Asking the Right Questions When Hiring Movers

Few things in life compete with the excitement of a new home. It’s the beginning of a new chapter in your life, a blank canvas of opportunities ready to be filled with your own personal touches and new memories. Whether it was love at first sight, or you needed a bit of time to find the right place to call home, now that you’ve signed on the dotted line, it’s time to embrace all the freedom and joy that comes with the purchase of a new-to-you home.

There’s one more thing in the way: before you can sleep in it, you’ll need a bed. Unless the home comes fully furnished, you’re going to need to move. The process of buying and selling a home can be stressful, but for many, moving might just be the most stressful part of it all. Is moving really that bad? Sure, some circumstances- like a rushed pace or a long-distance move might add complications, but the reality is that the biggest challenge of moving is actually getting it done. Want to make the process easier? Find the right professional for the job! Whether you’re moving from a cozy apartment or a sprawling mansion and bringing it all along with you, the right movers will be able to help answer your questions, pack and move your possessions with care, and work on a timleline that works just right for your schedule. That leaves only one question: how do you find the right movers?

Like any professional, you’ll want to find someone with experience, integrity, and service that warrants the costs associated. Don’t let the relief of “being finished” keep you from noticing some red flags that might make the moving process more difficult. Protect your belongings- and your ability to sleep at night- by learning the signs of movers you’re better off to avoid.

• Always start by doing your research. Most businesses have listings online, and you can find customer reviews easily. Don’t just pay attention to the number of stars: read the reviews and find out why people rated the service the way they did. While you can skip over businesses with overwhelmingly negative reviews, choosing between the top picks can take a little more consideration. Look for businesses with long track records of positive reviews, and make sure they haven’t recently had a string of negative ones. On the same token, some businsses do get better over time, so negative reviews from years ago may no longer be relevant. That’s why its important to read the reviews and understand context- someone may give a mover a negative review because an item was damaged in transit. This might not even be the fault of the movers!
• Interstate movers can be licensed, and you can check to make sure they’re up on their certifications. You can also check them out with the Better Business Bureau and other consumer protection groups. In fact, there’s an entire government website dedicated to helping you find good movers- www.fmcsa.dot.gov/protect-your-move.
• Always get a written estimate!
• Watch out for obvious scams. While they come in many shapes and sizes, here are five of the most common.
• Understand the services the mover offers. Some will come to your home and inspect things in person before giving you a quote: this is a good sign. Some movers will only offer loose estimates based on square footage and the number of rooms, and can end up tacking on additional fees later on for both time or weight. Reputable companies will answer your calls and invest the time to talk with you in person.
• Understand what protections are in place. Are the movers insured? What’s their policy for broken or damaged items? Do they have a secure facility, if you items are going to be temporarily stored during the moving process. These will help you determine if the mover is trustworthy, or if perhaps you’ll need to move particularly fragile items personally. Ideally, you want a third-party insurance company and you may even have coverage with your
  own homeowner’s insurance.
• Get multiple quotes. Competiton is good for the consumer, meaning that you can pick and choose who offers the most services, has the best reviews, and the best prices. But remember: don’t let price be your only deciding factor! Pay once, cry once… or in the case of bad movers, pay once, and cry forever because your grandmother’s china was lost or damaged.
• Other factors to consider: How flexible are the movers regarding schedule? Make sure they’re actually available for when you need them, and that they’ll have the employees necessary to move large or bulky objects. Also inquire about delay or storage fees, or the aforementioned weight charges. Also, avoid making a large upfront payment: most movers will only require a small deposit. 

It’s natural to relax after the close of a new home, but you can avoid moving
scams by staying vigilant and trust your instincts. Ask about anything that
doesn’t make sense and check references. The lowest cost provider is
likely low cost for a reason.