Moving can be very tedious, especially if you have a lot of things. Packing all your things, renting a truck, loading the truck, driving to the new place and unloading everything … All of this takes a long time. As a result, many people choose to hire a moving company to take care of all or part of it.
Unfortunately, while hiring a moving company can save you a lot of time and stress, hiring the incorrect moving company can add you. To protect yourself and your belongings, you will need to know how to choose a moving company.
Here are some things to keep in mind when looking for a good moving company.
1) What part of the move do you want the moving company to handle?
The saying is that you can hire someone to do almost anything for you, for a price. This is certainly true in this case. Many people choose to pack all their belongings themselves and hire carriers to load / unload the truck and transport everything. Some people, especially if they are moving across the country, may rent a truck and hire movers to pack everything and pack the truck, and then drive themselves. Others hire movers to do absolutely everything, from packing the boxes to unloading everything in the right rooms in the new house.
2) How much are you budgeting for the move?
Of course, anything the moving company does will add to your bill. If you are on a tight budget, you may need to balance quality and convenience with cost. This means that you may have to do some of the work yourself and hire movers who will take care of the more difficult parts, typically loading and driving the truck. Compare prices between moving companies and decide which one best suits your needs.
3) How far is it moving?
Long distance moves affect two things when choosing a moving company: the cost of the move and the moving companies to choose from. Some local businesses may not be able to move you across state lines. Also, for long distance moves, you will want to hire a moving company well in advance to make sure they have availability.
4) Does the moving company insure your belongings against damage or loss?
You have a lot of capital invested in your belongings. Think about how much money it would take to replace part or all of it if something happened during the move. Could you even do it?
Many moving companies will only refund a fraction of the value of your belongings if something happens to them. Ask a mover how much they pay for lost or damaged property, and make sure you get a copy of this policy in writing. If your mover’s policy doesn’t offer enough coverage, you may want to look for additional insurance.
5) What kind of reputation does the moving company have?
We’ve all heard the horror stories of things missing or broken after the carriers unpacked the truck and left. Just as you want your belongings to be protected from damage or loss, you also need to know if a moving company has a reputation for breaking or stealing things.
One way to research the reputation of a moving company is to look up its name online. Look for both complaints and follow-ups, as how the company handled the complaint is at least as important as the complaint itself. You should also check if the company is a member of the Better Business Bureau. Although BBB will attempt to mediate a dispute even if the mover is not a member, there is less incentive for a non-member to work toward a resolution.
How long the company has been in business is also a good indicator of reputation. Companies with a bad reputation generally don’t stay in business for long, so a company that has been around for a long time would probably be a better option than one that was started recently.
6) Can the moving company give you references?
A good moving company should be able to provide you with references upon request. Please check these references, but also keep in mind that, like an individual, the moving company is likely to offer references that they know will be positive.
Of course, the best referral you can get is a recommendation from a friend or acquaintance. You are probably better off using a moving company recommended by someone you know, rather than one you’ve never heard of before.
Final tips for choosing a moving company
When you hire a moving company, you are putting a large part of your life in someone else’s hands. Things like furniture, clothing, and kitchen utensils are expensive, but since we generally accumulate them over time, most people don’t realize how much money they’ve invested in their household items until they have to replace all of them at once. .
Since it depends a lot on having good moving companies, it is important to know how to choose a moving company. Before you start contacting moving companies to request quotes, be sure to make a list of the questions you need to ask. This will help you stay focused during the conversation.
Remember, your possessions are valuable, so be sure to find a moving company that you can trust!
