With over 5.34 million people selling homes in 2019 alone, you can imagine how many moves take place. This number only reflects home sales, but people also move for other reasons.
If you’re planning a move soon, you might be looking for some ways to reduce your stress level and make the move a little less challenging. One option for this is hiring a local moving service for help.
Hiring a moving company makes a move so much easier and less stressful, but how do you choose a company? If you’re unsure how to pick a company, you may want to check out the following seven factors that you should consider when hiring a mover.
1. Location of the Local Moving Service
The first factor to consider is the moving companies in your location. If you look up movers in your area, you will get a list of all the local moving services. You will need to choose one that offers services in your area.
Some companies might advertise in your area, but they might not offer services there. You might also find some businesses that do not advertise in your area, yet they might offer services there.
The bottom line is that you need to find a company that offers services in your location. As you search for the right company, keep this in mind.
2. Recommendations and Referrals
The next factor to consider is the references and reviews that your friends and relatives offer. Do you know people who recently moved? If so, did they hire a moving company for help?
One of the best ways to choose a company is by using one that your friends and relatives recommend. If you have people in your life that you trust, you can take their word with the recommendations they provide.
When asking your friends for referrals, ask the following questions:
- What company did you use?
- Would you hire them again?
- What did you like about their services?
- Was there anything you didn’t like about their services?
- How much did it cost?
Asking these questions can help you gather a lot of details about a company. Afterward, you’ll know if you should pursue that company or not.
3. Reviews From People You Don’t Know
If your friends don’t have any recommendations or aren’t happy with the answers you get, you can always look online for reviews. People who use moving services will often leave reviews about their local moving experience.
By reading reviews from people who’ve used the services, you’ll learn a lot about the companies you investigate. In fact, you’ll probably find all the answers to the questions listed above.
As you read the reviews, take notes about the companies, and write down questions you have. You can then spend more time researching these companies or contacting them for more information.
4. The Company’s Insurance and License Information
It’s also vital to choose a moving company with the proper license and insurance. You might be surprised to learn that many companies offer services without these things.
Before you hire a mover, ask about these things. If they can’t provide you with documentation that proves they have these things, move on, and find a different company.
Moving companies take on significant responsibilities when agreeing to transport your things from one home to another. If they don’t have the proper credentials, you could suffer a lot of losses.
For example, if they wreck the truck on the way to your new home, you could end up with damaged items. If they don’t have insurance, you might be stuck paying the bill. Therefore, always check a mover’s credentials before hiring them.
5. Their Prices
The next factor to consider is the prices of the services. Moving companies calculate prices with different methods, so it’s vital to ask about the prices and compare them before selecting a company.
As you’re comparing moving fees, make sure the companies offer the same services. You might find a cheaper bid from one company, but the services might exclude some things that the other bids included.
While you may not want to choose the cheapest company, you will want to make sure the company offers competitive prices. The only way you’ll know is by requesting quotes from several movers.
6. The List of What They Move
As you’re comparing the costs of the services, you’ll want to closely examine what they move and what they will not move. If you have some large things that you must move, you’ll need to make sure the company moves them.
A piano, for example, is an item that some moving companies won’t touch. A trampoline is another example. If you have many items like this, you’ll need a company to move them for you.
Keep in mind; some moving companies will agree to move things like this. However, they might charge additional fees for large items that they must move.
7. Timing of the Services
Finally, you’ll want to talk to your mover about timing. Moving day is typically a date you can’t change. When you find out the closing date of your home, you’ll probably need to move somewhere around that date.
When you talk to a moving company, it’s essential to find out if they can provide services around that date. If they are booked for weeks or months, they might not be available for a while.
If this is the case, you may want to keep looking. You’ll need services around a specific date, so you must find a company that is available to offer the services on or around that date.
Take Your Time When Hiring a Moving Company
Hiring a local moving service can provide you with the assistance you need for your move. As you start searching for a company, make sure you factor in the seven things listed here.
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