What To Look For When Hiring A Moving Company
There are numerous important factors you should take into consideration while looking for a professional moving company which might be challenging if you are a first-time mover with no experience in the subject. Finding a reputable professional moving company isn’t easy, even if it’s not your first time moving. You need to understand that moving is a very complicated process that includes multiple tasks like packing, loading, transport, unloading, and unpacking which is why moving is ranked as one of the most stressful events you can experience in your lifetime. The cheapest tip we can give you is to ask family and friends for help since there is no way you’ll be able to conduct the move by yourself, especially when it comes to loading and unloading. But in some cases, your close ones can’t step in, leaving you in a dead-end situation. So, if you want to learn what to look for when hiring a moving company, check out the following text below.
Recommendations
One of the simplest tips we can give you is to ask family and friends for recommendations. Even though, for some reason, they can’t step in and help you personally, it might be a good idea to ask them if they know about any reputable moving companies, especially if they’ve moved in the recent period. Besides family and friends, you can even ask colleagues for help. Also, you can use the internet to simply search for the local moving companies, but try to avoid sponsored ads at all causes. Just because some company is at the top of the search, it doesn’t mean that the mentioned company is reputable. Keep in mind that established companies don’t mean good service, and new companies can be very professional. What does this mean? It simply means that there is no way you can know whether the company is legit without performing a background check.
Background Check
Suppose you found a couple of companies you want to check out and got a couple of estimates. How to decide which option suits your needs best? First and foremost, perform a background check on every company you might want to hire. The simplest way to do so is by checking out online reviews left on the company page. Watch out for fake reviews that seem too good to be true. Also, remember that a couple of bad reviews don’t mean that the company is not reliable, and a couple of good reviews are not proof of their solid work ethic. Furthermore, there are numerous websites online created with the sole purpose of ranking moving companies. Of course, another way of performing a background check is tracking down people that left the reviews and asking them directly whether they’re satisfied with their service.
We must say that a long track record usually means that the company is reliable and profitable. Even though the fact that the company has a long history isn’t direct proof of their work ethic, chances are you’ll be satisfied with their service. Of course, not all information found online is reliable, but by performing a background check, you’ll be way more secure in the company of your choice.
Watch Out
Like with everything, there are some red flags you should watch out for when it comes to choosing a reputable moving company. Even though it’s normal that you won’t like absolutely everything about the company, some signs scream that you should stay away, including:
- Rude behavior of the employees, especially the customer support service.
- Inability to answer your questions, especially when it comes to critical questions regarding the move itself.
- Different prices on the phone and in person when an estimate is made.
- Company is listed in a couple of different names and has been on a black list.
There are other warnings you should watch out for, especially when your gut instinct is telling you that something is off. We’re not saying that you should be paranoid about every little thing, but if something feels off, it usually is.
Rates
When you hire any mover to hire their services, they’ll usually give you a rate based on the number of movers and the number of hours you’ll most likely need from them. However, you need to keep in mind that the estimate given on the phone is a base rate which usually doesn’t include any packing materials you might need moving very heavy and large objects. Although moving companies can’t give you an exact estimate on the phone, what they can give you is somewhat of a general idea of how much you’ll have to spend on the move, which is why it is always recommended to leave at least 10-15 percent of the budget for unexpected expenses. Always ask the company whether there is an extra fee hidden and what to expect. So, if the company is open and transparent when it comes to rates, chances are that you are dealing with a reliable moving company.
License and Insurance
Avoid companies that don’t have a license or are not insured, as this is a pretty good pointer that something about the company is off. Anyone can buy a truck and call themselves a reputable moving company, but if a company is licensed and insured, chances are you found yourself a reputable and professional moving company.
Make sure to follow all of the steps mentioned in our guide, and we recommend performing a thorough background check before hiring them. In any case, best of luck!
