The company provides extra care when handling expensive and rare items across the U.S. and around the world
Alex Ravich founded Cross Country Moving Company in 2012 after working in the industry for more than 20 years, starting as a mover and working up to foreman. CCM’s first location opened in Los Angeles and quickly expanded to many other cities to provide wider coverage for customers looking to move from one state to another.
Today, CCM has locations in 10 of the largest cities in the U.S. and is able to help people move anywhere in the country, as well as internationally. Their services include long-distance moving, international moving, auto shipping, and full packing and unpacking services — anything that’s necessary for a seamless “white glove” experience.
From day one, Ravich’s ultimate goal was to have a full-service cross-country moving company that focuses on providing affordable white glove long-distance and full international moving services. He always aimed to bring a white glove level of service to an industry that’s largely focused on just providing a couple of movers and a truck.
The CCM crew is now equipped to handle all sorts of valuable musical instruments and luxury items, no matter how much they are worth. “Pianos can be worth up to $100,000,” Ravich says. “Once, we moved one that was priced at $500,000.”
He also explains that grand pianos are tough to pack and move, but the crew from CCM has managed to handle them without a problem. The process starts by removing the three legs, followed by the pedals. After that, parts are carefully loaded onto a crate. However, he says upright pianos are easier to handle. Movers strap them to the piano board, the one that becomes a new base of the instrument, then they roll them out on a dolly.
Besides pianos, expensive gym equipment is the trickiest thing to pack and move because “everything needs to be dismantled and then put back together, which can take the whole day,” Ravich says. He adds that big sofas can also sometimes be difficult to handle because they need to be carried out through the window.
Jennifer Freeman, a client who hired the company for a move from Los Angeles to Pennsylvania, testifies to their special treatment of unique and fragile items. “We have a lot of breakable items in our home, from a large flat TV to my husband’s vintage guitars and vinyl records. So, naturally I was really worried about the way movers would handle them. We just gave them the dimensions of our most valuable items and they did the rest. CCM even brought packing materials such as foam pieces, blankets, bubble wrap and tape, so I felt really secure,” says Freeman.
The business also provides insurance covering up to $5 million of items moved so that owners of valuable, difficult-to-move items have peace of mind. “I wanted to provide not only exceptional customer service but also a stress-free moving experience. That’s why more than 90% of our clients are repeated and recommended,” says Ravich, explaining that most repeating clients are professionals who move for a new job across the U.S.
When it comes to moving highly valuable items, the CCM crew ensures that everything goes smoothly. “One of the first things we ask customers is, ‘What is the most valuable item we are moving?’ That can be anything from a piece of paper, a family heirloom, a piece of art or a musical instrument,” Ravich explains.
He adds that the foreman plays a significant role in making sure items arrive safely. “He ensures that the moving crew properly packs super-valuable objects,” he says. “The crew uses small cardboard boxes for smaller stuff, while we build custom wooden crates for paintings and statues.”
Ravich explains that it is the foreman’s responsibility to stay with customers and ensure they are calm. “They almost always have a million other things to worry about,” he says. “The least we can do is ensure they don’t worry about the move.”
CCM’s white glove moving services also include car shipping, and the company is well-equipped to ship both regular and classic cars. Luxury or classic cars are loaded onto enclosed trailers, while regular vehicles are transported on open carriers.
From Ravich’s humble beginnings as a mover to 2012, when he started CCM with just a couple of trucks, he has learned the moving process and knows how to optimize it. He is now running a white glove service moving company that moves thousands of families every year.
Their white glove services mean even the most luxurious items can be moved with ease. “When you hire us, all you have to do is open the door,” Ravich says. “We want the customer to just sit back and relax while our movers do the heavy lifting. Our customers are like orchestra conductors, and all they need to do is point the movers in the right direction and relax.”
CCM’s tailored approach to every client allows them to be able to handle all household goods, no matter the price, with care. “We focus on providing personalized service to each and every one of our customers,” Ravich says. “We understand that each move is unique, and we work closely with our clients to ensure that their individual needs are met.”
The news and editorial staffs of the New York Daily News had no role in this post’s preparation.
