12 Tips For Hiring A Moving Company
If you’re like most of us, moving ranks at the bottom of your least favorite things to do list.
And for good reasons, because packing up and moving is exhausting.
During this draining activity, your diet mainly consists of unhealthy fast food, because all your cookware is usually boxed up.
And besides, who has the energy to prepare a home-cooked meal right in the middle of a big move?
Those challenges are the least of your problems.
One of the biggest roadblocks you’ll encounter is finding a reputable and trustworthy moving company that will treat your belongings with care.
There is no shortage of moving companies to choose from, which makes the selection process even more complicated.
In the article, I will provide you with twelve tips for hiring a moving company.
Let’s get moving…
TIP 1: Check Their Reputation
The first thing you want to do before you hire a moving company is to check their reputation.
Asking important questions about the company’s reputation will unearth a mountain of important information that can help you narrow down your prospects.
The Internet makes gathering that information extremely easy.
TIP 2: How Long Have They Been in Business?
Checking to see how long they’ve been in business will reveal a lot about their standing in the community.
A company that has been in business for a few years proves they have an established track record.
TIP 3: Do They Have Insurance?
You can verify if a moving company is insured by going to their website and looking for their license number.
Never hire a moving company that doesn’t have insurance. You don’t want a fly-by-night operation handling your belongings and having no legal action if something happens.
TIP 4: Do They Have a License?
If you’re moving across state lines, a professional moving company will have a US DOT number.
These are unique numbers for that specific moving company. You can check the validity of their number by researching it in the database.
PRO TIP: You can find US DOT Number Databases via your favorite search engine using a keyword phrase such as “us dot number lookup” to get a list of them.
TIP 5: Do They Have a Good Online Rating?
You can search sites like Citysearch, Trustlink, Yelp, Google Business Listings, and the Better Business Bureau’s website for their BBB rating.
On these sites, you can read about other customer's experiences with the moving company.
TIP 6: Have They Won Any Awards For Customer Service?
There’s a good chance if they haven’t won any accolades for customer service, they won’t be expecting any from you either.
Good moving companies proactively make the effort to ensure they’re going above and beyond to satisfy their customers.
Your goal is to hire a moving company that cares about its reputation and is willing to work with its customers to right any wrongs.
TIP 7: Ask About All of The Rates and Services Covered
Keep in mind that the promise of a low rate by a moving company doesn’t imply that the price quoted will be your final bill.
For instance, you need to ask questions such as are the fuel expenses included, do they have a certain weight limit before overages apply, or do the rates fluctuate from day to day?
The point is to ask plenty of questions.
TIP 8: Do They Have Consolidation Policies?
Consolidation is shipping your possessions with other people’s belongings to save money but be advised this can add time to the delivery. This is an option if saving money is a concern.
This is especially important if moving out of the country because your estimated delivery time could be around 2 months or so.
That sounds like a ridiculous amount of time, but it’s the reality of consolidated shipping.
TIP 9: Other Questions to Ask the Moving Company?
Before hiring a moving company, you can never ask too many questions.
Do you remember the following statement your teachers always made, “There Are No Stupid Questions?”
Be certain to keep that statement in mind when screening your list of moving companies.
Here are some additional questions you should ask:
Do they wrap your possessions and pack them in boxes?
How long will it take?
How many movers will be in your house?
Will you be charged for any overtime?
TIP 10: Do They Measure in Advance?
The best way to protect yourself is to take pictures before and after the move.
A professional moving company will take measurements in advance to ensure your property will fit through and not get damaged.
PRO TIP: Upload the pictures of your belongings to the cloud and/or on an external drive as backups in the event your cell phone or camera gets damaged or lost.
TIP 11: Do They Have Any Specialty Experience?
Moving into high-rise buildings with elevators and long winding stairways can mean extra men and extra men with specialty moving equipment can be very expensive.
Find out ahead of time what these rates are and what they entail.
For instance, if you have a piano that needs to be moved, be certain that the moving company you hire specializes in moving pianos.
TIP 12: Does The Moving Company Ask You Questions?
If they haven’t asked you a single question but are ready to give you an estimate and collect the check.
Shut the door and run, because usually, this means they don’t have your best interest in mind and may mishandle your property.
The last thing you want to happen is having to confront the moving company about broken or damaged items, that may be irreplaceable or too expensive to replace.
Conclusion
You just discovered 12 Tips For Hiring A Moving Company!
These tips apply whether you’re moving to, from, or within any area.
No one looks forward to the cost or physical aspects of moving.
The best way to enhance the experience is by hiring a reputable moving company that cares about its customers.
And I’ve given you twelve solid tips that you can use to make the transition easier and less stressful.
Good luck with your move!