You’ve sold your old home and built your new one. Now the fun begins–it’s time to move a lifetime of living from one home to the other! Here are some useful tips for finding and choosing a reputable moving company to transport your belongings.
1. Hire Locally
When you hire a locally, you can visit the business and inspect their equipment. You can be assured that the moving company is legitimate, and it’s also easier to reach them in the event you have concerns or questions.
2. Ask for Recommendations
Talk to your family and friends to solicit recommendations. Ask questions about their experiences hiring movers. Did the moving company arrive and deliver on time? Was any property damaged in transit? If so, how was the claim handled? Did the company stick to their original estimate? If your moving budget is tight consider doing the packing and prep work yourself, hiring movers only to load, drive, and unload the truck.
3. Check Reviews
Apart from your friends’ recommendations, check out the moving company online. Read their Yelp and Google Reviews. Find out if there has been a consistent pattern of happy customers or documented problems. You can also contact the Better Business Bureau to see if there have been any complaints filed against the moving company.
4. Verify Credentials, Safety Records, and Insurance
Verify that the moving company you select carries insurance. The last thing you want is to suddenly find yourself liable because one of their workers fell down your stairs. Ask to see their certificate and check the amounts of coverage they carry.
5. Clearly Communicate Your Needs and Expectations
If you need to have your belongings out of your old home by a specific date, have the moving company put in writing when they will arrive to pick up your belongings. Make sure they know what you expect and any deadlines they must meet.
6. Compare Estimates
You should get a minimum of three in-home estimates. Do not accept a ballpark figure over the telephone. This could lead to under or over-inflation of the weight estimate. Instead, ask that they come to your house and inventory your belongings. Then compare prices and select the company that best suits your needs.
7. Study the Contract and Check for Additional Fees
Read the fine print. Make sure you won’t get hit with extra fuel charges or insurance charges that you did not expect. Your estimate should include all fees.
8. Be Wary of Large Deposit Requirements
Most companies will not require any deposit before moving your belongings. If they do, then it should not be more than 20%. Even then, put the deposit on a credit card, never give them cash. That way you can contest the charge if there is a problem.