Did you know that Moving tasks have some of the highest take-home rates of any category on Taskrabbit? If you’re interested in adding the Help Moving, Truck-Assisted Help Moving, or Full-Service Help Moving skills to your Tasker profile, check out these important tips from top Taskers to help you get started!
Taskrabbit’s Different Moving Skills
You might wonder what differentiates the Help Moving, Truck-Assisted Help Moving, and Full Service Help Moving skills. A client who books a Help Moving task won’t require a large vehicle and may need just a few hours of your time or a straightforward move out/move in. A client who books a Truck-Assisted Help Moving task will have enough items to require the use of a large moving vehicle, which you’ll need to provide. Finally, a client who books a Full Service Help Moving task can expect Taskers not just to have a large moving vehicle but also to perform end-to-end service, including furniture disassembly, packing, moving, unpacking, and furniture reassembly. For the latter two skills, task scope will be larger and may take more than one day.
What’s the difference between Help Moving, Truck-Assisted Help Moving, and Full Service Help Moving?
| Task invitation includes: | Help Moving | Truck-Assisted Help Moving | Full Service Help Moving |
| Move boxes and furniture from one location to another | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pack and unpack boxes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Requires large moving vehicle | No | Yes | Yes |
| Disassemble furniture before the move | No | No | Yes |
| Assemble furniture after the move | No | No | Yes |
Visit our article on packing and unpacking for additional guidance from top Taskers!
The below information is intended to help any Tasker who plans to do moving-related tasks.
Knowledge & Skills
- It will help you to have prior moving experience or skills, including the ability to lift and shift heavy items, carry items up and down stairs, load vehicles, and be detail-oriented.
- Use logic when packing moving vehicles; for example, don’t stack heavy items on top of light items.
- If you have a system for labeling that can help you and your clients feel organized, such as color coding or numbering boxes and inventorying items on a clipboard, this is the kind of workmanship that will lead to client referrals!
- Be respectful—treat your client’s belongings as you would your own—and recognize that this may be an emotional experience for your client.
Skills & Experience Description Tips
- State how much weight you are able to lift.
- If you’re doing Truck-Assisted Help Moving or Full-Service Help Moving tasks, state what type of large vehicle you have. Remove all mentions of extra vehicle fees, as these must be incorporated into your hourly rate to comply with our policy.
- Avoid stating minimum hours, because clients may be choosing to hire you rather than a different moving service for the very reason that Taskers can be more flexible on time.
Client Communication
While it will always serve you well to prioritize client communication, this is especially true in the Moving category. Not only are clients busy during a move, but they’re also trusting you to handle and transport their possessions and support them through what might be an emotional experience.
Setting expectations in advance with your client is the secret sauce for moving tasks.
Consider these sample scoping questions:
- Where are you moving from? Where are you moving to?
- What is your estimated start time and end time?
- How large are your items? Is this a two-person task? Have you hired any other Taskers to help?
- Are there any stairs I’ll have to navigate? Is there an elevator?
- Are you looking for help packing and unpacking, or with disassembling and reassembling your furniture? (If yes, you can suggest the client hire you in the Full Service Help Moving category.)
- Do you live in an apartment building that requires a Certificate of Insurance?
If your client’s apartment building requires a Certificate of Insurance (COI) before permitting a moving task, click here.
In addition to properly scoping a moving task, keep your client updated throughout the process so they can rest assured that their belongings are in good hands.
Must-Have Equipment
To make the move successful, you’re also going to want certain tools and equipment on hand. Below are some must-haves:
- Furniture dolly: This will be the best investment you make in the Moving category. A dolly will enable you to move large, bulky, and heavy items for your clients.
- Ratchet straps: Use these to make sure all furniture is securely placed in the moving truck and on the dolly.
- Moving blankets: Use these to wrap furniture, dressers, TVs, and more.
- Moving gloves: Wear specialty gloves to get a better grip on furniture and to prevent injury.
Nice-To-Have Equipment
In addition to the “must-have” equipment, top Moving Taskers bring a variation of the following supplies:
- Stair climbing dolly: This tool can be used to move large pieces of furniture up or down stairs easily.
- Pickup Truck: Having a truck is extremely useful to be successful in the Moving category, especially in large cities where most people do not own their own trucks. Note that a larger vehicle is required for Truck-Assisted Help Moving and Full Service Help Moving.
- Tool kit: Bringing along basic tools to help disassemble furniture is an easy way to “wow” clients. Taking legs off of couches and tables will make clearing doorways much easier!
- Measuring tape: You can measure the dimensions of the doorway/hallways prior to lifting furniture to know what will and will not fit.
- Box cutter: This can be a useful tool, particularly when unloading furniture. Use it to cut through cardboard, plastic wrap, etc. Just be careful not to cut into any of the items you have moved!
- Tarps: These are incredibly useful to keep furniture dry if you’re moving in the rain.
- Plastic Wrap: This is a multifunctional tool that can be used to wrap dressers and prevent drawers from opening while moving.
Did you know? Taskrabbit offers a number of categories that support clients through moving. Check out our blog post on other categories you can add to your profile that represent various stages of the moving process, such as Room Measurement, Interior Design, Smart Home Installation, and more!
