Packing up a home and moving is not a unique experience. In fact, over 40 million people move to a new house each year.
A lot of preparation goes into a move, which gets more complicated the bigger your family and home is. You can get rid of a lot of moving stress by hiring a professional moving company to do the job for you.
You don’t want to hire just anyone to pack up and move your valuables to their new location. Before hiring a moving company, you’ll want to make sure they are reliable and trustworthy.
We go over everything you need to know to make sure you hire the best moving company to get your belongings to their new location.
Know Who You Need to Hire
Depending on how far and how much you need to move, there are different moving companies you can hire. A local moving company will do if you are moving a town or two over. These smaller moving companies can have competitive rates and great customer service.
If you’re traveling a far distance, you’ll need to hire a long-distance moving company to make the haul. These movers have insurance to keep your items safe over the longer distances. They also know how to pack your belongings for the long drive.
Another popular moving option for longer moves is to rent a moving container. You’ll get a container delivered to your home and spend a few weeks loading it up. If you don’t want to load the container with your stuff yourself, you can have a moving company do this part for you.
A moving company will then move the container for you to its new location. Using containers to move means it may take a little longer for your things to get to the final destination.
Recommendations
A moving company will be handling all of your belongings, so you’re going to want to hire a company that you trust. One way to find out about the reliability of a moving company is through recommendations.
Before hiring movers, ask your friends and family, who they have hired. They can let you know about how their experience was and whether it was good or bad.
Find out the names of the companies that your acquaintances loved and hated. If they have a recommendation, make sure to know why they liked that moving company. Ask them what about the company made the experience a positive one.
Read Online Reviews
Recommendations are one way to find a great moving company, but online reviews can be just as helpful. Once you’ve found the name of a company, head over to their website to see what others have had to say about them.
Most websites have a section where people can rate and review their past experiences. This information can be helpful when choosing a moving company.
Most people will leave a review if the service is either excellent or terrible. Either type of information is useful before you hire a moving company.
While reviews are a great resource, you should use them along with other ways to check your movers out. Some companies will screen their reviews so that only the good ones show up. They can also have friends of the company write reviews to inflate their ratings.
Get Written Estimates
Before you hire a moving company, get all estimates in writing. You can always ask a moving company what their rates are before hiring them. This will limit unexpected moving costs.
Your moving company will be able to give you an estimate based on the size and distance of the job. They will also give you an idea of how long the move will take and how many people they will need to complete it.
In general, the bigger the home, the more expensive your move will cost. Your price can go up based on if you need packing materials or have large objects to move. Make sure to go over anything that would add an extra fee before hiring the company.
Also, know that it’s not always good to go with the cheapest movers. You get what you pay for, so spending a little extra for quality service is worth it.
Verify Their Licensing and Insurance
Licensing is a vital thing to look for when hiring a moving company, especially if you are moving far. It is a law that all companies moving across state lines need to have a government license.
You’ll want to look for a USDOT number. The moving company will get this if they have the certification needed to move a long distance. This number should be on their website in an easy-to-spot location.
Companies that don’t have this number won’t have the proper license to move a long way. They could be a dishonest company that wants to scam you out of money or one that doesn’t know how to move the right way.
Ask About Their Experience
When looking at a moving company, make sure to check to see how much experience they have. When it comes to moving your valuables, practice makes perfect. A seasoned company will know how to get even your most breakable items to their new home.
There is no substitute for the years of tackling moving problems that a seasoned company has. A company with years of experience should also have the reviews to back up its service.
Expect Professionalism
When you hire a professional moving company, you should expect only the best service. The moving team should be polite and organized.
Take the Headache Out of Moving by Hiring a Moving Company
Whether you are moving down the road or across the country, moving can be stressful. Make your move as easy as possible when you hire a quality moving company to get the job done right.
Did you find our article on moving helpful? If so, you’ll love our other home articles. Be sure to check them out today!
Read Also: Everything to Consider When Choosing a Commercial Moving Company
