Moving would be a lot easier if you knew which moving service was best without spending too much time on vetting the various moving companies, wouldn’t it? Well, something can be done about that. You see, there are shortcuts that you can take to identify an excellent moving company quickly without spending all day traipsing and driving through town.
The one mistake many people make is doing a search for moving companies in their area a few hours before moving. That is the wrong approach. Doing this is tantamount to just handing your grand piano over to a total stranger who may know nothing about moving such a delicate instrument.
Starting early – at least three weeks before moving – gives you the opportunity to scrutinize the various moving companies you have in mind thoroughly before settling for one. So, here are the things you should look for when hiring movers.
What’s Their Reputation?
In the moving business, reputation is important. This mean if there are lots of negatives about the moving company you want to engage with, you should have a rethink. How do you find out about their reputation? Simple, use the internet.
If there’s nothing about the moving company online – positive or negative – it is time to visit local message boards and post an ad asking people to tell you about that local moving company. A good site where you can do this is the City Data forum.
Also, check out other online review websites like Yelp, Angieslist, CitySearch, TrustLink and Google Places for Business reviews. You should find a ton of information about the company there.
Compare their Prices
Never, ever choose a moving company simply because they offer ridiculously low prices. Usually, businesses that hook their clients in with these low-ball offers will always bill you more than other competitively priced movers would have billed you. In fact, if you find that of the few you’ve consulted with, one of them has really low prices, walk away. Companies like that are often shady.
Check if They are Licensed and Belong to Recognized Associations
All reputable movers are licensed and are members of recognized professional organizations and associations like the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and the American Moving and Storage Associations (AMSA).
Your moving company should have a Department of Transport number (US DOT number). This number is the unique identity of each moving company within their state. This is even more important if you’ll be moving from one state to another.
Consider Consolidation Policies and Options
Most times, moving from one state to another can be time-consuming and costly. However, there is a way to reduce drastically how much the moving company gets to charge you. To do this, you would need to be open to consolidation options.
Consolidation in this context simply means joining someone else who is also moving to the same state or to a state that’s along your travel route. If you are considering that, then you should find out if they offer those services.
How Experienced are the Movers
Nothing is more important than experience when moving delicate items. So, find out if the movers are very experienced. Check out how long they have been in the business. To be fair, there are some new companies that do an excellent job.
So, don’t just use experience and age to rule any moving company. Check online for their reputation too. If there are no delicate items, you could hire the new company. However, if there are, it is always best to go with companies that have had years of experience dealing with very sensitive stuff.
Oscar King is a home owner and freelance writer who provides information about his experiences both in moving and maintaining his home. For help with making your move, if you live in North Carolina, he recommends contracting Movin’ on Movers for helping you with getting from point A to point B. You can learn more about Oscar on Google+.
