Moving Companies!

On this page you will find some useful tips for finding and using a moving company. In general, you may want to enlist the help of moving companies if you are planning a long distance move, a company move or if you just don't want to deal with trying to move all of the heavy stuff yourself. Also, people tend to use moving companies as they get older.

Moving Company Tips!

Before you can get a moving estimate or decide how big of a truck you will need, you will first have to narrow down the items that you will actually be moving. The first thing that you should do is make a general plan for what you are going to move. You should decide which items you are going to ship and which items you will sell or give away. If you will be selecting a professional mover then you should also decide if you want the movers to pack any of your items for you. Packing your items for you will require a separate bid from moving.

You will want to get a moving estimate from 3 different movers. You can ask friends and family for recommendations or you can look in the phone directory of the town where you live. Come up with a list of 5 possible choices. Now it is time to do your homework. You need to check the reliability of those 5 moving companies so that you can narrow your list down to three. Contact your local Better Business Bureau (BBB). Their listing can usually be found in the yellow pages under "Business Consultants". With them you can ask about the moving company’s complaint record. Also be sure to ask if and how those complaints were resolved.

If you are going to be moving out of state then you can contact the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) in order to get a performance report for an interstate moving company. The Interstate Commerce Commission regulates carriers engaged in transportation in interstate commerce and in foreign commerce within the United States. The easiest way to find them is to look online. You can also look in the government pages of your phone book. If you will only be moving within your state, you can request this same information from the transportation department or public utilities commission for your state. Again, the easiest way to get their contact information is to do an online search for them.

Once you have narrowed your list down to 3 possible movers, you can go ahead and contact them in order to set up an appointment for an estimate. Moving companies are not supposed to give estimates over the phone. You should not accept an estimate that is given over the phone. If one of your 3 moving companies tries to give you an estimate over the phone then you should exclude them from your list and move the next best choice from your list of 5 up to your list of 3 movers. Try to schedule your 3 moving estimates on separate days so that they don't overlap. If you try to schedule them one after the other then one of them may be running late or one of the estimates may take longer than anticipated.

You need to be there when the prospective mover comes to your house for an estimate. Ask them how long their estimate is valid. Also find out if the estimate is binding or non binding. You should try to get a binding estimate from the moving company and have the amount written in the contract and signed by the representative. Make sure that you cover all aspects of the move. Inquire about any gratuities (tips) that may be expected and have that written into the contract. The contract should include a guarantee for how many hours the entire moving job is going to take. You can allow for a maximum of 10% over the amount of hours that they quote.

The amount that you will be eventually billed for your move will be based on the weight of your shipment and the total distance or your move. If you are moving less than 50 miles then your move will most likely be priced by the hour. For moves that are a longer distance or for interstate moves, the moving estimates will be based on weight as well as hours. If you require additional services then those costs will be added on as well. So, how much your shipment weighs and how far you move will generally determine your total cost. Make sure that you show the movers every single item that you want to be shipped. Be sure to visit the attic, basement, garage, shed, closets and under all the beds. When you have finished going through your house with the moving estimator, you should be able to come to a clear understanding about the amount of items that you want to have shipped as well as the packing and other services that you may need. If you leave anything out from the estimate and later decide to include it then this will just add to the cost.

Insurance is an issue that you should be aware of when planning your move. The coverage for loss or damage to your items should be discussed when you are getting your estimate. Keep in mind that all licensed moving companies have to provide liability for the value of items that they move. The moving estimator should let you know about the different levels of liability and the amount of protection that they can provide and how much each level of protection will cost. You should also check your existing homeowner's or renter's policy to see what kind of coverage you have for moving. See our moving insurance section for more information.

It is best to be completely up front with the moving company. It's kind of like going to see the doctor. You wouldn't want to hide anything from your doctor for fear that he or she might make an improper diagnosis. Therefore, you should tell your mover about any possible unusual situations that may arise or anything that may affect the move so that your estimate can be more accurate. Tell the movers about any possible problems that may relate to parking or road access, street accessibility, or if there are any stairs or elevators that they may encounter in the move.

Ask the moving estimator to explain the estimate in detail. Make sure that they give you a copy of the contract. Once you have your 3 moving estimates you can go ahead and pick which one suits your needs and your budget. Keep in mind that it is not always the lowest estimate that should win the job bid. You should feel comfortable with the moving company that you select. If you simply choose a moving company for it's low moving costs estimate, you might end up paying more in the long run. You want to select a moving company with a good track record. You can't plan for every single contingency and sometimes things just happen. This is why it is a good idea to make sure that you are covered just in case something does go wrong with your move. Making sure that you have moving insurance and also going through the steps listed above should help to weigh the odds in your favor.

 

Final Word: Do make a checklist and start organizing your move as early as possible!

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