Hiring a professional moving company to help you with the moving process can be complicated and intimidating to navigate. This is why we decided to write an article of moving tips to guide you! If you are new to moving, or have experienced less-than-ideal moving service in the past and want a sure way to find the right company, this article of simple steps can give you a clear path to success. In this article, our team of moving experts shares their top insights to help us and tips for hiring a great company, how to save money on moving, and having an on-time, stress-free move.
The Steps For Using A Local Moving Company
When you move, you should consider looking at using a local, professional moving company. However, there are a number of steps that you should complete when using a moving company, and questions to ask a moving company before you hire them. These step-by-step action items will help us choose the right company when hiring movers and ensure that your move into your new home or office is stress-free, no matter the distance you have to travel.
1. Get Local Recommendations
Our first tip that we recommend is to find local feedback on a moving company; it’s one of the best places to start for hiring them. It’s easy to find reviews or hear from others around you about mover companies that stand out or that people in your area tend to trust more than others. These people can give you clues as to where to find and hire the best options available to you without having to sift through a hundred bad ones that you could avoid.
Talk to Neighbors and Friends
Before you hire a moving company, you need to get mover recommendations from local sources. You should first look at getting recommendations from people close to you like friends and family. They will be able to give you tips and guide you to movers they have used and why they would recommend them. It is also a good idea that you ask for the names of movers that they would not recommend so that you can avoid them.
Find the Information Online
If you do not have friends and family who have used local movers or moving companies then you should look at other local sources. Online directories and review sites will provide you with a list of movers in your area and some information on what other people have to say about them. Looking at reviews online of moving companies you are considering can help you create a shortlist of local movers that you can choose from.
2. Have An Initial Screening Process
Once you have your shortlist of moving companies, the next step is to do a quick background check on them, either online or by phone (be sure to have a list of the questions you’ll need to ask). You don’t want to end up with a moving company that will scam you, or that is not fully qualified to complete the move you need done. The moving industry is full of fraud and less-than-professional movers that can quickly make your moving experience go south.
Check for Professional Memberships
You should check if they are part of the Better Business Bureau and call the American Moving and Storage Association to see if they are a member. Members of these associations will need to adhere to the tariffs and other regulations that they have in place. It is important to note that AMSA membership is voluntary, and your local movers may not be a member.
Make Sure the Company is Licensed
If you are moving in a local area but staying within the state, it only really matters that you find a company licensed to move within the state. If you are planning an interstate move, you need to ask if the company is licensed to be moving between states and specifically in those you will be traveling through. A company must have a license to move if they are to be trusted, and several fraudulent or rogue movers exist out there that could be a big risk to you. You can search or ask for the USDOT number of the moving carrier on their website to verify FMCSA information like this. Make sure they will be able to move the full distance to the location you are planning to go to.
Verify Movers Insurance Details
If you are going to require insurance with the company you choose when hiring movers, make sure you find out the company that they are insured with. Find out details about their policy and coverage so that you’ll be sure you understand what is offered and you will know to what extent your belongings are covered. This is important to have, especially with moving a lot of valuable items, as we will explain further in a moment.
3. Get An Estimate From Multiple Companies
Another crucial tip is to, once you have done your research on the company, begin to take inventory while packing and get an estimate from each company you’re thinking about hiring. This estimate should be for the number of boxes and furniture that you have to move. You must be aware of the cost that it will be for each company to move the specific amount and type of belongings you have to move if you are to make an accurate comparison between them, so get ahold of all the details you need.
Get an In-House Estimate
Many movers will offer an in-house estimate where they will come to your home and estimate the costs of moving the entire contents. Beware of companies that offer insanely low estimates without revealing a legitimate reason. A low movers estimate may indicate a rogue moving company that could create a significant risk if they are not insured movers or even licensed in your state and recognized as a business that abides by regulations.
A Binding Estimate
Another option for estimates that may be available to you as a moving client is to get a binding estimate. If you have nearly made up your mind about a moving company you would like to work with, that company may offer the option of a binding estimate (it might pay off to save the full name of whoever offered it, along with any other information or research you could need later). Having binding estimates can help ensure the cost of moving will be the same at the end of the process as was estimated before you begin can be a sign of the integrity of your moving company, especially if they are a company that has comparatively low rates in their estimates.
4. Weigh Review And Compare Estimates
Once you have a written estimate from your shortlist of companies and take inventory on everything you pack, (we recommend at least three or four), our next tip for successful moves is that you compare them to each other. You should look at the packing inventory list that was created by all companies and the moving costs that they charge for each item. Check out the truck and moving services they offer, especially the ones you must have in mind to hire, to make sure that they are offered by each before you hire movers from your list.
Why Professional Moving Company Costs Vary So Much?
This may come as a surprise, but different moving companies can offer significantly different estimates for moving costs based on the truck and moving services they offer, such as packing or supplies, or even just the way they count the costs of moving each of your items according to their methods of moving. Though they may do a similar quality of work, the distance you’re going to your new home, how much you have to move, or what types of furniture or items you need to move can make a greater difference in price for some companies, while it might not make the least difference in the cost of others. Having to travel extra distance may or may not effect the cost of moves.
Items You Are Moving can Make a Difference
For example, if you are planning to be packing and moving a lot of antique furniture or fragile objects, some companies may actually charge a lot of additional fees per item for this type of work, while some may not charge significantly more for it. It is also important that you look at the movers insurance per item that you are being offered for moves, as this can be connected to the costs of moving special items like this.
5. Take Insurance into Consideration
One of the most crucial tips we can offer is to look into your movers’ insurance. A company that offers insurance must be considered more than one that does not, but you will need to look at what the insurance covers in full. Most movers insurance will pay to cover part or the full cost of broken goods, lost goods, and goods stolen during transit. Not all movers will offer this for their moves, but you need to consider it if it has been offered, and it can be a good way to save money.
Insurance and Professional Movers
Having movers that are insured is usually a good sign of reputable moving companies. A mover that is willing to insure the belongings of clients points to confidence in their moving capabilities and the integrity of their team, as well as willingness to assume responsibility for mistakes, accidents, or theft. These are the kinds of factors that set good movers apart, and make them stand out to you as you are in the process of hiring movers. You can call the company that insures your movers to get any details about the policy you might need.
Other Insurance Options
There is the possibility that you find a few reputable moving companies that you find which happen to not provide services (this can happen when working with the local moving industry, and it is not always a bad thing). In this case, it might be at least possible, and even pay off (possibly even save you money if items are likely to be damaged in moves) to get insurance for your move through a third party. Further research will be needed for this, but in the event you are faced with a situation like this, you can ask questions and find out how to get full insurance this way in preparation for moving day.
6. Check Availability and Consider Any Time Constraints
There are a couple of additional steps that you need to remember when using a local moving company. Having enough time to get your packing and moving done is important, so pick a date far enough out and get packing as soon as possible. Also, schedule your movers and truck enough in advance that they will be available at that time.
Availability of Moving Companies
It’s a good idea to know how much time you will need to complete the move, set a move day that gives you enough time to pack, and the extra guarantee that the movers will be available with a truck to use at that date. Local companies are often better to use because they are going to be able to give you an in-house estimate and can complete your move within the time that you need it done.
Time and Schedule Constraints
In the event that you are in a time crunch to get to your new home, and you don’t have a lot of time to get to your new place and get started, hiring a moving company you can rely on to stay within the schedule they promise is an even more important factor, and worth the cost to hire the mover who can go the distance. Be on the lookout for a reputation for timeliness when researching moving companies before you hire a professional mover in this case. If they can help you pack as well, this is another way to save time. Packing is often the most time consuming part of moving, so a service to help you pack could pay off.
With this article on tips for hiring a great mover, you can be confident when you go to hire movers and prepare your home for moving day. You will be working with a company that locals around you trust and that guarantees affordable rates, quality service, and will cover the cost of items in the event that anything happens to them. You can rest easy knowing your belongings are in good hands.
Looking for a Great AZ Moving Company?
If you are looking for reputable, local movers in the Phoenix area, Dose Moving Companies Phoenix is the perfect team for you! Clients throughout Arizona love working with our experienced team of movers, and we are highly trusted for both residential and commercial moving in the area! Our experienced team of movers has provided a number of extra article topics to help make the process of moving easier, no matter who you are or where you’re moving.
We would love to offer you a free moving estimate on the cost of the move, and we invite you to call or contact us today. We look forward to meeting you, and we would love to know how else we can help your move go as smoothly as possible. Let us take it from here! We have been working with clients in Arizona for years and years, and we can help you have a smooth moving experience that will allow you to rest easy and enjoy your new home to the fullest extent.
References & Sources:
American Moving & Storage Association. https://www.promover2.org/
Better Business Bureau. https://www.bbb.org/
Cassidy’s Moving & Storage Ltd. Where, When, And How Do I Start Packing? https://wemovetheworld.com/blog/packing-tips-getting-started/
Consumer Reports. How to Choose a Reliable Moving Company. https://www.consumerreports.org/moving/how-to-choose-a-reliable-moving-company/
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/
Life Storage Blog. Read This Before Moving to Phoenix. https://www.lifestorage.com/blog/moving/moving-to-phoenix/
Moving. 11 Cheap Ways to Move Cross Country https://www.moving.com/tips/cheap-ways-to-move-cross-country/
Ramsey. How Much Does It Cost to Move? https://www.daveramsey.com/blog/how-much-does-it-cost-to-move
Square Foot Blog. 10 Must-Have Packing and Moving Supplies and How to Use Them. https://www.sparefoot.com/self-storage/blog/17325-10-must-have-packing-supplies/
U.S. Department of Transportation. https://www.transportation.gov/
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