Tips For Hiring The Right Moving Company
What You Need To Know Before Moving Your Home
Moving into a new house can be undoubtedly exciting. That said, it’s also a task that can be more work than you realize. For that reason, it’s a good idea to hire a reputable moving company to help you with everything. To better ensure everything goes smoothly, you need to know what to look for in a quality company that will resolve issues, not cause them. Here’s a guide to give you some insight.
Ask About Licensing and Experience
Proper licensing and experience are two must-haves when it comes to hiring professional moving services. If a company doesn’t have a license, there’s a chance you could be dealing with a scammer looking to take your money and leave you with more problems than you started out with.
Ask for the license number from the moving company. Then, head over the United States Department of Transportation’s website and look up that number. You’ll be able to see if the company has any complaints filed against it, allowing you to make a better-informed decision regarding whether you really want to hire them. If you’re moving to a different area in the same state, the moving service should have a state license.
On a related note, it’s also best to stick with a company that has plenty of experience. Experienced movers know how to transport your furniture and valuables in a way that won’t damage them. It’s best to get specific and ask if the company has experience with your type of move. For instance, you may have several fine art pieces to move, or your home could be laid out in a way that it’s difficult to move furniture in and out. There could also be limited parking, small doorways or a lot of traffic where you live. The moving company you choose should be able to handle any special requirements you have.
A Recommended Moving Company Is Best
Have any of your friends or family moved recently? If so, ask them which moving service they used and how they liked that particular company. Sure, you can look up companies online through search engines, but there’s nothing like knowing someone who’s actually used the service before. Plus, the company could offer a discount for referrals. Another reason to ask for recommendations from family and friends is a that a great moving company may have a limited online presence, or they could be low in the search engine rankings even though they do fantastic work.
If there’s a company you really like but none of your friends and family have tried them, check out online reviews. Good reviews give you an idea of what you can expect from the company if you decide to go with them. Something to bear in mind with online reviews is that people usually only tend to leave reviews when they’ve had a great experience or a horrible experience; average experiences usually go unreviewed. No matter what kind of reviews the moving company has, check to see if there are any commonly repeated gripes or praises, such as showing up late, great prices or possibly stolen items.
Check on Liability Coverage
Should any of your belongings sustain damage during the move, the moving service should have liability insurance to cover it. There are two different types of coverage: Released Value Protection and Full Value Protection. With Released Value coverage, the mover bears liability up to 60 cents per pound per article. With Full Value Protection, the mover bears liability for the cost of repairing or replacing anything that’s lost or damaged during the move. Released Value coverage is free, while Full Value Protection comes at an additional cost. In any event, check your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy to see if you already have some type of coverage
You Should Easily Understand Rates and Fees
The moving company you’re thinking of doing business with should be transparent in how it calculates rates and fees. For instance, your rates could be determined by the number of movers and the number of hours the job requires. After that, you could be charged for any packaging materials you need or if you have heavy items to move. Be sure you have a firm understanding of what you’re expected to pay for and that the movers have a firm understanding of what needs to be moved. That way, you’re both on the same page and there’s less chance of you experiencing sticker shock when you notice unexpected expenses on your final bill.
The right moving company will make your move easier rather than more of a hassle. Put these tips to good use to lock down great moving services in your area.