Moving to a new location is always exciting, fun, and full of surprises. It is a deal that most of us are willing to take all day long. As exciting as it sounds, relocating does come with a number of challenges, especially when it comes to moving your stuff from one place to the other.
Fortunately, we live in an era where there are tons of moving companies providing smooth relocation services.
In fact, it might be a little overwhelming once you find out that America has over 17,000 moving businesses. With so many options, you might need help choosing the right moving company to ensure a successful transition to your new home.
To make things easier, we’ve compiled this guide with valuable insights to help you decide on a suitable moving company. So, without any further ado, let’s begin.
1) Explore Your Options
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One of the basic rules for choosing any service is to first explore all your options. Before making a final decision, you should have a couple of good companies in the bag. Of course, you need to start by researching and shortlisting local moving companies in your area.
You can further hone in on the right choice by asking your neighbors and family for recommendations. People in your social circle who have personally hired a moving company can give you the most honest and trustworthy suggestions.
Although insightful, we recommend not basing your decision solely on these opinions, as it is ultimately your choice and your experience.
One way of finding great companies around you is to do a Google search. Searching with the keywords moving specialists near me will likely yield a ton of options that you can sift through. Shortlist the ones with high review counts and high ratings if you want the best chance of having a good moving experience.
2) Be Realistic With Your Expectations
Sometimes, we all want a deal that’s too good to be true. Unfortunately, that’s not how the real world works. If you find a deal that gives you an extremely low quote while promising an extensive package, be sure to avoid it like the plague.
A genuine moving company will need to cover travel costs, fuel charges, vehicle maintenance, labor, and toll and tax charges. The total cost depends on the distance between your current and new location, so a moving company would be hard-pressed to provide you with a massive discount on their services.
3) Verify Their License
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After you’re done shortlisting companies, you’re going to want to verify them. You can do so by verifying their state-issued license. It indicates that a particular company is allowed to operate in America and has been verified by the relevant government body.
The US Department of Transportation, or DOT, is a government body that issues a license number to each approved moving company in the country. It is an assurance that the company you hired has drivers legally approved to operate heavy machinery like trucks.
Most companies have their license number beside their contact details or on the quotation. If that’s not the case, it is within your rights to request the company for an authentic license number issued by DOT. It can then be verified on the FMCSA website.
4) Prefer Experienced Movers
In an ideal world, every business just starting out deserves a couple of shots at getting off the ground. But, realistically, not many people are going to want to opt for a business that hasn’t been tried and tested.
If you don’t feel the need to take unnecessary risks, or the stuff you are moving is fragile, we recommend hiring professional and experienced movers.
If a moving company employs workers who have a proven track record of doing their work well, you’ll feel much more at ease when your things are being shifted around. Experienced movers are less likely to damage your delicate belongings and will know how to label and organize your stuff.
The latter point means that you won’t have to stress over sorting through your belongings when everything has made its way to your new home.
Whether you have heavy couches waiting to get packed or delicate vases, experienced movers will handle them with the same care and attention.
5) Communicate and Clarify Requirements
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Before you hire a company, make a list of your requirements. We’re talking about everything from your budget to the amount of stuff you have to move and how many days you’ll require their service. Then, you can question the company about whether they offer services other than just moving belongings.
For instance, while some companies only relocate your stuff from one place to another, others offer packing, unloading, and even unpacking services. Is your potential moving company offering you everything you need? No? Then keep scrolling for others that do.
6) Verify Physical Location
Since you’ll likely be contacting companies closest to you, as they’d be the cheapest and fastest, you may find it helpful to visit their address.
By visiting the office, you can observe the working conditions of the moving company. Look at the way they communicate, dress, and react upon having visitors. These will give you a good idea of what to expect from them when it’s actually time to move.
Access to the physical location of your moving company is also helpful in case you want a refund or are looking for a way to deal with discrepancies.
7) Don’t Sign Contracts Without Studying Them
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Your moving company will most likely offer you a two-way contract covering everything from the legal names of both parties, the amount due/paid, terms and conditions of the move, tax, refund, and cancellation policies.
You shouldn’t sign anything without giving it a thorough read. Study the contract in detail, and don’t shy away from requesting legal guidance if you aren’t certain about the terms. If you plan to make a big move with a lot of expensive equipment being transferred, make sure that you have a lawyer at the ready in case things don’t go as smoothly as you hoped.
Contracts are made for negotiation. If you think any terms and conditions are not what you initially agreed upon or aren’t to your liking, request a meeting with the company to renegotiate the contract.
Moving is a life-changing experience, but it isn’t easy to relocate yourself if you have a lot of things to pack and move. That’s why moving companies are so popular and why there are so many of them.
With so many options, it is essential that you look for a genuine moving company with good reviews and which is recommended by multiple people. Once you have some shortlisted, make sure to verify their licenses and find out what their terms of service are.
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