How to Choose the Best Home Moving Company
Are you planning on moving to a different city or state? If so, there are many things that you would need to consider to facilitate the process of moving however, one of the most important things is finding a professional, reliable and cost-effective moving company. If you are moving long-distance, a company that specializes in cross-country moving would be ideal.
At the moment, you probably have a lot to think about and a lot to do. To make the moving process easier for you, here is a quick and simple guide to help you find the best moving company to help you transport your belongings from your current residence to your new home.
Ask Around
One of the first things you can do to find the best moving company is to ask around. Ask friends, family, colleagues and ask at your local library or advice center, they might be able to point you in the right direction. Often, word of mouth is the best advertising and if a good friend can highly recommend a company, the likelihood of the company offering good-quality service is relatively high.
Decide What You Need
What do you need most from a moving company? Is cost the most important factor? Or is it quality and reliability? Once you have decided exactly what you need, do some research on various moving companies, contact them and ask various questions. Make a shortlist of companies to decide which one you want to use.
Decide Your Budget
It is tempting to not create a budget however, creating a budget brings clarity. It helps you to prioritize your spending. When you know how much you are willing to spend, it will facilitate the decision-making process. Choosing the best moving company will be much easier if you have a set budget that you can use to decide which moving company to hire.
Watch out for Red Flags
There are many legitimate companies out there however, there are also many companies that are motivated by money only. These companies often demand large deposits and other miscellaneous charges.
A quick Google search of a particular company should bring up reviews from previous clients. If a company doesn’t have any reviews at all or you can’t find any proof that they offer a legitimate and reliable service, just go elsewhere. If you are happy with the quote but want some reassurance, contact the Better Business Bureau to find out more information about the company.
Is the Company Insured and Licensed?
If you are moving interstate, make sure that the moving company has a U.S Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration U.S DOT number. These are issued to all licensed interstate movers. However, if you are moving long-distance, you can check the company’s license through the protectyourmove.gov website.
Use Companies with a Professional Accreditation
It is best to use companies that have professional accreditation, check for an American Moving and Storage Association logo. If you can’t find the logo, you can check with the American Moving and Storage Association directly.
Compare Prices
It is tempting to go with the first offer however, the best thing to do is get estimates from three different companies and choose the best one. Your choice might not be based on price because cheap isn’t always best. Instead, it might be based on professionalism, reviews and your gut feeling that they are the best company to take on the job of moving your valuable belongings from your old place to your new home in another city or state.
Ask For Testimonials
Does the company have a list of genuine testimonials on their website? If they don’t, ask them if they have any testimonials that they can show you. Yes, some companies do create fake testimonials but most legitimate companies will provide you with genuine testimonials from real-life customers.
To conclude, choosing a moving company to suit your needs is not an easy decision, you will need to make sure they are fully licensed and insured. They must have experience with long-distance moving contracts, you should also check for accreditations and check for both good and bad reviews online.
Never go with the first estimate you receive, narrow your search down to three companies and choose between the three companies. Make sure you have a set budget for your move to prevent unnecessary spending and to ensure that you have enough money to hire a reputable, professional and reliable moving company.