4 Tips For Choosing The Best Moving Company

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Many things come into play when planning a move. You need to decide what to pack first, where to get good packing boxes, how to move heavy or delicate items, and many other things. But moving happens all the time if the geographic mobility data available is anything to go by. However, it can be a hectic and time-consuming activity for a family or an individual if they haven’t done it before. Anything one can do to simplify the moving process is always welcome.

While it may look easy to call up a few family and friends to help with the move, you may want to make it much easier by hiring professional movers. Hiring movers may cost you more, but these professionals do more than the heavy lifting. They make the moving process more seamless, and they free up your time to take care of other things, such as taking care of children during the move.

For you to have the best moving experience, you need an excellent moving company. That requires more than a simple online search for ‘movers near me’ or a referral for a company you can’t verify. You’ll need to do more. This article shares tips and things you should always look out for when hiring movers.

1. Start Your Search Early And Do Proper Research

Finding movers is a serious decision in the moving process, and choosing your movers shouldn’t come as an afterthought. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is rushing to pick a mover. Start your search as soon as you have the approximate date you expect to move. Even if you have referrals from trusted sources, you’ll still need to take your time to verify the companies’ legitimacy.

Following through with a recommendation doesn’t need to be a blind decision. Carry out your due diligence by way of research. You need to have all the essential details about the company, including physical location and verifiable contact information. Visit them, if possible, and look for signs such as well-labelled moving trucks. This will help you make a more informed decision, and you’re more likely to choose the best company this way.

2. Pick The Mover With A Thorough Estimate

Reputable movers are thorough in their work and won’t give you an estimate right off the bat. They’ll take an inventory before giving you a figure to work with. Taking inventory can be done virtually or in an in-person visit. You should ensure that the mover gives you a well-detailed estimate and accurately represents your inventory.

With moving estimates, the cost is primarily calculated based on your inventory and moving distance. Ensure you understand the mover’s costing and ask questions about what’s included in the estimate and what’s not. You don’t want to get unpleasant surprises when a mover asks you to pay extra for things like packing and moving boxes on the day of moving.

3. Read Lots Of Reviews

Find and read as many reviews as possible when you find a company you think is worth your time. It’s important to know what experience previous customers have had with a company before you commit. Read both positive and negative comments to get the full picture. Also, check how they respond and resolve issues raised by customers.

A reputable mover will remain professional even amidst poor customer feedback. Go to trusted sites such as Better Business Bureau (BBB), Yelp, and Google to get that information. If a company has many accusations about damages and loss without compensation, you could be the next victim. The good thing about reviews from reliable sites is that they provide you with unbiased and credible information about customer service that you wouldn’t know otherwise.

4. Look Out For Red Flags

Unfortunately, not all movers are in it to build a business helping people move. But it’s not always easy to spot fraudsters or unreputable companies outrightly. Therefore, you should be extremely cautious and watch for signs that a mover might be a swindler. Here are some signs to look out for:

• Refusing To Give A Written Contract: Any reputable company will be quick to have everything in writing, including moving costs, dates, and a liability clause.

• Very Low Estimates: Often, a fraud company will give you an estimate that’s way lower than the rest as a tactic to get you to agree to move with them. Later, when they have your belongings, they increase the price, and you won’t have a choice but to pay.

• No Insurance Or Licensing: It won’t be wise to give your belongings to a mover without a license. In case anything happens, you have no way of laying a claim. To be licensed, a company has to fulfil requirements and industry standards, with one of the requirements being insurance coverage for the liability of goods in their possession.

Takeaway

A moving company can save you a lot of moving hassles and time. But before you entrust your belongings to someone else, do your due diligence to ensure that you don’t make a choice you’ll regret. Go for a company with good reviews and customer feedback and one that takes time to give you a thorough estimate even as you watch out for the red flags mentioned above.