Whether you’re moving long-distance or across town, moving is a complicated, stressful process. From the logistics of uprooting your life and moving to a new destination and updating your address to the time and energy it takes to pack up all your earthly possessions, you have to keep track of lots of moving parts. That’s why many people opt for hiring a professional moving company to help with the process. Here’s how to hire movers.
Hiring a moving company simplifies and streamlines the moving process, but you shouldn’t just hire the first company you find. As millions of Americans move house every year, the moving industry is a massive, multi-billion dollar industry. This gives you lots of choices but also leaves the door open to scams or bad business practices. You need to take precautions to ensure you’re hiring a reputable, reliable company that will take good care of your household belongings during this stressful time. That’s why it’s vital you take the time to research companies and find the best moving company for your needs.
Benefits of hiring professional movers
Moving is a lot to deal with. You have so many things to plan and coordinate that sometimes, hiring a moving company on top of everything else just feels like an unnecessary hassle and it’s easier to go with a DIY move. This is especially true when you’re young and likely don’t have a ton of disposable income or possessions. You can load up your car, borrow a friend’s truck and get rid of anything you don’t need or want.
But, as you get older, you start making more money and acquiring more personal belongings. You also have more responsibilities, like work or family. You don’t have tons of time to haphazardly move your entire life. You need someone to take this burden off your shoulders and you can afford it. That’s where moving companies come in.
Moving companies offer a wide range of services tailored to your moving needs. You can pick a full-service moving company that not only moves your possessions from Point A to Point B in their moving truck but also provides packing supplies and packs up your items for you. If you just need a moving truck and some extra hands, that’s an option, too.
Ultimately, you’re paying for convenience and expertise. Moving companies help you save money and time. Don’t want to move that giant dining room table or are nervous about handling that pricey TV? That’s what movers are for. They know how to safely pack and move your items, preventing breakage, damage or loss. They can handle those big heavy boxes, no problem. They also provide essential moving supplies like moving trucks and packing supplies like boxes and bubble wrap. While moving companies are pricey, it can ultimately save you money in the long run on services and supplies.
A step-by-step guide on how to hire professional movers
Just a cursory internet search of moving companies in your area will show you that there are tons of different options. Follow these steps to find the best movers for the job and avoid the errors and biggest mistakes that befall people in the middle of a move.
1. Decide what kind of move you’re embarking on
The first step is to determine what kind of help you need with your move. Do you want a full-service moving company that’s going to do everything for you, from packing services to the actual moving of boxes? Do you just need a professional mover or two to help load boxes onto a truck and then unload them at the new house? Is it a long-distance move to a new state or are you moving locally?
Once you better understand and know the nature of your move, you can choose a good operation that fits those needs.
2. Determine if you require specialized moving services
On top of general moving companies, you may need to hire one that offers special services outside of the norm of packing and loading boxes. There are moving companies that specialize in moving specialty items, like grand pianos, valuable artwork or antique furniture. If you have multiple cars, you might need a company that can move them for you.
In some cases, you can hire a company that offers these services along with standard moving for additional fees and higher costs. But, other times, you may need to hire a separate company entirely.
3. Research different moving companies
Now’s the time to dive in and explore your options. Search online to see what moving companies exist in your area and make a list of several that look good.
4. Make sure they’re a reputable company
While researching, it’s important to evaluate more than the services and prices they offer. You need to make sure they’re a reputable company that you can trust. One of the easiest ways to do this is by looking up the moving company’s reviews online to find customer reviews. Look for information about the quality of their work, pricing and professionalism. Do they like to tack on extra costs at the end of a move? Were your items delivered to the new address on time? Were they late on moving day? Were lots of items damaged? Is the pricing fair and honest? Did they hold your belongings hostage until you paid the amount in full?
Consider these and other questions while reading through the comments. These company reviews from past customers will give you a good sense of what you can expect. Having a proper website and contact information are also green flags.
You can also get references from official organizations and agencies like the American Moving and Storage Association, or check the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to see if there are any consumer complaints. You can also use the FMCSA to make sure companies that provide interstate moves register with the U.S. Department of Transportation by checking their DOT number.
5. Check the Better Business Bureau
Another way to make sure the operation is above board is to look them up on the Better Business Bureau website. Make sure they have a local address that isn’t a P.O. box and that they’re properly licensed and insured. You can also see if they operate under different names.
6. Ask friends and family for recommendations
While researching moving companies, you can also ask for personal references and recommendations from people you know. If you have friends or family in the area that recently moved, ask them what moving company they used and if they liked the service. Someone who has actually used their service will give great advice and feedback.
If you don’t have any close acquaintances that have moved recently, you can always conduct a virtual survey on your social media to reach a wider audience. If you do this, though, don’t give away any personal information regarding your move. Simply post something along the lines of “Does anyone have any recommendations for good moving companies in this city?”
7. Make sure they have the proper licenses and insurance
Looking on the BBB website, you can see if a moving company has all the required licenses. These types of companies must also assume liability for the goods they transport, so they need proper insurance. If that information isn’t available, you can ask the moving company directly. But, if they don’t have both, it’s a big red flag and you should immediately remove them from your options.
8. Get an estimate
Once you’ve narrowed your search to three to five moving companies with good track records and strong customer satisfaction, reach out to get a rough idea of their prices and an estimated cost and quote for your move. It’s a good idea to get multiple quotes so you can compare and contrast. Many companies offer the option to fill out a form on their website for a moving estimate, but you can also call directly. Make sure they have as much information as possible, such as moving dates and locations.
This also allows you to understand their pricing so you can see if it fits your budget and needs for the upcoming move. Do they offer a flat rate or hourly rate? Do the movers charge extra for more complicated jobs, like moving into an upstairs apartment in a building that only has stairs and no elevators? What is the price difference between interstate moves and local moves? Are prices different for a moving truck or a moving van?
It’s important to note that these quotes and estimates are not the final prices. A final price comes at the end of the move. Most movers will give you as close to an accurate estimate as possible before this happens to ensure there are no nasty surprises.
9. Understand your quote
There are different kinds of quotes and estimates that different companies offer. Knowing the difference can help save you money in the long run.
There are two basic kinds of estimates: binding and non-binding. Binding means that the cost is in stone and guaranteed, whereas non-binding means that the estimate is just a projection and subject to slight changes.
The type of estimate you have is in your contract.
10. Ask questions
While obtaining quotes from the companies, now’s the time to ask any questions you may have. Is there anything that would cost extra, like if the movers need to disassemble furniture? Do they have experience moving a certain type of item? Is there a cancellation policy? Are there any items that the movers aren’t allowed to move? This is the opportunity to fully flesh out what the company offers and fill in the gaps in the information you found online. Make sure you know absolutely everything about a company’s practices and prices as possible.
11. Compare rates and services
Once you’ve had your questions answered and have several estimates in hand, it’s time to compare and contrast. Look at the type of move you’re making, what you need help with and the different services and rates each company offers and choose the one that makes the most sense for your move.
While weighing your options, keep these red flags in mind.
12. Avoid companies that require upfront payment or large deposits
If a company requires that you pay for the move upfront, run far away. Similarly, if they ask for a giant down payment or deposit, it’s a company to avoid.
Some moving companies require a small deposit, while others don’t. But these deposits should never be more than 20 percent of the estimated total. If a well-reviewed company with a good track record is asking for a small deposit, the likelihood of being scammed or ripped off is low. But, if you pay for the move upfront or put down a lot of money, they could abscond with your belongings or take their sweet time delivering them. Never pay upfront for a move.
13. Avoid companies that only take cash
A huge red flag is if the company asks for cash payment. Any reputable company will have credit cards or checks as the preferred payment method.
It’s a good idea to keep some cash on hand at the end of the move, though, to tip the movers.
14. Keep a look out for extra fees
A good moving company is upfront and transparent about its rates, but it’s still a good idea to know what other fees or costs you may encounter during a move. Do they charge extra for packing materials or special circumstances? What about travel fees for long-distance moves? If you have a lot of stuff that you need to move in stages, will they require payment for storage places? Extra fees are normal in a move but you should still know about them as they can quickly drive up moving costs.
15. Understand your insurance options
Although moving companies must have and offer liability insurance, it’s important that you understand exactly what it covers and if you have the option to purchase extra coverage.
16. Book quickly
Once you’ve decided what company to go with, lock them in quickly for the dates you need. The last thing you want to risk is going through this entire process again because someone else swooped in and took the dates you needed.
17. Get everything in writing
From the quotes to the moving contract, make sure you have written confirmations of everything related to the move.
This is especially true of the moving contract. A blank contract is a giant red flag. Your contract needs to include an accurate estimate, possible fees, moving date, delivery dates and a complete inventory list. Never accept or sign a blank moving contract that doesn’t have this information filled out.
18. Do a moving inventory list with your movers
Prior to completing your contract, your movers should do an inventory of all your belongings. This mover’s estimate helps give them a rough estimate of the bulk and weight, how many boxes they’ll need and more.
19. Do a walk-through
A proper moving company will also do a proper, thorough walk-through of your home with you. This is so you can point out what items don’t need moving and so they can ask questions to determine the moving game plan.
20. Know your rights
It’s important to get thoroughly involved in the planning and moving process so you know your rights. That includes understanding the contract and insurance so that if anything goes wrong, you know what recourses you have.
21. Figure out logistics for during the move
Gearing up for the move, communicate with the team to know what to expect and set expectations. Can you contact the driver personally during the move? How long do they estimate the move will take?
22. Report any issues as soon as possible
Once you and your personal belongings have arrived at your new home, start checking everything. If something gets damaged or anything goes wrong during the move, you should file a complaint with the company as fast as possible. Based on their response, you can handle the issue directly with them or take it to a higher level, like the Better Business Bureau.
Get informed for a smooth move
This guide on how to hire movers will help you avoid mistakes and have a smooth, happy moving experience. Taking the time to hire a reputable service will help give you peace of mind while moving.
Source: rent.com