Moving into a new home is always difficult. There are tons of boxes to pack, paperwork to do, and another layer of obstacles if you’re moving to a brand new city. Some people try to take care of it all themselves, but there’s another option. There are thousands of moving companies all across the country that can help you in that process. But how do you choose one?
Choosing a moving company can be a challenge. No matter where you are in the world, there are likely hundreds of options to choose from. That can be overwhelming sometimes. Whether you’re moving across the country or down the road, you want to find the best quality and best value moving company that you can find.
Rates of Moving Companies
Rates can vary drastically among different moving companies. Some charge so much that you would think they’re taking the whole house with them. Others are so cheap that it seems too good to be true. And some fall somewhere in the middle.
In the U.S. alone, there are more than 7,000 moving scams each year. This makes it even more difficult to find a quality contractor that fits your needs. You want to avoid overpaying, sure. But sometimes, you can tell when a company isn’t charging enough. As a general rule, if it’s too good to be true, it probably is.
It’s always important to check out a company’s history. Do they have any reviews online? Do you know anyone personally who has worked with them before? These can all be helpful things to know before choosing a company to work with for your moving needs.
Quality and Reliability of Moving Companies
There’s more to think about than just what the company charges, though. You want to make sure you’re getting the best value for your money. If a company is charging a lot, it may be because they are overcharging, but maybe they are actually worth the asking price. How do you know?
As with before, you can always ask a friend. But often, you won’t know anyone who has used the company in the past — making it more difficult to judge their reliability.
One thing you can do is check with the Better Business Bureau. Any decent moving company should be accredited by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). You can check your potential mover’s accreditation either on the FMCSA website or the Better Business Bureau’s.
Things to Consider When Choosing between Moving Companies
There are a few key things to keep in mind when choosing a moving company besides what we’ve already talked about. You want to know not just that they’ll get your stuff to your place. It all also needs to be in one piece.
Another thing to consider is how long they have been in business. Certainly, a newer company can do a great job, but it can help to know the company has some history behind them. The more successful jobs they have completed in the past, the more confident you can be that they’ll do a good job for you, too.
Most moving companies will have reviews online you can look at. Before choosing who to work with, just take a look at the reviews. See what kind of experiences previous customers had. This can be a great indicator of what you’re going to experience.
Find Moving Companies Near You
With all these challenges and concerns, it can still feel impossible to find the best company to work with. There are sites that do this heavy lifting for you.
It can be exhausting searching for a long list of candidates, then creating a shortlist, and making endless calls for quotes. The usual process looks something like this:
1. Search ‘Moving company near me’
2. Look over top 10 results
3. Filter through and make a list
4. Call and get quotes from each
5. Have top candidates provide an in-home quote
6. Make a decision and sign contract
7. Get moving!
The seven steps above might not seem like much, but they are when you consider how long they take. Your best bet is to find an online database of pre-screened contractors. They exist. This one is a gold mine for trustworthy moving companies.
It’s a process, but it doesn’t need to be as hard as it seems. Finding ways to make it easier to find a trustworthy moving company surely helps.
The key factors to look out for are fair prices, accurate quotes, social proof, and professionalism. Check-in on them with the Business Bureau and ensure they have all the official documents necessary to be deemed a legitimate business. The last thing you want is to get to your destination and have your moving company hold your belongings for ransom.
