Are you getting ready to move? More than 35 million Americans do move every year, and, if you’re interested, South Dakota is the state with the highest percentage of people moving away, while New York, Illinois, and New Jersey see the highest percentage of people moving in. If you are planning a move, you’re probably looking into professional movers and wondering whether to hire a moving company or not. If you are, here are five important tips on how to choose the right moving service for you.
How to Choose the Right Moving Service: Check our Reputations
You may have thought about this one already, but it’s crucial. A good reputation usually means a company has a great combo of both good service and good rates. No one ever rates a business highly unless they get both, so ask around and check online.
How to Choose the Right Moving Service: Find Out How Long They’ve Been in Business
The longer the better. Not only does this mean you aren’t dealing with a fly-by-night organization, but it also means they have a lot of experience moving things that are important to people. They’re less likely to smash that heirloom from your grandmother or your kid’s most beloved toy.
How to Choose the Right Moving Service: Are They Licensed and Insured?
Every licensed moving company has a United States Department of Transportation number or DOT. Find out what the number is and then search for it in the database to make sure it’s legit. You also want to make sure they have insurance. There should be insurance on the truck and for your goods. Never ever move anything with unlicensed and uninsured companies, no matter how great their rates seem to be.
How to Choose the Right Moving Service: Find Out the Real Rate
Sometimes the rates you see online aren’t the final rate at all. Make sure you find out the exact rate for the season and day of the week that you want to move. Find out if taxes and other fees are included in the price you’re seeing. Make sure there are no hidden fees that will come up only after you’re goods are in their trucks. Ask, ask, and ask again. Be sure you’re getting the final price, all in.
How to Choose the Right Moving Service: Ask About Consolidation
Consolidated delivery can be a great way to save some money. Essentially, your goods get moved along with other people’s. This saves everyone money, but it does add time to the delivery schedule. There are more stops to make, and this means you’ll be given more of a delivery window rather than an exact date and time. Know if this is an option and what all the details are.
How to Choose the Right Moving Service: What Do They Offer to Do?
Are you responsible to wrap and box everything? What precautions will they take to prevent damage to your items? How long will the job take to finish and what will they charge for overtime? You also want to find out if they’re able to deal with elevators, and what they’ll say if you live in a walkup. Will they measure everything in advance to ensure the move goes smoothly? This is all important information to find out before you start the move.
Moving is a huge event, but it can be easier if you have the right moving service on your side. Take the time to look into movers in your area to get the right movers to get you from point A to point B as smoothly as possible.
