Moving companies are like any other service provider; you must shop around to find the best one for your needs. How is this done?
Know Your Need
When shopping the various moving companies, it helps to know your needs and concerns. Here is a quick checklist of recommended items to have before calling any moving companies.
Know what you have to move; make a list of big items and a guess of how many boxes there will be.
1.Have a good idea of your moving date.
2. Know how many rooms there are, and where everything is at.
3. Know your travel distance, storage needs, and time frame.
Types of Moving Companies
Moving companies come in many shapes and sizes. Some movers specialize in certain types of moving while others provide a wide range of services. Here is a short list of the different types of moving companies.
Interstate movers - these movers move people across state lines or internationally.
Commercial movers - these typically do not handle household or smaller moves.
Local movers - this type of mover may not handle moves out of town.
Relocation service - this mover will usually have storage facilities and provide other added services.
Pack and Stack - these type of moving companies will pack up everything and place it into storage until you need it.
Red Flags for Movers
When you start your search through the different moving companies you will come across many similarities, and many differences. Some of these differences you must look out for.
-The mover does not carry adequate insurance to cover loses in transit. -The mover gives a quote hundreds of dollars lower than the rest. -The mover asks for partial payment upfront or payment in cash. -The mover refuses to provide a written quote. -The mover has multiple complaints for similar situations.
General Rules to Follow
Now that you know what types of moving companies are available, and what danger signs to look for, you should know a few general guidelines which can help in finding and dealing with a chosen moving agent.
Start looking for a mover at least six weeks before you need them.
-Get written estimates from four or more moving agents -Get a cost overrun limit in writing -Get references for each mover you approach. -On the day of the move, get the driver's license number, plate number from the truck, and a cell phone number to contact the driver. -If you have many valuable things, get insurance.
Shopping for moving companies can be frustrating; you need to understand the importance of the event. You are entrusting everything you own to unknown people. Are you ready?
When you're faced with the decision of having to hire a moving company to transport all your personal possessions, you need to develop a certain level of trust with the persons handling the move. I have a few tips on what to look out for that will help keep you and your family in control of the moving process and your anxiety levels low.
It's very difficult to say that you trust a person you don't even know but that's where doing a bit of homework comes in handy so that at least you can feel a bit secure in your decision.
There is no other way this can happen because their will be a period of time that you will not be with all your worldly possessions and this ban cause a lot of stress and anxiety.
It doesn't matter if you are moving from Boston to Dallas or to Atlanta, hiring a moving company to move your families personal items is something people do everyday. All you need to do is take my advice on a few tips that helped me and my family and I am sure that they will help you as well.
I feel the best place to start is to get several quotes from moving companies. Most of them offer the service and it is free and at no obligation so take advantage of that.
These quotes can vary and don't think that just because you were given a really low quote from all the others that that are the one to choose. Make sure you covered all the basic concerns before you choose
Make sure that the mover you choose has adequate insurance coverage to protect your valuables just in case anything should happen. That is why they call it accidents because you never know.
If the company doesn't offer you insurance then take that as an indicator that you probably might have issues later on. Remember, it's about all you can do to develop a level of trust.
Storage is another factor to consider. Are you going to be placing your household contents in storage? And if so, does the moving company offer insurance coverage to protect them while in storage? You need to make sure that you know where they will be stored. Typically if you are moving to Boston they will be stored their as well as Dallas and Atlanta.
When it comes to transportation make sure you and your mover clearly understand when and where everything will be delivered. There is nothing worse than miscommunication on this part. You need to make sure that your stuff will be where you will be. Make sure it is written and stated clearly in your estimate and contract.
If you can cover your tracks a bit then you should have little to no problems with the moving company you chose to go with.
Both Laura Buckley & Eddie Yakubovich are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Laura Buckley has sinced written about articles on various topics from Auto Insurance, Trucks and Home. Here at DaMovers.com, finding a reliable mover let alone is not very difficult however selecting a good. Laura Buckley's top article generates over 74000 views. to your Favourites.