Find the right professional moving service for you so you can save time and stress during your next move.
Moving is a hassle for even the most prepared person. No matter how organized you are, you’ll find yourself packing and re-packing boxes, lifting heavy and awkwardly shaped objects and over-communicating with everyone around you.
Once you decide to move, you can save a lot of time, stress and money by finding the right moving company for you. While moving is a lot of work, it can be simplified by using the right tools and resources.
We are going to walk you through the seven essential steps that will help you find the best moving company to make your move as easy as possible. Ready? Let’s go!
7 things to do to find the best moving company for you
While asking your friends for help with your move in exchange for pizza is always an option, we aren’t going to dive into details on how best to plead for help.
Instead, we are going to help you find the best moving company for you, ranging from DIY options to full-service movers. The seven steps we outline below will ensure you choose the right moving service within your budget that will make your move less stressful and more enjoyable.
1. Outline everything you need to move
The first thing you need to do before any move is to assess how much stuff is being transported from one location to the next. Are you moving out of a small dorm room or a single-family home? The amount of stuff you move will determine what type of moving company you need.
We recommend outlining a list of everything that needs to be moved. You don’t need to itemize everything (although that can be helpful) but you should make a list that looks something like this:
- Table with six chairs
- Bed frame and mattress
- Couch
- Recliner
- 20-plus boxes
- 10 plastic bins
Once you’ve made your high-level list, you can assess what type of moving service you need based on the amount of stuff you have to move. Making a list will help you visualize how much help you need.
2. Decide what kind of moving company you need
Moving services range from truck rentals to full-service moving companies. You can rent a truck for two hours or you can hire people to do it all. It just depends on your needs and your budget.
When you start looking into moving services, consider the following options that are at your disposal. Again, you can always DIY your move, but we are talking about moving services here.
Professional moving options
Professional moving companies are the most full-service option when moving. You box up your belongings and the movers will do everything else. They’ll come to your apartment or house at a specific time, load your boxes and furniture into the moving van, deliver it to your location and unload everything to your new apartment.
If you are looking to do minimal work yourself, then consider a professional moving service. While this is the most expensive option, it is also the option that requires the least amount of effort on your part.
Truck rentals
Moving truck rentals are an option for people who need a mode of transportation for their belongings. You can rent different-sized moving trucks for a specific period of time.
If you have your list of items that need to be moved, you can assess what type or rental truck you need.
For example, if you are moving out of a college dorm room into your first apartment, you might only need a small moving truck for two hours. Alternately, if you are a newlywed moving into your first home, then you may need a larger truck for a longer period of time.
Truck rentals are a more hands-on approach to moving as they require you to load and unload them yourself.
Container moving options
Container moving services are a great choice for people who want some help moving but don’t need a professional service. With this option, you load up a large pod or moving container yourself with all of your belongings and furniture. Then, the company comes to your apartment or house, picks up the moving container, transports it to your new location and drops it off for you to unload. Once you’ve unpacked, they’ll haul it away.
This is the in-the-middle option on the scale of professional moving services to truck rentals.
3. Determine what you can afford
As with anything, you need to set a budget for what you can and cannot pay for your move. If a $10,000 cross-country move with a professional van line is simply out of the question, then don’t even consider that option.
Before you start searching for a moving service that is right for you, determine what you can and are wiling to pay. Having an estimated budget from the get-go will help you narrow down your options.
4. Get a quote
Moving companies don’t usually advertise their prices upfront on their websites, so it’s essential to get a firm bid before signing up. Get a few quotes in writing from several different moving companies before agreeing to work with a company. Once you get a feel for the pricing, you can choose which company is right for you and ensure it fits within your budget.
Prices are going to vary based on the type of moving service you pick, the distance for your move and the amount of stuff. Prices can also fluctuate depending on the season. Moving is expensive but sometimes the price is worth it for the time and effort you’ll save having someone else do it for you.
5. Check out user reviews
Moving is one of the most stressful times in life. Working with a moving company is supposed to simplify things not complicate them so you want to pick a moving service that has great user reviews.
Companies will have some negative press but it’s prudent to look at what customers are saying about them. Look on places like Yelp, Google Reviews and Better Business Bureau to see what real-life users have to say. Check out social media pages for user reviews, too.
We recommend avoiding companies that have lots of bad press and user reviews.
6. Look for a government certification for full-service movers
Unfortunately, there are a lot of moving companies out there that are just waiting to scam you. A rule of thumb is to only work with moving companies or services that have a government certification through the U.S. Department of Transportation. If it isn’t authorized, don’t use it. However, this is only applicable to full-service moving companies. This does not apply to hourly truck rentals, like U-haul, or moving container companies.
7. Sign the dotted line and get moving
Now that you’ve completed the first six steps, it’s time to pick a moving company, sign a contract and get moving! Once your plan is in place, you can pack and label your items and be ready when it’s go time.
Move in style with a top moving company
We know that moving is a top stressor for most people but we hope that these simple steps will help you feel more confident the next time you move. Spending money on moving services isn’t the most fun way to spend your money but it will make things easier and more organized.
The key is to pick the best moving company for you. With so many options out there — from local movers to international companies — there is definitely an option that’s right for you!
Source: rent.com