Local Movers – What You Need to Know About Local Moving Companies
Hiring a company which offers moving services isn’t an easy task. You’re probably doing this because you want to improve your moving experience, but since you’re a paying customer, you need to be careful with your decisions. If you want to make the most out of the local moving company you’ll hire, pay attention to the following tips:
Get recommendations.
Hiring a local moving company is like swimming in a wide ocean – you won’t have any direction in finding the best local moving company for your needs. To make things easier for you, ask recommendations from friends and family. If they were able to hire local moving companies in the past, ask who should you hire and stay away from. Since your own social circle has first-hand experiences with these moving companies, you’ll have a better idea of how they work and what to expect.
Good reviews
Once you’ve got the names of a few companies to look into, use online reviews to learn more about them. People generally leave reviews if they’ve had a really good or a really bad experience, and both of those are important to know before you hire a moving company. You can easily read moving reviews through Moving.com to learn about other people’s experiences with a company, and it may even clue you in on some important variables you wouldn’t have known about otherwise.
A successful track record
There’s something to be said for giving a leg up to a new business, but a moving company that has been in operation for at least a few years is often the way to go. Based on information you find online, you should be able to discern a general idea of their record as far as being on time, keeping rates fair, and maintaining the condition of possessions. Unless you have a couple of really glowing recommendations about a new moving company, stick with the ones that have proven their competency over time.
Ask If There Will Be Any Extra Fees
Tell you mover everything about your move beforehand so they can completely fill you in on the details of your moving costs. Ask if there will be any extra fees for your move based on what you’ve told them. Some moving companies may not tell you about any extra fees that will be applied to your move if you don’t ask. You can expect extra fees for transporting items up a flight of stairs, an elevator, or down the street if the movers have to park far away. You can also be charged extra if the movers transfer heavy items such as large furniture and if you choose to use the company’s packing supplies.
Get an In-Home Estimate
Ask for a detailed, in-home estimate from your movers. The quote should be based on the inventory the movers took during the walkthrough of your home. Make sure the movers check all areas of your home where there are items that will be moved! An in-home moving estimate, as opposed to an online estimate, will closely reflect the total costs of your move. In-home estimates are often more accurate than quotes that are completed online, but many moving companies offer an online form to fill out on their website, or you can send them photos or videos of everything to be moved, so you can receive a moving quote.
If you are unsure about something on your moving estimate, now’s the time to ask. Don’t wait until your move is complete and the costs are not refundable. Your mover should be able to explain any moving terminology on the quote that you don’t understand so you can have a good idea of what each item covers for your move. Estimates should be free. Most moves can be fully paid for once you’ve finished moving.
Avoid packing costs
If you pack your belongings yourself, the mover generally isn’t responsible for damage to them. However, if you have your mover do the packing, you may pay inflated prices for boxes and packing materials, not to mention time and labor. If you decide to have the movers pack, ask about the packers’ experience. Most packers are careful, but you want to avoid the chance of getting someone who tosses whatever they can into a box and then seals it up with little regard for breakage.
How to find CHEAP local movers
Naturally, you’ll want to find not just any local moving company – you’ll want to find the cheapest local movers so that your house move becomes affordable. Your hard-earned money will be at risk during the home moving process, and it won’t help your relocation cause to spend more money than you absolutely have to.
This ultimate guide to hiring local movers will give you the average cost of local movers in the next heading so that you have a better idea about which local movers are expensive and which are cheap. But now, let us explain how you can compare the local moving company rates and choose the offer that best fits your moving budget.
- Step 1. Use our moving cost estimator to get in touch with top-rated local movers in your area.
- Step 2. Ask the movers to visit your home for an in-home visual inspection.
- Step 3. Show the relocation experts everything that you want to move to the new home so that they can give you an accurate cost estimate.
- Step 4. Discuss with the local movers the need for additional moving services (packing, for example) and ask them if you should know in advance about any hidden moving costs and charges.
- Step 5. Compare the local moving estimates you have received and pick the one that best corresponds to your needs – usually but not always the cheapest moving quote you’ve received.
Must-know moving tip: Get multiple moving quotes to be able to compare the rates of several reputable local moving companies BUT be warned to stay away from a possible questionable price estimate that is uncharacteristically lower than the rest – the so-called low-ball estimate.