No two relocations are exactly alike. Whether you’re shifting to another neighborhood or relocating across the country, the moving process will be different for each person. But one thing is for sure – it’ll stress you out. And while residential moves can already be complicated, expect more problems to arise if you’re moving out-of-state. However, you shouldn’t worry too much. With a good long-distance moving company, your move’s success can be guaranteed right from the beginning.
But the big question is: How do you go about finding the right long-distance movers? To answer the question, here are some practical tips:
Cheap Isn’t Necessarily the Only Way to Save
While it’s true that hiring movers for cheap can significantly cut down costs, you might want to be careful. Some rogue movers bait victims by giving them offers that are too good to resist. Once you’ve taken their bait, they’ll come after you with hidden charges. Knowing this, you should understand that established moving companies have good reasons for their prices. One of those is the security of your belongings as well as providing you peace of mind.
Comparing Quotes is a Must
Don’t settle for the first company to drop an offer. Remember that you’re the boss of this operation. Of course, you’ll want to choose the best among your options. That’s why you should obtain quotes from at least four to five different moving companies. Don’t bother with the ones that don’t make the effort of visiting your home to provide an estimate. Once you’ve gathered their offers, compare the prices and services with each other. Make sure you select the one that can meet your needs and fits your budget.
Check For Legitimacy
Just because your potential movers’ website overflows with positive testimonials doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take precautions. Most of these reviews have been meticulously selected to boost the company’s image. If you want to learn more about your movers, check out the reviews on Yelp or ask if they have complaints with the BBB. As a final precaution, ask for their USDOT number and run it through the FMCSA search tool.
Ask Questions
As the boss, you have every right to know the specifics of the operation. So don’t be shy to ask your movers questions and bring up your concerns. Make inquiries about important stuff like how they operate, what kind of training their staff undergoes, how they maintain their trucks and tools, what type of damages their insurance covers, etc. Keep in mind that communication is vital to any process. Plus, it helps your movers if you understand the way they do things.
Decide on Extra Services
Unless you’ve hired full-service movers, prepping for a long-distance by yourself can be complicated. But this doesn’t mean you can’t have the best of both worlds. You can still hire movers while doing basic tasks such as packing and cleaning. However, you might want to consider adding extra services, especially if you have lots of furniture. Most movers offer specific jobs for an added price like white-glove moving, furniture assembly, piano moving, and even shipping your car! Sure, it might bump up your bill, but it would be worth saving energy and time.
Prepare for Moving Day
Once everything is set between you and your movers, it’s time to get ready for the big day. The first thing to do would be to downsize. Sell or donate stuff you don’t need anymore. Bring as little as possible if you want to reduce moving costs. Next, gather supplies if you’re going to do the packing. Arrange for the transfer of your utilities and change your mailing address. Finally, be sure to inform friends and family of your moving date so they can come over and help. And that’s it!
Enjoy this big moment of your life. Wishing you a successful move!