We frequently run into the need to do some heavy lifting in our business, whether it be moving some staging furniture into or out of homes, getting rid of some heavy junk, or doing some serious yard work. And if it isn't us, it's our clients or fellow agents who are faced with this.
I "retired" from the moving business many years ago, after a couple of episodes of helping friends move that resulted in pulled back muscles and smashed fingers. And the older I get, the less inclined I am to feel guilty for being unavailable when similar opportunities arise. But fortunately, we've found a great alternative to hiring expensive moving companies for smaller jobs.
Fort Collins is a college town - home to Colorado State University, with an enrollment of over 20,000 students, many of whom are large, well-muscled specimens in serious need of spending cash. And CSU makes finding strong backs very easy - the Student Employment Services office maintains a roster of students who are available for short-term temporary employment. And I'd guess that most other colleges and universities do the same.
We've been using CSU students for years for such things as staging assistance, clean-outs, general hauling, and heavy yard work. They have been, without exception, reliable and hard workers with great attitudes. We usually have 3-4 at a time we can call on, and a couple even have pick-up trucks. The going rate right now is around $10/hr. per student, plus lunch, and gas money if we're using their vehicles. And we usually throw in a decent tip - they almost always earn it.
The only caveat is that these guys are almost never skilled movers - they need some supervision, and if it's antiques or pianos, I'd go with the professionals.
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