Moving to a new home obviously involves careful planning. You need to have a complete plan that covers a multitude of items:
- Prepare an inventory list
- Research licensed movers
- Finalize a shortlist of qualified moving companies
- Investigate capabilities and negotiate prices, valuation, and insurance plans.
All these steps require commitment and effort. Different moving companies specialize in different services – local, interstate, long-distance, international, and customized programs.
The most challenging part of moving is finding the right moving company to help you with your unique moving requirements. You need to evaluate a lot of factors to make informed decisions. Since moving involves several risks – you can face property damage and financial losses – hiring reliable movers remains the most important challenge for most homeowners.
Planning your move ahead of time and following all the steps above to develop a thorough set of materials and plans will help you eliminate or overcome all the challenges you could face at different stages of your moving process.
Below, you will find the most important factors that influence your hiring decisions.
Search for a Licensed Moving Company
The first crucial step to consider is finding a licensed moving company for your move. If you DIY your move or delegate the work to just any mover, you are at risk of having damage or even losing your valuables. It is essential to completely research a reputable and qualified moving company source that will follow the best moving practices that you can hire to help you move to your new home safely.
To look for licensed movers, you can:
- Ask your family and friends for referrals
- Contact and speak to your real estate agents for recommendations. (Most real estate agents won’t mind assisting clients in their quest to find the right moving company.)
Research Your Moving Company
Before you finalize your selection, you need to research the reputations and backgrounds of multiple moving companies to determine the ability of each of them to successfully support your move. Your investigation should include asking each one of them for references and browse through reviews and client testimonials. A reliable moving company will have great reviews and multiple updated testimonials from previous clients listed on their website and/or available upon request.
Ask For an Upfront Estimate
Once you have narrowed down your options, you can contact the moving companies on your shortlist for estimates. Never rely on a single quote while making decisions. You should compare plans and ask for upfront estimates to avoid making what could turn out to be a disastrous mistake.
When it comes to matters of moving charges, you should avoid discussing your inventory over the phone. You need to have an on-premise meeting with representatives from a number of companies to address several essential aspects before signing a contract. You want to clearly state what you believe to be their responsibilities, so you ask questions and look for feedback to avoid hasty conclusions.
People who don’t ask for COMPLETE hard number upfront estimates overlook the fact that they might face hidden charges along the way. Get all information in writing to avoid future hassles.
Find Out about Valuation and Insurance Plans
The final step is to find out about valuations and insurance plans. Before you hire movers, you need to discuss your moving challenges. You might have fragile, antique, or high-value assets. A reputable company should be able to clearly explain what they can offer in the way of valuation policies and insurance plans. Most moving companies will provide clients with valuations to help them insure your move. If there are any questions that might arise because of damage or loss, you can refer to their paperwork and claim the appropriate compensation.
Final Thoughts
When you decide to move to a new place, you need to be thorough and get to know what issues might have to be resolved. Once you evaluate your moving needs, do all your research and hire a mover who has met all your requirements and can offer assistance every step of the way. For best results, plan your move ahead of time and check with movers for availability and customer services.
Following the processes outlined above will allow you to be sure of the factors that you need to consider to successfully contract a professional moving company that can meet your specific moving challenges.
