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Because moving can be so stressful, it is important to choose the right moving company for the job. But finding that company can be a challenge if you aren’t sure what to look for. Here is some advice on how to choose a professional moving company that will help ease some of the worries from your next move.
Get Referrals
The process for finding movers used to involve scouring phone books and hitting up neighbors to find a moving service that could handle your relocation. Now, most of this prospecting is done on the internet. This has allowed consumers the ability to find the perfect moving company for them. One popular avenue for recommendations is company social media pages where friends and family can easily share their opinions on moving options. Another popular choice is an online service directory similar to traditional phone books. Finally, your real estate agent can be an outstanding source of local information due to the experience that they have from dealing with the industry.
Research Services Offered
The next thing that you want to do after getting some companies to research is to find out what services each of your options offers. Some companies offer a full-service move that includes materials, packing help, transportation, and, finally, unloading and unpacking everything. Furniture disassembly and reassembly are typically included in a full-service move.
Moving and relocation services often include vehicle transportation. This can be especially useful for long-distance moves where you want to keep everybody together in one vehicle, or if you are moving on your own. This is also a fantastic solution to moving high-end vehicles that you don’t want to rack up unnecessary mileage on or put undue wear and tear on the car.
Some moving companies specialize in business moves. This will often include packing and loading office furniture and supplies. This allows business owners to focus on their business while the movers handle the heavy lifting. Another benefit businesses gain when hiring a moving service is that employees don’t have to risk injury or damaging company property by move things themselves.
Compare Estimates
After completing your research, it is time to start contacting companies to get an estimate. While some companies and customers prefer to have an employee come to inspect their home before offering a guess, other businesses and consumers like to get their quote over the phone. Whatever approach you take, be sure to get everything in writing and don’t sign any blank contracts or agreements before comparing all of your options.
When checking and comparing estimates, beware of prices that seem too good to be true. This can indicate a dishonest or less experienced moving company. You should also be aware of any red flags such as non-binding estimates, inability to provide references, and a lack of professionalism in your interactions with the company. All of these are signs that they are just out to make a buck and won’t take care of your possessions. If you do have any unusual or difficult to move items, be sure to inform the moving company when you get your quote. Things like pool tables, pianos, and pinball machines might come with a premium for moving them, which is important to keep in mind.
Check Credentials and Licensing
Every moving company that you are seriously considering needs to be credentialed and licensed to operate. This isn’t just a recommendation; it’s the law in many states. If you need a long-distance move that will take you to another state, check with the United States Department of Transportation (DoT) to ensure compliance. You can also check the company’s motor carrier number with the DoT to ensure the company is properly following regulations. You will also want to check the licensing of the person driving and the people loading your moving truck. You don’t want to run into any issues with shady employees.
This is also the part where you go back to the internet to do additional research on your potential companies. Hopefully, by this point, you have narrowed down your selection to the final few and are finalizing your decision. You should look at review sites to get an idea of how consumers feel about the company and what their experience was like. Read more than just the highest and lowest ratings to get a better idea of what the company is all about. Be wary of companies that have few or no reviews. They could be a new company, or they might be a business that was forced to change names because of poor customer relations. The more reviews that you can find, the clearer your picture of the moving company should become.
Inspect Equipment
Having further narrowed your list based on customer reviews, you should ask about an inspection of equipment. For this, your goal is to find out what the quality and integrity of their moving supplies are. If you are buying boxes from them or opt for a full-service move, you want to make sure that the packing supplies and the boxes themselves are high quality. You will also want to inspect the truck for damage, as you don’t want to be charged for any mishaps that were the fault of somebody else. Straps, blankets, and other truck packing materials should all be in good repair and have no visible signs of damage. Finally, verify the training and background checks for anybody who you let touch your possessions.
Don’t be surprised when your research on how to choose a professional moving company leads you right back to Top Moving Solutions. We offer many moving services that let you determine our level of involvement in the process, including vehicle relocation and full service moves. Get a no-obligation free quote from us for your next local, business, or long-distance move today!
