Moving can be quite tedious, especially if you own plenty of stuff. Packing up all your things, renting a truck, loading the truck, driving to the new place, and unloading everything... That is all very time-consuming. Therefore, many people elect to hire a moving company to accomplish all or part of it.
Unfortunately, although hiring a moving company can help you save lots of time and stress, hiring the incorrect moving company can add to it. To safeguard yourself and your belongings, you will have to know how to choose a moving company.
Here are a few points to consider when looking for a good moving company.
1) Just how much of the move would you like the moving company to take care of?
The saying is that you can hire someone to do just about anything for you - for a cost. This is certainly true in this case. Many people choose to box up all their belongings themselves, and hire movers to load/unload the truck and transport everything. Some individuals, particularly if they are moving cross-country, might rent a truck and hire movers to box everything up and pack the truck, then do the driving themselves. Others hire movers to accomplish absolutely everything, from packing the boxes to unloading everything into the proper rooms in the brand new house.
2) How much are you currently budgeting for the move?
Of course, precisely what you have the moving company do will increase your bill. When you are on a tight budget, you may need to balance quality and convenience against cost. Which means that you might have to accomplish some of the work yourself, and hire movers who'll just do the most difficult parts - usually loading and driving the truck. Compare prices between moving companies, and decide which will best suit your needs.
3) How far away are you moving?
Long-distance moves affect two things whenever choosing a moving company: the expense of the move, and the moving companies you should choose from. Some local companies may not be in a position to move you across state lines. Also, for long-distance moves you will need to hire a moving company enough in advance to ensure that they have availability.
4) Does the moving company insure your belongings against damage or loss?
You have a large amount of capital invested in your belongings. Think how much money it would try replace some or everything if something were to occur during the move. Would you even be able to?
Many moving companies is only going to reimburse a fraction of the value of your belongings if something happens in their mind. Ask a moving company how much they purchase lost or damaged belongings, and become sure to get a copy of this policy in writing. If the moving company's policy doesn't provide enough coverage, you might want to look into additional insurance.
5) What kind of reputation does the moving company have?
We've all heard the horror stories of things turning up missing or broken following the movers have unpacked the truck and left. In the same way you want your belongings protected from damage or loss, additionally you need to find out whether a moving company includes a reputation for breaking or stealing things.
One way to research a moving company's reputation is to search for their name online. Look for both complaints and follow-ups, since how the company handled the complaint is at least as important because the complaint itself. You should also check to see if the company is a member of the Better Business Bureau. Even though BBB will attempt to mediate a conflict even if the moving company is not a member, there's less incentive for a non-member to work toward an answer.
verhuislift gent
The length of time the business has been in business is also an excellent indicator of reputation. Companies with bad reputations generally don't stay in business for lengthy, so a company that is around for some time would probably be considered a better choice than one which only started up recently.
6) Can the moving company give you references?
A good moving company will be able to offer you references upon request. Do check these references, but also keep in mind that just like individual, the moving company will probably offer references they know will be positive.
Of course, by far the best reference you can get is really a referral from the friend or acquaintance. You're probably better off utilizing a moving company recommended by someone you understand, rather than one you haven't heard of before.
Final Tips for Choosing a Moving Company
When you hire movers, you are putting a large part of your life in somebody else's hands. Things like furniture, clothing, and kitchenware are costly, but since we usually accumulate them over time, most people don't realize how much money they have tied up within their household items until they need to replace them all simultaneously.
Since there is so much based on having good movers, focusing on how to choose a moving company is essential. Before you begin contact moving companies for quotes, make sure to make a list of the questions you have to ask. This will help you stay focused through the conversation.