some moves are more complex than others. When considering tipping amounts, please consider factors that may contribute to the difficulty of the move, such as:

• The size of the home
• Items that require special care
• Weight of certain items
• Distance and duration of the move
• Multiple flights of stairs

Additionally, if your move requires multiple days of work, please consider tipping our movers daily and individually to reflect the additional time required to complete your move. Our movers operate with care and efficiency and they will certainly appreciate your generosity.

At U.Santini, we are committed to offering competitive pricing and will make every effort to match the rates provided by other moving companies. However, it is important to recognize that the most competitive price does not always equate to the highest quality of service. Our dedication to excellence ensures that you receive not only value for your money but also the superior service and professionalism that define our family business.

U.Santini is pleased to offer a 5% discount on your total moving cost when you choose to pay in cash. This discount is our way of expressing appreciation for your decision to use cash, which allows us to streamline payment processing and pass on the savings to you. The 5% cash discount applies to the total cost of the moving services booked.

For your convenience, we also accept credit card payments. However, please be aware that a 4% surcharge is applied to cover the processing fees associated with credit card transactions. We accept major credit cards, including Visa, MasterCard and American Express.

Understanding Your Rights and Responsibilities With Insured Movers

When moving with us or any other insured movers in NYC, it is crucial to understand your rights and responsibilities regarding mover liability and coverage for your household goods. Here is what you need to know:

Federal Law and Insurance Coverage

Under federal law, moving companies are not allowed to sell moving insurance in NYC. However, they are required to offer Basic Valuation coverage at no extra cost. This basic coverage provides a minimal level of protection for your belongings during the move.

The rate for Basic Valuation is $0.30 per pound per item and is included with your move.

Additional Valuation Options

For those seeking enhanced protection, U.Santini offers Additional Valuation coverage. This optional coverage provides varying levels of protection and liability, allowing you to choose a plan that best suits your needs. Under Federal Law, movers are not required to reimburse customers for any item that exceeds a value of $100 per pound unless the value is explicitly stated by the customer on the shipping documents. All items that are not recorded as meeting this threshold will be subject to the rate of Basic Valuation or Additional Valuation if purchased. If you are seeking to insure an item for more than $25,000, we recommend purchasing 3^rd party insurance. U.Santini endorses and recommends Baker International Insurance Agency (https://www.bakerintl.com/) as our partner.

U.Santini offers two Additional Valuation options:

• $10 per $1,000 of coverage with a $500 deductible (minimum purchase of $100).
• $15 per $1,000 of coverage with a $250 deductible (minimum purchase of $150).

Items and Circumstances Not Covered

Moving companies are not liable for damage to certain items. These include but are not limited to:

1. High-Value Items:

Items of “extraordinary value,” including:

• Jewelry
• Paper currency
• Valuable personal documents (e.g., birth certificates, passports)

These items must be transported by you personally, as they are not covered under our moving insurance.

2. Furniture Made of Press-Board, Particle-Board, or Engineered Wood:

Furniture constructed from these materials (such as Ikea-style furniture) is at higher risk of damage during disassembly and reassembly. As such, it may not be fully protected by our coverage.

3. Self-Packed Boxes:

Items in boxes that you have packed yourself are not covered for damage unless there is clear evidence of mishandling by the mover. This includes visible damage or dents to the outside of the box.

4. Small Parts and Hardware:

Connection parts, screws, nuts, and other small components from furniture that was not disassembled by the mover are not covered. Ensure that these items are properly secured and transported separately if needed.

In addition to the above list, please note the following:

• Santini is also not responsible for damages incurred while items are in storage or transit with other individuals or moving companies.
• Santini does not extend coverage to damages that occur outside the control of the movers, such as earthquakes, fires, floods, and windstorms.

Contact U.Santini With Any Questions or Concerns

Understanding these options will help you make informed decisions and ensure your belongings are properly protected. If you have any questions or need more details about coverage options, feel free to contact us.

When planning your move, it is essential to choose the ideal pricing model. Here at U.Santini, we use the Hourly Quote model, as we feel it offers the most transparency for our customers. We aim to explain the differences here. Below is an overview of both the Hourly and Flat Rate quote models:

Hourly Quote

An Hourly Quote reflects the time our dedicated team spends at your residence. For instance, if our team arrives promptly at 8 AM and has you settled into your new home by 3 PM, you would be billed for a seven hour move. This quote also incorporates travel time and tolls. For example, if you are relocating from Brooklyn to Connecticut, we would account for the additional time required to return to Brooklyn. Unlike Flat Rate moves, our moving team is not beholden to operate within a specific time frame or scope of work. Moving is a complicated process and many aspects can change. Our model allows for flexibility. Additionally, if you have to change the date of your move, our rate and therefore your cost will not change. Flat Rate companies often changer their quotes depending on the day of the move. An Hourly Quote affords transparency. You will know prior to the move:

• Exactly when the movers will arrive
• How many movers will be assisting
• The number of trucks
• An estimate based on the projected time needed to complete the move

You will be charged only once at the end of the day for time it took to complete the move.

Flat Rate Quote

A Flat Rate Quote offers a fixed price based on the specifics of your move, including your desired dates, locations, and a detailed inventory of items.

It is vital to note that Flat Rate pricing structures often appear more inclusive than they are. For example, some Flat Rate services claim that Hourly movers pass on certain time-related costs to the customer, while the Flat Rate service does not. This is misleading, as these same costs are already built into the Flat Rate pricing model, the detailed breakdown of which is not usually shared with the customer. Additional (often high) fees may be incurred if you have more items to move or pack than were initially disclosed to the moving company. You will be required to pay the initial cost upfront and then any additional surcharges at the completion of the move. The “guaranteed price” that was quoted for you will no longer be the price that you pay. If you have fewer items to move than initially disclosed, due to downsizing prior to the move, you will still be charged for the initial, larger estimate.

At U.Santini, we pride ourselves on our pricing transparency. We strive to include the total cost of your move in the hourly rate that we charge. We do not tack on surcharges for moving up and down staircases, utilizing elevators, and issuing certificates of insurance.

We do include a surcharge to compensate for the additional care and attention to detail that certain items require. Please detail these items to your moving coordinator during our personal walkthrough process and we will be happy to note the surcharge amount as part of your quote.

We are open from Monday to Friday, 7:30 AM–5 PM, but feel free to contact us through our contact form anytime. We’ll get back to you ASAP.

Absolutely! We offer various types of insurance to protect your belongings, including a full replacement option. The cost depends on how much your things are worth and the deductible you choose.

It’s a good idea to book your moving company at least 8 weeks before your move. If you’re moving during the holidays or in the summer, it’s best to schedule it 12 weeks ahead. But if your move is between September and May, you can often book movers with just 2 weeks’ notice. The key is to secure your moving crew as soon as you have all the details about your move.

Yes, we do. Along with the necessary boxes and packing materials for your move, we offer various ‘Saver’ packages tailored to the size of your home. If you don’t use all the boxes you purchased, you can return them to our team after the move, and we’ll refund the unused portion.

At U. Santini Moving & Storage Brooklyn, we offer complete storage solutions in climate-controlled units. Our units are monitored 24/7 to keep your belongings safe, whether you need short-term or long-term storage. We even provide storage options for very short durations, including as little as 24 hours.

We include all packing materials such as tape and boxes for your move. Our services cover disassembling and reassembling furniture, loading, transporting, and unloading your items. We offer transparent pricing: an hourly rate with no hidden fees. The following is included in your move at no additional cost:

• Trucks, moving blankets, boxes, and tape.
• Dismounting and careful packing of artwork, TVs, lamps, sculptures, stone and glass objects, and air conditioning units.
• Basic furniture disassembly and reassembly. U.Santini is happy to provide more advanced services for specific items or unique pieces.
• Experienced movers with extensive history of serving the specific needs of New York City residents and their homes.

We recommend starting your pre-move planning at least two to three months in advance. Early planning gives us enough time to effectively organize and tailor the moving plan to suit your needs.

Fragile items always receive special attention. We use high-quality industrial packing materials (bubble wrap, newsprint paper, stretch wrap etc. as appropriate) and techniques to ensure their safety. Each fragile item is labeled and handled with extra care during the move. When handling fine art, our expert movers utilize custom, durable crates and specific packing techniques to ensure the safety of your prized pieces. U.Santini is proud to always use double-walled moving boxes for all moves and custom wood crates tailored to the specific dimensions of select items.

We use pads and protective coverings to safeguard floors, walls, and elevators in both your old and new locations. Our team takes every precaution to prevent any damage during the move.

We use pads and protective coverings to safeguard floors, walls, and elevators in both your old and new locations. Our team takes every precaution to prevent any damage during the move.

We strive to complete your move within the pre-arranged parameters and communicate with you every step of the way. Your dedicated moving coordinator will always contact you in a timely manner to assess next steps related to your move.

Organizing is what we do best! We label all your items and boxes clearly, follow a detailed moving plan to ensure everything is placed where (and how) you want in your new space. Our team of movers handles all the heavy lifting to make your move a breeze.

Yes, we provide basic liability insurance for all moves. We also offer additional coverage options if you prefer.

Santini offers disposal services and can assist with the following:

• Disposal of unwanted items as part of preparing to stage your home to be sold
• Disposal of unwanted items as part of the moving process
• Disposal of unwanted items after your move is complete

Our fee is calculated per cubic foot, including the time required to transport the items to the appropriate disposal facility (or facilities if there are multiple locations).

While we understand the desire (on both sides) to cap the cost of your move with a flate price which is non-negotiable, often times you discover that your “flat rate” suddenly includes EXTRA charges you didn’t expect. This can happen for two reasons:

1. The first is legitimate and has occurred because at the time the estimate was originally created, either you or the moving company did not include ALL of the items to be moved. Hence, the “flat” rate has to be adjusted to cover those items that were left out.
2. The second reason is unacceptable and should be disputed. It means that your mover gave you a “flat rate” price to get the job.

A contractually agreed to rate and pricing structure.

It would appear that if the inventory matches the list, the price can be guaranteed, that is unless exceptions (like weather, etc.) are written into the contract.