Company can 'Help-U-Move', cheaper

Many graduating seniors may be faced with a problem. It is not finding that one-in-a-million job, but moving to where that one-in-a-million job is.

Understanding that plight, Keith Murray developed a company that helps students get to their destinations at a fraction of the going rate.

Help-U-Move is a moving company designed for the convenience of first-time movers who are trying to get to where they plan to start their new lives -- for a cheaper price.

According to a memo released by Murray, the company is a self-service moving company designed for people moving on a budget and looking for other advantages, such as the moving trucks coming directly to their homes. Murray said it is less expensive than other companies on moves over 200 miles and their territory covers all of the United States and Canada.

- Keith Murray
developed Help-U-Move

Murray said his company is a compromise between the two.

"You do the loading, we drive the distance," he said. "It's a nice way to move."

Murray said his company works well for families as well. He said the average family now owns two cars, which sometimes creates a problem while moving. With employees doing the driving, he said, people can drive their own cars.

Murray said the response to his business has been fantastic. Although the business has only been in operation for three or four months, they receive a dozen calls on weekdays and more than twenty on weekends. He also has extended evening and weekend hours in order to be flexible with others' schedules.

However, some people have found disadvantages in Murray's company.

Unexperienced movers must load and unload their possessions on their own. Some students see this as the producer leaving the consumer with the back-breaking work.

"What is the point if they don't help you load and unload?" said Rachel Cabrera (junior-environmental resource management). "The driving part is easy, it is the loading and unloading that is hard."

But Murray said the self-loading and unloading is focused on the do-it-yourself motif that today's society seems to follow. Many people are doing a lot of work on their own to try to save money.

"I see it as a compromise," he said. "You are not at risk for others damaging your belongings, and I have professional drivers that can get it all safely to your destination no matter what the conditions."

Rabie Daughenbaugh, of United Van Lines on Route 26 North, a full service moving company, said his company's services are more expensive because loading, driving and unloading are all included and performed by professional movers.

"We have professionals who pack and those who stack the truck," he said. "We will even put your things away if you pay for it. That is why full service is more expensive than auxiliary movers."

Daughenbaugh also said a newly graduated college senior would most likely not be able to afford their services, therefore and auxiliary moving company, like Help-U-Move, would be better to use.

One student saw a drawback to customers not moving their own belongings themselves because he likes to take his time when he is moving.

"I probably wouldn't use it, so I wouldn't have to worry about getting all of it done at one time," said Jamie Beadle (senior-kineseology).

Murray said that his company is able to do any job, but suggested to those who are interested or skeptical to do some research.

"Price a full service company and a rental truck company and then compare them to us," he said. "The numbers will speak for themselves."