How to Choose a Local Moving Company?
Published: 06 Jul, 2021
Last Updated: 26 Jan, 2023
Table of Contents
- 1. How Do You Choose a Moving Company, Though?
- 2. Make Sure the Movers Are Properly Licensed and Insured
Moving can be a very stressful ordeal. Not only that, but actually moving your possessions from your old home to your new one is a lot of hard work. You have more than enough things on your plate already without having to worry about how you’re going to transfer all of your furniture! This is why so many people decide to hire a moving company. This takes a lot off your mind and allows you to focus on the important tasks on moving day.
How Do You Choose a Moving Company, Though?
The Internet can be a great help in that regard. It’s easy to search for reputable moving companies and browse through online reviews. You’ll want to look for red flags, such as bad standing with the Better Business Bureau. There’s going to be a moving quote, no doubt, and you don’t want to make a large deposit if it’s not necessary.
Yes, a lot goes into finding reputable moving services, even if it’s just for local moving. We’re happy to give you a few tips to help you find the movers that are right for you.
Always get multiple estimates before choosing a company. Obviously, you’ll have to choose someone at some point, but get at least three or four different quotes before you make your decision. Make sure you get an in-person estimate, too, as no mover can give you an accurate quote without seeing everything for themselves.
Make sure the mover performs a thorough inventory, so you know that they’re accounting for everything and there won’t be an extra charge or two that you weren’t prepared to pay. When tallying up the things that you plan to take with you, be sure to let them know what you plan to leave behind, throw away, or donate. A large part of your bill will be based on how much space your possessions take up in the moving vehicles, as well as the weight of everything, so you don’t want to pay for items that you’re not actually moving.
Another reason you want to deal with them face-to-face is it will allow you to get a sense of how professional they are. Are they punctual? You don’t want to deal with movers that can’t show up on time. Do they have their own company vehicle and equipment? If a mover ever shows up in a rented vehicle, that’s a big warning sign.
Make Sure the Movers Are Properly Licensed and Insured.
- Licensed interstate movers are given a U.S. DOT number from the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. You can use this number to verify their license online, which you should certainly do.
- We mentioned the Better Business Bureau, or BBB, and that’s always a great resource for finding someone reputable. If they’re BBB accredited, that’s a great sign. However, that doesn’t mean that non-accredited services are untrustworthy. If they’re not accredited, but they still have a good rating through the BBB, they’re probably worth it.
- Never pay in advance. It’s standard practice to pay the movers upon delivery, so if they ask for money upfront, that should set off all sorts of alarms. Even if they’re not running a scam, if you pay upfront, they have less incentive to deliver your items in a timely manner.
- Finally, one of the best pieces of advice is also one of the simplest: ask around. All of your friends, family, and neighbors have moved at some point. Chances are a few of them will have some solid recommendations of what companies to go with and which ones to avoid.
