Moving long distances can prove quite a feat. You need to make sure that you’ve got everything covered, and you don’t leave anything behind. It can be quite scary, especially when you have to do it all by yourself.

Hiring movers has proven to be a great way to ease you of stress and make the entire process something to look forward to. Although this will up the price tag, moving is neck-bending work, so much can be said about the relief that comes with ridding yourself of the responsibility.

Things To Know Before Calling A Moving Company

As a reward for your value, you deserve the best long distance movers for your migration. It can be quite a task finding out what exactly you need from these experts. What do you need to know before putting that call across?

1. Research moving companies around you

It’s always a good idea to look up at least seven movers by going through their history, understanding the go to go signs of a rogue moving company, and knowing the precise details of the movement.

Also, will you be packing all by yourself? What estimate is best for your move? You need to find the answers to these questions.

An excellent way to begin your research on the internet. Recommendations from neighbors, friends, and family also go a long way in keeping you informed and ensuring you make the right choice.

You probably know a few people who have previously hired the services of a moving company. Reach out to them, ask questions about their experiences, and see who they would recommend.

The chances are high that someone has had an unpleasant experience with an otherwise highly rated company. It is also likely that someone has had a good experience with a growing company that has no web presence.

2. Know Your Budget

When it comes to hiring a moving company, knowing your budget is one way to make the decision-making process easier and faster. Although you might not need to let them know what your budget is in the first instance, you must keep the number at the back of your mind when sorting out the details.

Another thing to keep in mind is that it’s always better to compare moving companies. Do not go with the first company that fits into the budget you have in mind. You stand to get more value for your price, when you compare a few companies, to see which gives you the most value for the budget you set for yourself.

3. How Large Is Your House?

This is a question of capacity. Your house can hold a lot of items, depending on its size. A one-bedroom apartment has less capacity when compared with a two-bedroom apartment, and so on.

If you let the house moving company know how big your apartment is early enough, they’ll have a much easier time figuring out your estimate.

It, however, is also crucial that they visit your house to see what exactly you have in your home. This will foster accuracy as in-house quotes are better and more accurate than other types of quotes. A plus to this is that you get to discuss with them the process.

4. License and Insurance

You should never use a moving company that isn’t insured or licensed. Buying a truck and calling yourself a moving company is something any group of people can do.

However, only those who have adequate licensing and are properly insured have the legal right to protect your property.

For long-distance interstate moves, movers are expected to sign up with the U.S. Department of Transportation, after which they’ll receive a unique USDOT number.

You can ensure a company has a valid DOT number, as well as insurance, by searching the database, provided by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

Regulations for intrastate movers are on a state-by-state basis, though most states do have licensing requirements as well. Research intrastate licensing laws in your state, and then verify that your moving company abides by them

You could also search the American Moving and Storage Association’s, ProMovers List. Here, you’ll find a compilation of house movers in each state that have already been vetted.

5. Transparent Rates

When you contact a house moving company to book a service, you’ll most likely receive an estimate based on the number of movers and number of hours you’ll need from them.

However, it is important to know that this is only a base rate. As such, it does not include the packing materials you may need, extra fees required to move heavy objects or some other unplanned additions.

It’s safer to be sure of what makes up an additional fee, and if the moving company is not as liberal with such information, feel free to contact the next company.

6. Watch out for Rogue Movers

Every year, millions of people require the services of a house moving company. Although quite a small percentage have had unpleasant experiences with moving company fraud, it still proves a problem.

Several systems have been put in place to ensure if a moving company is legitimate, one of which is the availability of an active license.

Check to see if the moving company has an active license. Also, look up previous service records to be sure that a physical address exists (not just a P.O. box).

Be wary of any mover asking for an upfront payment, especially when it exceeds 20 percent. The Federal Motor Carry Safety Administration has provided a list of tips to make sure you hire the right moving company.

Conclusion

There’s quite a lot of competition in the moving industry, and irrespective of your current location, you’re sure to have a few options to choose from. Do your research, ask the right questions, and always remember that there are other legitimate options to choose from when any company gives you a wrong signal.

To cap it all, you want to hire the services of a company with a track record of reliability, safety, and high quality of service. A lot can go wrong with the choice of an illegitimate moving company.

The good news is that the more work, time, and effort you put into hiring the perfect moving company, the less likely you’ll be to deal with potential mishaps.