Moving is a stressful process, but when you hire a full-service moving company, it becomes exciting. Finding reputable, professional movers who treat your items like their own is critical.
Finding and hiring the right moving company is challenging. It’s like scouting and interviewing job candidates. Hiring licensed movers is often the best way to ensure a stress-free and efficient move. Hiring professional movers begins with knowing what to look for and which questions to ask. You are trusting people you don’t know.
You’ll want to hire a moving company that prioritizes your needs and specializes in your required services for a smooth, stress-free move. These experienced moving companies make your move smooth, while choosing the wrong company can make your relocation a nightmare. It’s essential to do your research for a professional full-service moving company. So, you’re sure to hire the best-licensed movers for your needs.
Keep reading for insider tips and learn the crucial information you should know when hiring a professional mover.
Tips For Choosing A Full-Service Moving Company
When you are ready to look for the right moving company, consider these essential tips:
- Think About Your Needs
Before you hire professional movers, you should think about your needs.
Are you going to pack your belongings yourself but need packing supplies? Or do you want to hire movers who pack, transfer, and unload your belongings so you can focus on other parts of your move? This will help you find an experienced legal mover to streamline your experience.
- Ask for Recommendations
Are you looking for a reputable, licensed mover? Turn to your friends, family, and acquaintances first for recommendations. Looking at online reviews, references, and Better Business Bureau (BBB) ratings is crucial. However, the most helpful part will be having a firsthand account of an experience with a moving company from someone you trust.
- Review Your Budget and Get Multiple Quotes
Have you assessed your budget?
If you still need to, review your budget before looking for quotes. You should know precisely what you can spend. It will help you compare and contrast the quotes you receive from professional movers.
If a mover does not give an onsite estimate, you should not hire them. It’s a golden rule. You must get at least three in-person estimates before committing so that you will have enough options to consider when choosing a final full-service moving company.
- Get an In-Person, Written Quote
You should meet up with a mover to receive an in-person quote. It will ensure your estimation accuracy. Remember to ask about additional costs, like equipment, fuel surcharges, or hidden fees.
- Communicate Your Moving Needs Clearly
Ensure that the moving company is perfectly aware of everything that must be relocated. The cost will rise if anything is added to the shipment that was not included in the estimate.
Moreover, make sure the mover knows of any exceptional circumstances that might make your relocation challenging. For instance, will the moving truck have difficulty parking at your new home? You may be charged extra money if the mover has to park far away. It is for the walking that movers must do to get your belongings to your new place.
- Check for Hidden Fees
You should read the fine print of the moving company’s quote to avoid surprises on a moving day. Remember to look for hidden fees or additional charges that may not be included in the initial estimate, such as fees for stairs, long carries, or bulky items. A reputable full-service moving company will be transparent about all potential costs upfront.
- Inquire About Services Offered
Full-service moving companies typically offer various services, including packing, loading, transportation, unloading, and unpacking. You should clarify which services are included in the quote and inquire about any additional services you may need, such as furniture disassembly and reassembly or storage options. Make sure the company can accommodate your specific needs before hiring them.
- Move During the Winter
From June till September, the busiest time for movers. If you have the option to make a move between October and April, you can get a better price. Make sure to call for estimates and settle a contract well in advance.
Things To Consider When Hiring A Full-Service Moving Company
When you finally find a moving company that might fit your needs, ask the following questions to weed out less experienced or credible contenders than they claim to be.
- Are You Licensed and Insured?
The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) will license the professional interstate movers. Make sure to check a mover’s license number online and view the company’s complaint history. Similarly, intrastate movers should be licensed by the state. Always avoid moving companies that are not licensed or insured.
- Do You Offer Binding Estimates?
Next, you should ask your movers whether they offer binding estimates. A binding estimate is a fixed-price written quote that includes any potential additional fees, such as service add-ons.
- What Kind of Liability Coverage Do You Offer?
If your personal belongings are lost or damaged during transit, ensure that these are thoroughly covered by insurance. Always double-check to ensure your preferred moving company offers liability coverage no matter the distance you intend to travel.
The USDOT involves interstate moving companies to provide at least two kinds of liability coverage:
Full Value Protection — The moving company reimburses the total replacement value of lost or damaged belongings.
Released Value Coverage — This ensures that the mover accounts for 60 cents per pound per article of any missing or damaged items.
- Find out What’s in the list of Services
Ask the below-discussed questions to avoid unexpected costs on a moving day:
- Will the selected moving company provide boxes, blankets, and other moving equipment?
- Will your moving company take care of packing your stuff?
- Or do you have to pack yourself?
- Is fuel included in the price, or will it be an additional charge?
- Other Considerations to Ask Movers
Aside from the high-priority questions discussed above, you should consider asking the following to get a better idea of what working with the moving company will be like:
- What is your cancellation policy?
- What services do you provide?
- Can I track my shipment?
- Do you handle specialty items?
- What payment forms do you accept?
- What is your claims process like?
When Should You Hire Movers?
Now, you have the information you need to find and hire a trustworthy full-service moving company. It’s time to think about when you should hire your legal movers. It will depend primarily on the time of year and distance you plan to move.
Usually, you should shop around for quotes at least two or three months before the big day. The longer the distance you plan to move, the sooner you should start to gather moving quotes.
For a cross-country move, start looking for quotes at least two months ahead of time. But finding a moving company at least a month in advance is sufficient for a short-distance move. Movers are notably busier during the spring and summer, so the sooner you can get a moving quote and hire the mover, the better the deal you will likely receive.
The Final Thoughts
Each move is unique. By following these essential tips, one can hire a full-service moving company with confidence that one’s belongings are in safe hands. A reliable and professional movers make your move as smooth, streamlined, and stress-free as possible.
