What to Look For in a Good Moving Company

Hiring the right moving company is essential to making your move go smoothly. There’s nothing worse than hiring a mover only to find that they make nicks and dings in your furniture and walls or that your stuff doesn’t arrive on time. Before you go through the heartache of hiring a bad moving company, there are some things you should keep in mind while you’re making your decision.

Moving companies can range from small- with only one or two trucks- to huge corporate operations. Prices vary too depending on what extra features you want , how much stuff you have and the distance of your move.

• Visit the company. The most important step you can take to finding a reputable mover company is to actually go down to the facility in person. Yes, this will require more effort than simply sitting in front of your computer screen with your mouse, but the extra effort you put in now will be worth it in the long-run. Ask the manager or sales rep questions about the company. You can use the following questions as guidelines to get as much information about the company as possible.

1. Full company name and any names they are doing business as.
2. How long they’ve been in business
3. Address
4. Phone numbers – both local and toll-free
5. Website
6. Email address
7. Ask for references (and make sure you call them and find out about their experience with the company)

• Insurance is essential. Of course you don’t plan on ruining or breaking anything in your move, but just in case something happens you want to be prepared. Especially if you have valuable items, you’ll want to protect them so you don’t lose your money unnecessarily. Make sure the company can insure your valuables and if not, check with your home owners or renters insurance to see if they’ll insure your processions during the move.

• Equipment is important. Check to see what type of moving equipment the company has. Depending on your needs, you’ll want to have different containers, packaging and equipment. A good moving company should be able to provide you with everything you need for the move such as blankets, packing bubbles, boxes and dollies. You want to have all the necessary safeguards in place to ensure that your processions stay safe during the move. Note that there will probably be an additional charge for some of these items.

• Storage facilities. If your move will take more than one day or if you need to store your items for a while, check to see if the moving company has a storage facility for your things. Making use of the moving company’s storage facilities will save you time, money, and the hassle of essentially having to move twice. If the moving company can take care of that for you, it’s one less step you have to worry about. Make sure the facility has good security and climate control. These are both important factors in securing your possessions.

• Responsibility and trust. It’s important that you are able to trust the people you are letting into your home. Communicate with them and let them know exactly what you want. Make sure they are responsible and will be accountable for what they do during the move. Check their credentials by asking for customer testimonials or by asking other people you know who have hired them.

It’s important to make sure you hire a good moving company. When you do, it will ensure that your move is smooth, seamless and fun.