5 Things to Consider Before Choosing a Moving Company
Where are you moving to, and why?
Research shows that every year, close to 40 million Americans move at least 1 time. Better jobs, warmer climates, and affordable living are the top 3 motivators for most moves. No matter your reasons for relocating, you can make the entire moving process easier by hiring a moving company!
However, you’ll want to avoid running out and hiring the first company you can find. Instead, you need to take the time to find quality movers you can trust your belongings with. How can you tell the good movers apart from the bad ones?
Read on to learn 5 things to consider to help you find the best moving companies.
1. Check Out Their Physical Location
Be wary of any moving service that doesn’t have a physical location. A quality company, for example Ralphs Moving & Storage, will have a legitimate location, that’s open to customers. This provides a way for customers to go there and check out the moving trucks, equipment, staff etc.
If you go with a company who’s sole presence is on the internet, what’s to stop them from running off with your belongings? When you think about it, a real company would need a physical location to run their operation, right? After all, moving trucks, equipment, and supplies are all important elements to running a successful moving business.
Inspect the Location
Does the website list a physical location for the movers? Great! Drive to the location yourself to see what it’s like.
If you can’t find the location, that’s a red flag the company’s fake. If you find the location and it’s run down, that’s a clear sign the company won’t provide you with quality services. What you’re looking for is a physical location that’s neat, organized, and customer friendly.
2. Avoid Hidden Fees
Whether you’re looking for a long-distance moving company or a local moving company, you’ll want to watch out for hidden fees! Some moving companies will offer you a low quote, only to shock you later with a high bill full of unexpected expenses.
Here’s a list of hidden fees you should look out for:
- Furniture disassembly fee
- Elevator fee
- Bulky item fee
When you’re getting a quote from a mover, ask them if the price they’re quoting you is the price you’ll pay.
3. Services Offered by the Best Moving Companies
A reputable mover will be able to help with moves across a variety of distances. Local, international, out of state, and next door moves, are all examples of the types of distances the company should be able to handle.
Next, find out the different types of moves they’re capable of assisting with. Does the company offer both house, student, and office removals? Professional companies will be able to service a variety of distances for almost any type of moving needs.
Special Services
Moving on, find out if the company will be able to help with your special furniture items. If you have a piano, you’ll need to verify that the moving company does piano removals, and if so what kind?
Whether you’re moving an upright piano, or baby grand will make a big difference. Will you be transporting vehicles, like a scooter or motorbike for an out of state move?
If yes, find out what the mover’s policy is on vehicle pick up and transport. The main idea is to find a company that will be able to handle the majority of your moving needs.
Benefits of a 1 Stop Shop
By having a 1 stop shop moving service, you’ll be able to streamline the entire moving process. For example, do you have a plan for removing all of your garbage after you leave your old residence? There are moving services out there who provide house clearance services that include full-scale overhauls, and large items removal.
4. Does the Moving Company Offer Packing Supplies?
Find a company that will make preparing for your move as easy as possible by offering moving supplies. Since you’ll need a ton of packing supplies to move, why not save money by bundling the cost with your moving services?
Here’s a shortlist of the packing supplies a reputable moving company can supply:
- Sturdy boxes
- Bubble wrap
- Packing tape
- Shrinkwrap
- Packing labels
- Packaging knife
- Garment covers
- Furniture covers
Visit the moving companies’ website, or call to speak to a representative about quotes on supplies. Find out what type of discount they’ll be willing to offer you if you get all of your moving supplies from their location.
5. License and Insurance Considerations
Before you spend any amount of time getting a moving quote from a company, find out if they have a moving license first. A company that doesn’t have a license is a major red flag since unlicensed movers don’t have to adhere to government regulations.
Theft is the biggest risk you run when you do business with an unlicensed company. They could steal everything you own, and without their information on file, the government wouldn’t be able to help.
Next, find out what type of insurance the company offers to its customers. It doesn’t matter how big or small the moving service company is, they should offer their clients proper insurance coverages.
Talk to the Insurance Provider
To verify the legitimacy of the insurance the company’s offering, call the insurance provider, and ask for details on coverage. If you have any difficulty getting details about the coverages, or they won’t provide you with official documentation for insurance quotes, choose a different company.
Get Ready to Move
Knowing what to look for in a moving company will save you all sorts of time, and money! Plus, you’ll be able to rest at ease knowing your belongings are being handled by experts.
Keep this article handy as you begin calling different companies for moving quotes today. If you notice any red flags, abort and keep searching until you find a company that checks of all the boxes. For more articles like this one, check out the rest of this site.