Moving is a wonderful and exciting, yet very stressful activity. There are a lot of variables and moving parts. No puns intended. That is why you shouldn’t go through it by yourself. If you are relocating lightly, with only a couple of boxes and bags, your friend and family will probably be enough help. However, in any other circumstances, you should definitely make sure to hire professionals. Especially if you are in a hurry or you want to spare some nerves. But, finding the right moving company isn’t an easy task if you haven’t got any experience. That is why we have prepared this guide to help you learn how to choose a reliable moving company. Follow it and it will give you the opportunity to have a stress-free relocation as much as possible.
Why do you need to choose a reliable moving company?
You want your belongings to be safely relocated from point A to point B, don’t you? Well, in that case, you should make sure that people who are doing it know exactly what they’re doing, right? Anyone can rent a truck and present themselves as a moving company. However, they could be far from that. And if you would like to learn how to avoid the 10 biggest moving mistakes, you can get our book here: https://www.amazon.com/Huge-Mistakes-Avoid-When-Moving-ebook/dp/B07QD2BKFX/ref=sr_1_1?
So you need to know how to choose a reliable moving company that you can count on. And not only on the moving day, but you need to be able to rely on them in every step of the way. No matter if you are in the need for local moving or a long-distance one. Or whether you are relocating your household or business.
So, here are the steps to help you choose a reliable moving company:
- do the research,
- check the papers,
- read the reviews,
- get estimates.
If you do this right, you will be able to enjoy stress-free relocation. And, more importantly, you will do everything in your power to find your stuff safe and sound after the whole process is over.
Do the research
Before you even start choosing the right moving company there is something you need to do. Firstly, you must figure out what are your needs. Only after you do that, you can continue to choose a reliable moving company. It is best to make a checklist with all the important stuff your mover has to offer. For example, if you are moving across the country, you can’t expect a company who does only local movings to help you. The point is that their offer must meet your needs in every way.
Moreover, if you see that a moving company offers what you think you need, that is not enough. You must go deeper and be more specific to your needs. It may happen that they can do everything except the relocation of special items. And, if you have a piano that you want to move, that can be a big problem. On the other hand, it can happen that you didn’t even know what were your needs before you started the research. That’s why it is so important to do it before everything else.
Check the papers
If you want to choose a reliable moving company, first you must exclude all the unreliable ones. If you are wondering which ones are not reliable for sure, it is pretty simple. In order for a moving company to even stand a chance of being reliable, it must be registered and licensed. You can check online for the USDOT or MC number, depending on whether it is an interstate relocation or intrastate moving. And before you presume to sign any documents, make sure you understand everything they say. So, there’s no shame in asking as many questions as you may need.
Also, make sure to check if the company offers insurance. No matter how good they are, sometimes things can go out of everyone’s control. That is why it’s crucial to have insurance. Whether they offer their own, or via the third party, it is not that important. But you shouldn’t choose the company that it’s not insured.
Read the reviews
Before you buy any product, you will probably ask around if someone tried it and how it was, right? Well, it’s the same when you have to choose a reliable moving company. Firstly, talk to your friend, family, and coworkers. You would be surprised how much experience people have with relocations. They will be able to give you some guidelines concerning the moving process and the companies. Listen to what they say, but don’t make decisions just yet.
Have in mind that there can always be some exceptions. That’s why you should check online reviews, too. Be careful not to trust too good ones or too bad ones, because they are not very realistic. But, all in all, the reviews will give you a pretty good idea of what to expect of a certain moving company. And don’t forget to check forums and social media as well, for a complete picture.
Get estimates
After you have done all of the above, it is time for concrete numbers. If you want to make sure that you are getting a fair price, you need to obtain at least three moving estimates. It is great if you can get an online free moving estimate, but that’s not enough. What you need are a home inspection and in-person moving estimate. That is the only way for your movers to find out how much stuff you own and whether or not you need some additional services. Only then will they be able to give you a real moving estimate.
So if you want to choose a reliable moving company, you need to make sure it complies with your needs. Besides that, it must be registered, licensed and insured. Most of the reviews you find should be positive, and they need to be willing to come to your home before they give you a moving estimate.
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