Compare Moving Companies

To reduce the hassle of moving, many individuals hire the services of a professional moving company that has dedicated staff and equipment to conduct your move in a safe and professional manner. One golden rule of choosing a professional mover is to make a list of possible starters and compare between them. This will help you to make an informed decision not just based on the lowest price but on what best suites your interest.

How to Compare Moving Companies

When choosing a moving company, you must make an analysis of all the things that may affect your move. These include finances, volume, household items, and both vacating and relocating locations. This will give you an idea of the type of services you require. There also certain criteria any good moving company should have. Press for information on these as doing so may save you a lot of money and time. These include:

• Reach of the Company: This factor is important if you are doing interstate moving. Find out if the company is only local or does national service. National moving companies generally have more experience in handling different circumstances. They also must have all their licenses and insurance up to date to get clearance for interstate travel.
• The Package: This spells out what is included in their moving package. This is where many companies fall short with their clients. Investigate what each company includes in their base rate such as packing and unpacking of free boxes. Do not depend on their website, speak to someone at the company to get the full details of the package offered and get it in writing if possible.
• Additional Services: After analyzing what you need and the base package offered by each company, determine what additional services you need. Then proceed to enquire which of the companies offer these additional services and at what price. These may include packing, unpacking, carrying items up and down flights of stairs, traveling difficult terrain or moving extra heavy furniture.
• Reputation: Getting an informed consumer review is vital to any decision. Some of the best sources are your friends and family, the local chamber of commerce, local real estate agencies, or from business review websites. See what industry associations each company affiliates themselves with and the standards they set for their members. Also, check on their compliance with government authorities, also how they handle their customers when they have complaints about their services.
• Liability: Establish exactly for what each company is liable. Do they require additional insurance when moving fragile items, at what point does the start moving, is it when the trucks are loaded or when the boxes are packed? Read all fine print documents. Some companies only accept liability if they do the complete job of packing, loading, unloading and unpacking.
• Initial Estimate: By now, you must have eliminated some of these companies from your list. Call in the more likely ones to give an estimate for the move. Though not binding, ensure that they give this estimate in writing. Eliminate those who offer to give an estimate based on your description only. More than likely you will end up paying significantly more than what they estimated. Clearly show them what moving needs you have so you can get an honest appraisal. Choose the one which best suits your need.
• Refund Policy: Find out what type of default latitude each company offers. Are you able to change the date of the move or cancel if the situation changes. If so, what are the repercussions? If there is a refund, does it include the initial deposit?
• Final Appraisal: Finally yet importantly, have a representative present during the weighing of your boxes for your final billing. Make sure that they include all promises given by the company on your bill including whatever extra charges for additional services. This is very important because once the move has started; the moving company has the right to hold onto your belongings until all bills are settled.