Hiring professional movers can be a brilliant idea when moving across long distances. It's a great way to avoid the hassle of renting moving trucks and lifting heavy furniture. You'll also be saving your friends from some hard labor! If you're thinking of hiring movers soon, then there are a few essential things you need to know. That's especially true if this is your first time hiring movers. Here's a collection of helpful tips and cost-saving techniques for finding movers!
Know What You're Moving
The first step is to take a complete inventory of everything that you need the movers to take. Are you moving your entire house or only one bedroom? Take a quick walk around your home and write down everything that you need the movers to take on the truck. This information will be invaluable when getting quotes from local companies.
Pack Items Yourself and Only Take What's Necessary
Be sure not to include anything that you can either replace or do without at your new home. Remember, the more items you have the movers carry, the larger your quote/bill will be.
Also, do your best to pack essential items with you in your car. You can fit a lot in a few suitcases, such as clothes, valuables, laptops, and small boxes. The more you can carry with yourself, the cheaper the quote!
Find and Compare Quotes
Next, find all the local moving companies in your area. Lots of companies have applications that allow you to get estimates online. If not, then you can always call the company to get an estimate. Calling is the best way to get the most accurate estimate since you'll be dealing with a live member of their team. Don't just get one quote; gather them all, and then compare to find the cheapest.
Do Your Research
An attractive quote doesn't always mean the company is the best one for you. It's imperative to check out the company's online reputation. Try to find reviews from multiple different websites. Pay attention to things like:
- Was the price quoted the price charged?
- Did the reviewers have good things to say about the quality of the movers?
- Were their goods delivered intact and on time?
An ideal moving company will have many reviews speaking of honesty and excellent service. Also, you want to see reviews that state that the price quoted was the price charged. That way, you know you're dealing with a company that's very honest in its pricing structure.
Things to Avoid
Of course, there are some companies out there that will try to take advantage of you. Here are a few red flags to let you know to find a different company:
- You find reviews claiming they give low estimates but then increase the price later
- You're asked to put down a large deposit before the move date
- The paperwork is not in order or incomplete
- You find reviews claiming fraud or theft
These are all signs that the company may be trying to practice moving fraud. To protect yourself, bear these tips in mind, and find a company with an excellent reputation!