Tech lovers trust my small moving company in Salt Lake City for a plain reason: I treat a PC, server, or audio rack like it is my own gear, I plan the move like a small IT project, and I do not rush the details. People see that once, and they usually call again. Many of them find me through My Small Moves, but they stay because I handle their equipment with care, I communicate clearly, and I respect both their time and their setup.
Why tech people care so much about how they move
If you own a single laptop and a phone, almost any mover might feel fine. When you live in a small apartment full of screens, custom PCs, VR gear, and cables that took three weekends to sort, the picture changes fast.
Tech people tend to care about things like:
- Static discharge around sensitive parts
- Original boxes for monitors or GPUs
- Labeling cables so a setup can be rebuilt
- Privacy and security around data and devices
- Not crushing the NAS under a box of cookbooks
I think that is why I get so many referrals from developers, designers, streamers, and hardware fans. They are used to thinking carefully about systems. So when I treat a move as a system instead of just hauling boxes, it feels natural to them.
Tech lovers trust me because I respect their setups as systems, not just piles of stuff.
It sounds simple, but most moving crews are trained to lift, carry, stack, and go fast. Not to trace HDMI chains, keep track of which monitor was at which angle, or think about airflow around a rack.
How I plan a “tech heavy” move
I do not claim my process is perfect. Sometimes I overthink a wiring layout, or I write more labels than needed. Still, many clients tell me the planning step is what calms them down.
Step 1: A quick tech inventory, not just a furniture list
Before the move, I ask questions that a normal mover often skips.
- How many monitors, TVs, and main PCs do you have?
- Do you have original boxes for any of them?
- Do you run a home server, NAS, or networking closet?
- Are there standing desks, arm mounts, or wall mounts?
- Do you have any audio interfaces, DACs, or studio gear?
Then I suggest a basic priority list. For example, office and workstation first, living room later. Or if someone works in IT support, we might move the work rig and router first so they are online that same day.
Before I touch a single cable, I want to know which devices matter most to your day.
This feels obvious. Still, I once helped a client who had just moved with another company. They packed the router and modem at the bottom of a mixed box. Took him hours to get online. Now he tells everyone he knows to ask movers about tech plans first.
Step 2: Photos and labels for every critical setup
Tech setups are rarely random. You might have:
- A specific dual monitor arrangement you like
- A microphone placed at a sweet spot
- A group of power bricks managed behind the desk
- A console stack that works nicely with your TV and AVR
So I go slow here. I stand back, take clear photos from a few angles, and ask things like, “Do you want this exact layout again?” or “Should we mirror this on the other side in the new place?”
Then comes labeling. I sometimes get teased for using too many labels, but clients usually appreciate it the next day. It might look like this:
- “Monitor 1 – left” and “Monitor 2 – right”
- “PC main – floor under desk”
- “Router – living room corner near window”
- “Studio mic chain – do not crush”
Simple wording. Straightforward. No code names. Just things that make sense at 11 p.m. when someone is tired and wants their main screen up.
Step 3: Packing that respects the gear
Some tech clients have all original boxes. Some have none. Most are in the middle. I do not think one approach is “right”, but we adapt.
| Item | Preferred packing style | Backup approach |
|---|---|---|
| Monitors / TVs | Original box with foam inserts | Blankets + rigid corner guards + upright handling |
| Desktop PCs | Original box, foam, standing upright | Bubble wrap, sturdy box, labelled as “PC – keep upright” |
| NAS / servers | Foam around all sides, bottom layer in tech box | Extra padding, no stacking above them |
| Consoles / small devices | Individual boxes | Grouped in “fragile tech” boxes, no loose tossing |
| Keyboards, mice, accessories | Original cases | Labeled accessory boxes, separated by setup |
I do not try to pack everything as tight as possible. I care more about predictable behavior during the ride. Tech people understand that. They know one sharp drop can undo a year of careful upgrades.
Why tech clients say they feel “heard”
To be honest, I am not always fast at first. When I go through a setup, I ask questions that slow things slightly. But that is the part people remember, in a good way.
Speaking the same language, at least a little
I am not a hardware engineer, but I know the basics. That helps. When someone says, “This custom PC has a big air cooler and a 4090, please do not tilt it on its side,” I get it. I know what they are describing.
If a client talks about:
- External SSDs with client work
- A home lab in the closet
- Synology or TrueNAS setups
- Streaming gear for Twitch or YouTube
We can have a practical talk about what to move first and how to keep things safe. The idea is not to impress anyone with knowledge. It is just to avoid mistakes like stacking a heavy amp on a controller or shoving a rackmount unit into a soft box.
Respect for data, not only devices
When tech people say, “Be careful with this box,” they often mean, “Be careful with my data.” A few terabytes of family photos or client projects are not something you can just replace.
I often gently suggest a backup before the move. I cannot force it, and sometimes people skip it, but I still say it. External drive, cloud backup, whatever works. Is that part of the move? Not exactly. Is it smart? Yes.
Physical items can be replaced. Data usually cannot. I treat devices as containers for your time, memories, and work.
This focus on data tends to stand out, because many moving checklists only talk about furniture size and parking spots.
Small details that matter more to tech clients
The funny thing is, the habits that earn the most trust are not big or fancy. They are small, almost boring details that just keep problems from happening.
Cable management that survives a move
No one likes a mystery box full of tangled cables. If you spent days getting your wiring clean, you do not want that reset.
I handle cables in three main ways.
- Photo first, so we can recreate what you had
- Reusable ties or simple tape tags on both ends
- Grouped by function, not random length or type
For example, all display cables from your main desk have a shared label group. Same for audio, same for networking. So even if you change your layout in the new place, you understand which cables worked together before.
Clear box labels, written for future you
I write on the box like I am talking to your tired future self:
- “Work desk: monitor stands, laptop stand, desk mat”
- “Living room: console controllers and HDMI switch”
- “Network gear: router, modem, switches (set up first)”
Instead of vague words like “Misc,” I try to put the use or room in plain terms. When people unpack, they tell me those labels saved them hours.
Protecting screens and corners
Screens cause the most anxiety, and for good reason. One stray impact and that ultrawide is gone.
I always keep screens upright. I pad the front and the edges. No stacking heavy boxes against them. If I am working with a tight hallway or stairs, I plan the path first so I do not have to twist with a big TV in my hands.
None of this is magic. It is just care. But tech lovers notice care quickly, maybe because they spend so much time caring about small components themselves.
Why a small mover fits tech people better than a huge crew
Now, this is where I might disagree with some people. Big moving companies have their place. If you have a huge house and a strict schedule, a large crew makes sense. But the clients I help most tend to live in apartments, condos, or smaller homes packed with gear, not antiques. For them, a small mover is often better.
Less handoff, more continuity
In a larger company, the person who gives you the quote is often not the person who shows up. Information gets passed from one person to another, then to the crew. Some details get lost.
In my case, the same person who walks through your space is the one who packs your PC, carries your monitors, and drives the truck. There is no long chain. If you tell me “This monitor has a slightly loose stand, carry it from here,” I remember that because I am the one holding it later.
Flexible with odd schedules
Many of my tech clients work remote or freelance. Their schedule is not a clean 9 to 5. They might need the move to happen:
- After late-night deployment windows
- Between sprints
- On a day with fewer meetings
A small mover can often work around that with more ease. I am realistic, though. I cannot do everything at all hours. Sometimes I say no to a certain time because I know I will be too tired to keep standards up. Still, I can shift more than a large crew with rigid slots.
Salt Lake City specifics that tech clients bring up
Salt Lake City has its quirks. If you are local, you already know some of them. Tech clients bring them up often when we plan a move.
Weather swings and device safety
We get heat in the summer, snow in the winter, and quick weather shifts. Electronics do not love extreme heat or moisture. I think about that while loading and unloading.
If it is cold, I try not to let devices sit out for long. I avoid stacking sensitive gear near open doors on a snowy day. If it is very hot, I keep screens and PCs shaded as much as I can, and I avoid leaving them in a parked truck longer than needed.
Stairs, basements, and downtown condos
Many tech people here live in places with narrow stairs or tight elevators. That affects how we move large monitors, desks with adjustable legs, and server racks.
Sometimes I suggest we partially break down a desk or remove a side panel from a PC before carrying it, just to reduce stress on the structure. Not everyone loves extra disassembly, but if it prevents a broken leg on a standing desk, it is worth the time.
Home offices and remote work setups
Salt Lake City has a growing group of remote workers and small tech teams. A full home office is normal now, not rare. That means more people here are asking the same things:
- “Can you move my entire office and have it usable by tonight?”
- “Can we prioritize my work desk before bedroom or decor?”
- “Can we keep my backdrop for calls roughly the same?”
We plan the schedule around that. Often we load the office last on the truck and unload it first, so it is ready sooner. It is a small trick, but it makes a big difference for someone with active tickets or meetings.
Stories from moves with tech lovers
Stories explain this better than theory. Here are a few that stuck with me. Some details changed for privacy, but the main points are real.
The VR room that had to feel the same
A client had turned a spare room into a VR space. Ceiling mounts, sensors, cable pulleys, a neat little PC in the corner. He was proud of it, and he was worried about losing the feel of the room after the move.
I took extra photos, measured a few distances, and we talked about how much free walking space he needed. In the new apartment, the room shape was slightly different, so it was not perfect. But we got the core layout right: sensor positions, cable routing, PC placement.
He emailed later saying he had made tweaks, but starting from a familiar layout made it easier. That is what I aim for: give people a good starting point, so they can tune it from there instead of rebuilding from zero.
The home lab in the closet
Another client had a small “home lab” behind bifold doors. Multiple mini PCs, a switch, a patch panel, labels everywhere. It was in a rented townhouse, and he wanted to keep the new place just as organized.
We packed each device with its connected cables kept grouped. I made notes for shelf order and power strip layout. At the new place, we recreated the stack: router, switch, lab nodes, NAS. Was it perfect? No. Some network tweaks were his domain, not mine. But he turned on power and did not have to hunt for anything.
He later mentioned that many movers had looked confused when he used terms like “lab” or “rack.” It made him feel weird, almost guilty for having a hobby. I do not think someone should feel that way about their own setup.
The streamer with a fragile camera chain
One of the more careful moves involved a content creator who streamed full time. They had a camera mounted above the monitor, a capture card, lighting, audio interface, and various arms and clamps.
We disassembled only what we had to. I labeled arms and their original positions, wrote down which light was at which side, and packed the camera and lenses with extra padding. At the next place, we put the desk back together early, so they could go live the next day with minimal changes.
They later mentioned on stream that the mover “understood the importance of my camera, maybe more than my friends do.” That made me smile. Moving is not just boxes. It is sometimes about respecting how someone earns their living.
How I handle mistakes or near misses
I will be honest: things do not go perfectly every time. No mover can claim zero flaws forever, and if they do, I would be skeptical.
Once, I underestimated how tight a stair corner was for a wide monitor box. We still made it through, but it was too close for my comfort. The client did not see a problem, but I did. After that, I started checking corner width compared to large item width more carefully before moving.
In another case, I had labeled boxes well, but I put one “open first” box too deep in the new living room stack. The client had to shuffle a few boxes to reach it. Not a disaster, but still annoying. Now I stack urgent boxes either separate or at the very front of the unload area.
Trust does not come from claiming perfection. It comes from admitting small errors and changing habits so they do not repeat.
Tech people see this quickly, probably because they spend their days debugging. They know no system has zero bugs. What matters is how quickly you acknowledge them and patch the process.
Practical tips if you are a tech lover planning a move in Salt Lake City
If you are moving with a lot of gear, there are a few things you can do, even if you never hire me. These are simple but effective.
1. Decide what must work on day one
Ask yourself: “If I can only set up three things on the first day, what are they?” For many tech people, the list is:
- Internet and router
- Main work computer
- Primary monitor or two
Pack these items together or flag them clearly. Make sure your mover knows these are the high priority items.
2. Take your own photos before the mover arrives
Even if your mover forgets, you will have your own records. Take pictures of:
- The back of your PC and monitors with cables plugged in
- Your audio setup and mic position
- Your networking corner or closet
During setup in the new place, those photos help a lot, even months later if you change furniture again.
3. Keep drives and critical data close to you
If possible, keep external drives, backup disks, and important laptops in your own vehicle or backpack. I do not say that because movers are careless, but because some items are too valuable to risk in any truck, no matter who drives it.
4. Label for your future self, not for the mover
Many people write box labels for the mover: “Bedroom,” “Office,” “Kitchen.” Try writing them for you instead:
- “Office – audio gear and mic arm”
- “Office – network gear and power strips”
- “Living room – consoles and remotes”
When you are tired from carrying boxes, labels like these feel like small favors you gave yourself.
Why trust builds over repeats, not one move
The reason tech lovers trust my small moves in Salt Lake City is not one single feature. It is that people move again, and again, and they see the same habits.
Someone moves from a shared apartment to a studio. Then from a studio to a condo. Then from a condo to a small house. Each time, they call me, or they pass my contact to a friend with a similar gear list.
Their feedback shapes what I do next. One client asked for a small printed checklist for “tech first setup” because he kept forgetting what to open first. So now I keep a simple planning sheet handy for those who want it. Another client wanted a separate photo album, just for their desk layout. Now I offer to send setup photos by email or message, so they have them in one place.
I do not always get it right. There are days when something could have gone smoother, or a label could have been clearer. But tech people rarely expect perfection. They expect thought, consistency, and honesty when something does not go as planned.
Questions people often ask me
Can you really keep everything as it was before?
Not exactly. Room shapes change, light angles shift, outlets move. I can get you close. Most of the time, about 80 to 90 percent of the layout feels the same. After that, you adjust to the new space. My job is to give you a strong base, not to freeze your setup forever.
Do you need to understand every device I own?
No. I do not need deep expertise on every gadget. I just need you to tell me what matters most and how fragile or sensitive something is. If something is rare, heavily modded, or holds critical data, say so plainly. Then we plan around it.
Is a small mover slower than a big one?
Sometimes. A larger crew can move more volume in less time. But with a tech heavy move, speed is not always the main goal. Many clients care more about how carefully screens, PCs, and audio gear are handled than finishing an hour earlier. That tradeoff is personal. I am honest when my approach is not the right fit.
Why should a tech lover care so much about who moves their stuff?
Because your devices are not just objects. They are how you build, play, talk, work, and create. A clumsy move can cost you more than the price of a monitor. It can cost you time, data, and momentum.
If you live in Salt Lake City and your place looks more like a small studio or lab than a simple living room, then picking a mover who understands that world is not a luxury. It is just common sense.
So the real question is not just, “Who can carry my boxes?” It is, “Who understands how much my setup matters to me, and is willing to treat it with the same care I do?”