When choosing a moving company, it is best to check their reputation first. Hiring a moving company with a great reputation will save you money and time.
How do you choose whom to trust with your worldly belongings?
Asking the right questions will help you to uncover a wealth of knowledge that you would otherwise not know about. Here are some questions that you need to ask movers before hiring them:
How long have you been in business?
A long record of accomplishment, as well as experience, shows that a company is able to deliver every time. For instance, have they ever moved fragile clay items without breaking them? Asking this question could save you a lot of money in the end.
Are you insured?
Make sure that the moving company you are considering is insured. Never hire movers who do not have insurance. Doing so is the fastest way to lose your belongings and never get them back.
Moreover, you need to check whether your personal possessions are covered under renters or homeowner’s policy. If they are not, you should look into supplemental moving insurance.
Are you licensed?
Hiring an unlicensed company is akin to enlisting the help of a bunch of friends when moving.
How will you know that they are a legit business?
You can check the validity of the US Department of Transportation license number of a company online.
If you are moving within the same state, check whether the company has a state license.
Do you have online reviews?
The Better Business Bureau rating of a company says a lot about it. You should also check social media sites such as TrustLink and Yelp for reviews. If you see many negative reviews, you need to cut your losses.
Do you have letters of recommendation or awards?
If the company has not won any service awards, chances are that you are not going to like their services. After all, nobody gives great reviews to companies that overpromise and under-deliver.
What do your rates include?
Low rates do not mean that the final bill will be low. Look at the rates to ensure that fuel charges are included.
Will moving on a weekend be more expensive than moving on weekdays? These are the things that you should be on the lookout for.
Are you active in the community?
If the moving company you are considering is active in the community, it means that they care about people and will be careful with your possessions. It also shows that they plan to be in business for a long time. You should hire such movers because they are in it for the long haul.
Do they have special delivery windows or consolidation policies?
If you are moving out of state, ask the moving company to explain their policies in detail.
Consolidation means that your belongings will be combined with those of other people and shipped together. Although this strategy saves money, it also takes longer for your goods to reach their destination.
Ask the moving company whether long-distance moves have a specific delivery date. Knowing this will allow you to carry a suitcase and avoid showing up to work in your gym clothes.
Are you familiar with elevators and high-rise buildings?
If you live in a building that has elevators, the moving crew should know how to carry your possessions into them without causing damage. Moreover, additional tools and men could also mean extra costs for you.
We utilized Yelp when my wife and I get got married to move in her stuff. We asked all of the questions but also found comfort reading reviews of people’s experiences with the moving company.
While we were a bit apprehensive with the initial move it turned out incredibly well and have no regrets with the company that we ended up choosing.