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6 Tips To Find The Perfect Moving Company

Most people don’t spare a second thought when hiring a mover. They usually just end up hiring the first company they can find in their locality. However, this approach can be risky, to say the least. It’s important to remember that the moving guys are solely responsible for keeping your precious stuff safe when they are out on the road and during the loading and unloading process. This includes your big flat screen TV, your irreplaceable photo albums, and everything in between. There are also some companies that needlessly charge more causing the overall moving budget to skyrocket. Following are 6 tips to find a moving company that offers the desired blend of quality service and affordability.

Start Early:

Selecting a moving company is the most crucial aspect of a move. This is why it’s a good idea to start looking, at least a month in advance. This gives you enough time to evaluate your choices and collect enough estimates to make an informed decision.

Prepare A List of Companies:

The first step towards finding the best moving company is to prepare a list. Start by asking local real estate agents or simply go online to find local moving companies. Once the list is prepared you can start the screening process to zero in on the perfect company.

Get Estimates from Multiple Companies:

Scratch out the companies that insist on giving over-the-phone estimates. Estimates are based on several factors such as travel distance, total weight, and volume. This is exactly why verbal estimates are vague and are often in favor of the company. This means you end up paying for services you don’t need. A professional firm usually sends in an expert to take a note of individual components before giving an estimate. Insist on knowing all the hidden costs which may include packing and unpacking charges or additional labor charges applicable for high rises. Your goal should be to collect estimates from 3 to 5 different moving companies. This should give you a fair idea about the cost and should thus enable you to screen out the expensive options.

Speak To The Movers About Compensation For Accidental Damages:

Some movers offer compensation plans in case the goods get damaged or lost. A lot of companies cover the entire cost of replacement or repair in these situations. However, these are usually not part of the basic package, and you may need to upgrade to a more expensive plan. This is a crucial factor, especially when moving a lot of expensive items.

Check Out Insurance, License, and Accreditation:

The documents of accreditations, insurance, and license are the only tangible evidence of a company’s quality. Start off by checking if the company is registered with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). This can easily be done by going to the BBB website and typing in the company name. You should also call them up directly to note down their insurance number. If a company is not listed, it should be an immediate red flag. All transport companies are required by law to possess a US DOT license number. As a potential customer, you can ask for that number and perform a background check by going to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration website. Companies that do not have a valid number should be immediately rejected.

Read Online Reviews:

Reading honest customer feedback is the best way to judge a company’s service quality. Go to independent listing sites such as Yelp.com and check out the ratings of the companies you have shortlisted. Choose a company that has enough years of experience under its belt and a great service record.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Trent Carson .