How to Select a Good Moving Company

Purchasing a new home or relocating to a different city? It’s exciting to move into a new place but the process can be anything but easy. And the last thing you want to worry about is a moving company damaging your belongings and property, or worse.

Most people head to the internet and search for moving companies with the lowest prices and highest availability. While that might be convenient, it leaves you with no guarantee of a drama-free move. There are a few important steps you should take to be sure you’re using a reputable and experienced mover that will give you peace of mind as you make your big change.

Get Recommendations from Friends and Family

Sometimes word of mouth is just the best way to be sure you’ll be satisfied with the result of your move. Ask one of your friends or colleagues what movers they used and how it turned out. And keep in mind what their situation was and how it compares to yours – do they own a larger home or had an easy apartment move?

Ask important questions. Were the movers late on moving day? Did all their belongings end up in the new location in one piece? Did the movers respect the rules of the building or neighborhood?

Protect Yourself and Do Your Research!

Once you have the names of a few movers you could potentially use, it’s time to do some critical research. Check out the moving company’s reputation through websites like Yelp and the Better Business Bureau.

Be sure your potential mover has a license to operate their truck with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. You can even call the American Moving and Storage Association to see if the companies you’re vetting are members, which means they need to abide by the organization’s published tariffs and to participate in its arbitration program – hopefully something you won’t need but is nice to know you have.

Ask for an In-Home Estimate

If you’ve narrowed down your search for the perfect mover to a few you’re considering, have them come by for an estimate. Not only will this prevent any surprises on moving day, it will give you a chance to speak with a representative from the moving company and evaluate their professionalism.

You can ask them all your burning questions and be sure you are both on the same page prior to the move. You can also sometimes get a good or bad gut feeling from someone when you meet them in person. From here you should be able to narrow down your choices.

Be Prepared Come Moving Day

Even when you’ve selected your mover, documentation is extremely important in case anything goes awry and you need to reference what was agreed upon. Make sure you have a copy of the mover’s inventory list and have them review it so they know exactly what items they are responsible for. Be sure they have specific instructions for getting to your new property, and have their contact information handy in case you need to call and check in.

During the moving process, immediately snap photos of any damage to both your items or the property, such as dents in furniture or scratches on the walls of your new home. Immediately bring these things to the attention of your movers, and in writing is always the best for documentation.

While exciting, moving is never a simple process. Make sure you find a reputable mover that will take great care of your belongings and respect your new home. If you’re hiring someone to handle all the heavy lifting for your move, that should include not stressing about it being done right.