How to choose a moving company?

Hiring the right professional moving company can make your moving a great experience. The trick is to find a moving company that is reliable, offers all the right services, and all of this at an affordable price. This is why we have created this useful guide on how to choose a moving company, as we want to make this experience as pleasant as possible for you.

References

Choosing a moving company via a reference may be the safest way to do so. If you have a close friend or a family member who has recently moved houses, ask them if they were satisfied with their movers. They will be able to tell you the most accurate answer, and how the company resolved any issues if they occurred. Every move is unique, but a professional moving company will always find a proper solution to any problem.

Online moving reviews

Reviews are a fantastic way to make up your mind if you are having doubts about the right moving company. Just like we read reviews before purchasing any product online, moving reviews can be quite useful. Remember that people are more likely to leave a review after a bad experience, so search for any negative comments first. Accidents can happen even to the best of movers, but if there are recurring bad reviews, you will want to search for a different moving company. Be careful about fake reviews. They are easy to spot, as they tend to exaggerate the situation, and may come from malicious people. Even a super positive review can raise a red flag if there is too much exaggeration.

Get quotes from different moving companies

If you choose the first moving company you run into, you risk overpaying the move and dealing with rogue movers. We recommend that you get quotes from at least three moving companies. Decide which services you need. For example, packing, unpacking, transportation, car transport, and other services may differ in cost by little, or by too much with different companies.

By having several offers in front of you, you will be able to see what is the real value of services and choose the right moving company for you. Sometimes, you will get an offer that is too good to be true. This usually means that you have encountered scam movers, and you should not accept their services. High-quality services have a realistic, affordable cost, but they are not too low, either.

Avoid a moving company that asks for a large deposit

Paying upfront to movers is never a good option. You may never see your belongings again, so avoid paying large deposits and search for a new company. The norm is for the moving company to ask for as high as 20% in deposit. However, many moving companies will never ask you for one. Even if you do have to pay, pay via credit card, so that you can dispute it later on in case of a problem.

Your interstate movers must be licensed

If you are moving out of state, know that your interstate movers must be licensed with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). As far as local movers are concerned, not every state requires local movers to be licensed, but it is desirable. Ask your movers for a USDOT number, and you will be able to check the company`s license, as well as all claims, number of staff, moving equipment, and many other important information.

Check your moving company with the BBB

The Better Business Bureau is a great way to find out whether your company is the right match. Check out the grade letter it assigned to the moving company you are researching, and see all the complaints from customers. You will be able to see your moving company`s service record, and the more information you have, the easier it will be for you to make a final decision about hiring them.

Check whether they operate under one name under the right address

If you have the time, you should check whether the address of the company's headquarters on the website really exists. Ideally, you can talk to your movers on site. This is an excellent way to avoid rogue movers. Also, if your moving company is operating under different names, this is usually because they want to avoid BBB`s review. If this is the case, we highly recommend that you search for a different moving company.

Are your movers professional?

Even if you find the price to be satisfactory, and the company is licensed, and with great reviews, monitor their behaviour. Do they speak politely, and have answers for your numerous questions? If they don't have great customer support or show up late, and don`t fulfil promises from the beginning, it is better to call off the moving with them.

Always ask if there are any additional fees included

Additional fees will cost you extra, and it is very important to know exactly what they are. Ask your movers what their company considers additional services, so you can add it to the final bill. Most companies charge additional fees for the following services:

• Long-carry fees - If there is no parking outside your building, so the movers have to carry items to the moving van several streets away, they will charge you additional fees. So, make sure to reserve a parking spot for your movers on a moving day as close to your home as possible.
• Stairs fees - If you live in a building with no elevator, and you live in the upper floors, the moving company is likely to charge you this. Also, if you have an elevator, you can reserve it for the moving day, or place a notice for other tenants that movers will be using it throughout the day.

Final word

At the end of the day, it is important that you have checked all the reviews, and licenses, as well as compared several moving companies before choosing the one. The right movers will be helpful, available, and with tons of experience. Good luck