Did you know that many Americans consider moving to be one of the most stressful things they’ll ever have to do? In fact, almost 60% of people say that making a move is more stressful than planning out an entire wedding.
One way to reduce moving-related stress is by hiring residential movers to help you. By figuring out how to choose a moving company and then bringing one of the reputable moving companies in your area on board for your move, you can make things so much easier on yourself.
You should make sure that you have the right moving company on your side, though. Instead of picking the first company you can find, you should do some research to ensure you have a talented team of movers helping you out.
Here is how to choose the best moving service to assist you while you’re in the process of making a move.
Compile a List of Moving Companies in Your City
According to the American Moving and Storage Association, there are approximately 7,000 moving companies scattered throughout the country right now. This includes both small residential movers and big-time commercial movers.
Your first goal when you’re trying to figure out how to choose a moving company should be to create a list of as many of these moving companies as you can. You should Google something like “moving companies near me” and take a look at all the names that pop up.
Write down the following information for each moving company that you see operating in your general area:
- The name of the moving company
- The website for the moving company
- The phone number and email address for the moving company
- The cities that a moving company serves
By doing this, you’ll give yourself a great place to start when conducting a search for a moving company. You’ll have a much simpler time answering the question, “How do I choose an interstate mover?”, when you see your options listed in front of you.
Do Your Homework on the Moving Companies on Your List
Once you’ve generated a long list of moving companies in your area, the next thing you’ll want to do is start learning everything you can about your available options. You can usually do this by doing little more than visiting the websites for various moving companies.
While you’re checking out the website for a moving company, you should try to answer the following questions:
- How long has the moving company been in business?
- What kinds of moving services does the moving company provide?
- Does the moving company specialize in providing residential or commercial moving services?
- What seems to set the moving company apart from other moving companies in the area?
You can learn so much about a moving company simply by spending 15 minutes or so poking around on their website. You’ll get a great feel for who they are and what they have to offer.
Read Online Reviews for the Moving Companies You’re Considering
In addition to scanning a moving company’s website to learn more about them, there are other things you can do to see what a moving company is all about. For example, you can read through a bunch of online reviews for a moving company to see what other people in your community have had to say about them.
Using online reviews to your advantage is one of the most effective ways to weed out bad moving companies from reputable moving companies. If a moving company has racked up nothing but negative reviews over time, you’ll know that they’re not going to be a good fit for you.
There are some moving companies that include reviews from past customers right on their websites. You can browse through some of these reviews if you would like.
But you should also make it a point to browse through reviews that you find elsewhere, too. This will give you a terrific overview of a company and allow you to see them for what they really are.
Get in Touch With the Moving Companies You Like Best and Interview Them
As you’ve no doubt noticed by now, there is so much that you can learn about different moving companies without actually coming into contact with them. The internet has made it so simple for people to learn about a variety of businesses right online.
But you should, at some point, start reaching out to some of the moving companies that interest you the most. You’ll want to speak with someone from each of these moving companies and see what you can find out directly from them.
Call or email a small handful of moving companies in your area and let them know that you would like to arrange phone interviews with them. After you get them on the phone, ask them these questions to learn more about them:
- Can you provide me with a brief history of your moving company?
- Do you feel as though you can help me make my specific move?
- What kinds of moving trucks and moving equipment does your company use?
- Do you foresee any challenges that might pop up during my move?
- Why should I hire you to help me move over another moving company in the area?
A moving company shouldn’t have any problem sitting and speaking with you about what makes their business unique. You should be able to build a good rapport with those who work for a moving company prior to making the decision to hire them.
Consider the Costs Associated With Different Moving Companies
How much a moving company costs is going to depend largely on a number of different factors. Everything from the size of your home to the specific things that you’ll need moved can influence how much you’ll have to pay residential movers.
Generally speaking, you can expect to pay somewhere between $100 and $500 when moving out of an apartment or small house and somewhere between $600 and $1,800 when moving out of a medium-size or large house.
But every moving company takes a slightly different approach to calculating their prices. You should ask different moving companies to provide you with a quote for your move and then compare the moving company costs to see which price fits best into your budget.
Make Sure a Moving Company Is Available to Help You Make Your Move
You might love everything about a moving company and be convinced that they’re the best option for your move. But if they don’t have movers available to help you on the day of your move, what good is that going to do you?
At some point during your initial conversation with a moving company, you should check with them to make sure they have availability on the day that you’re thinking about moving. You don’t want to fall in love with a specific moving company only to realize that they’re not going to be around to help you out on your preferred day.
You could, of course, always adjust your moving schedule slightly so that you’re able to land the services of the moving company you like best. But that might not always be a possibility. This is why you should check to see if a moving company is going to be available to help you before doing almost anything else.
Don’t Forget to Ask a Moving Company If They Have Insurance!
You should not, under any circumstances, agree to work with a moving company if they aren’t properly insured. You could put your personal possessions at risk and find yourself at the center of a heated legal situation if you work with an uninsured moving company.
Ask a moving company if they have insurance prior to your moving date and don’t be afraid to ask them for proof of insurance. If they balk at your request at all, you should move on to a different moving company that you know is insured.
All reputable moving companies will be more than happy to show you that they have the right amount of insurance to help you move. This will provide you with peace of mind throughout the duration of your move and eliminate a lot of unnecessary stress.
Knowing How to Choose a Moving Company Will Make Moving Less Stressful
Far too often, people planning on making a move will Google “moving companies near me” and call on the first moving company they can find to help them. They don’t spend enough time considering their options and hiring the right company for the job.
You should avoid making this mistake by learning how to choose a moving company right from the start. You’ll have a much easier time moving when you hire a moving company that is cut out for the job.
Use the tips found here to locate the best moving service in your area. You’ll be so glad you did when your moving day finally arrives.
Want to discover more ways to make a move less stressful? Read the other articles on our blog to get some great ideas that will help you move.
