Moving is a big deal. Whether you are moving within the same town or to a completely new state, moving takes tedious planning and a lot of energy and focus. Some people think that they can handle a move on their own or enlist their friends for additional help. What usually happens is that somebody ends up getting hurt, something gets broken, or people quickly find out it is a lot more work than they thought it was going to be. So the next natural step would be to start looking for moving companies. But where to start? The process may seem daunting with all of the options out there, but we came up with four must-do’s that you should consider before hiring a moving company.
- Insurance: One of the most important things when deciding which moving company you are going to go with is to make sure that they are insured. This means that your belongings will be replaced if damaged or lost and that the moving company will be responsible for the value of the damaged/misplaced items. There are multiple options of insurance coverage for each different moving company so make sure that you choose one with the insurance plan you are comfortable with.
- Estimates: It is important to do a lot of research and to gather as many moving estimates as you can. You can compare and contrast the different services that each of the moving companies you are looking into offers. You want to make sure that you are getting what you are paying for and that you are getting the full service that you want. It is also important to watch out for hidden fees that can be tacked along with your moving cost. Talk with the estimator or the company about everything upfront. Don’t surprise them with anything and they won’t surprise you!
- Services: What kind of services are you looking for? Do you want an unpacking/packing service as an option for your move? Or are you looking for something more like just getting your stuff from house A to house B? Each moving company offers a variety of service options, so each one is going to be different. Make sure that the companies offer everything that you need for your move when you are getting your estimates.
- Licensed: It is crucial that you are working with a legitimate moving company. People would be shocked if they knew the amount of companies that are working illegally and don’t have the proper licensing or titles to run a moving company. The solution to finding out if the company is registered is easy! Make sure the company has a Department of Transportation (USDOT) number and is registered. You can do this by going to safersys.org and searching the name of the company you are researching. This is often an overlooked step but is a crucial one!
We hope that these four tips will help you in your search of finding a moving company. Also, we recommend that you always make a list of what you are planning to move. For questions about our services and our company, give us a call for a quote or any other inquiries you might have!