If you are about to undergo a relocation process, especially a long-distance one, you might want to make it a lot easier on yourself and go with a moving company. However, there are so many movers operating in the U.S., which can make selecting the right one kind of difficult. It is definitely a lengthy process, that poses several challenges. But with the help of the Master Moving Guide and this article, you will have no issues with it! We will cover everything you will need to do to select a mover worthy of your time and money. Our 15 tips for hiring movers will serve as your step-by-step guide for selecting the ideal moving assistance. And make sure to contact us for additional information!
15 tips for hiring movers
Without any further ado, among plenty of useful moving tips, here you will find the guidelines for hiring movers:
- Do some research before you begin
- Be mindful of deposits
- Get a thorough plan
- Take inventory
- Get as many references as you can
- Avoid movers that work “As someone else”
- Check the BBB rating of your movers
- Ask plenty of questions
- Make sure there are no extra fees involved
- Don’t sign a blank moving contract
- Compare moving quotes
- But go with a binding estimate
- Consider moving insurance, as well as valuation protection
- Be ready to get involved yourself
- Try to move in the middle of the month and avoid summer if you can
Of course, you will also want to avoid the common “red flags” when hiring movers. You may also want to check into some other related matters, such as how much should you tip your movers, what to pack in your essentials bag, and all the things that can make the moving process a bit easier. Basically, the more you know, the better. You can never have enough information and the more time you spend on research, the easier everything is going to get. Speaking of which:
Do some research before you begin
The first thing you need to know is which companies are operating both in your old area and in your new one. You want area experts for your short-distance relocation, long-distance moving, and interstate relocation, of course, and the only way to know which are which is to do some research of your own. Furthermore, if you are planning on taking some parts of the moving process head-on, you will want to inform yourself of the best practices and techniques.
For example, if you want to relocate your piano safely, you will need both knowledge and proper equipment. You may also want to start this process as early as you can, as it has the potential to be quite time-consuming. As soon as you know that you will be moving is the best time to start. But you will have plenty on your proverbial table, so you might want to save some time for that, too.
Be mindful of deposits
Once you start contacting some of these companies, you will need to be very careful if they ask for a deposit. Now, it is not entirely uncommon for a mover to ask for a deposit if the move is exceptionally large (an 8-bedroom home, for example) but for the most part, you should not provide a deposit to a moving company. This is one of the tips for hiring movers that has the potential to save you quite a bit of money and frustration. Let’s say that you want to hire furniture movers to avoid injuries and to ensure that you get them in the time of your choosing, they ask for a sizeable deposit. And then they don’t show up at all due to one excuse or another.
If you had that money in hand, you could hire another last-minute mover and proceed as planned. But without that deposit, you will be in a checkmate position. You will be at the mercy of the moving company, definitely not the place you want to be.
Get a thorough plan
Moving on, before hiring movers, you will want to talk to them about your relocation. You want them to provide you with a detailed moving plan, not only a quote. If you see that your movers are not particularly interested in your items and don’t share their packing hacks for moving, that is a big red flag.
The fact of the matter is that they need to know in advance how many people to send, how big of a truck they need, as well as specifics such as how best to prevent damage to your pool table, for example. The more complex and complicated a relocation is, the more you need a solid plan of action. Therefore, when talking to a moving company, let them take the initiative and gauge their planning skills. After you talk to two or three movers, you will soon realize which are the ones that take their job seriously.
Tips for hiring movers – Take inventory
Having an inventory list is extremely important when undergoing a relocation. You should have one of your own, but your movers will create one as well. After all, the inventory list will form the base price for the relocation and it is in everyone’s best interest to have a complete one before the move. When hiring a mover, you will also have a much easier time, and much more accurate estimates, if you present them with an inventory list first. However, before you sign anything, you will want to read and compare the lists. After all, you always need to beware of moving scams. Comparing inventory lists will form one layer of defense, enabling you to amend the contract before any foul play. There might not be any foul play involved, though, but it can still reflect on your overall costs.
Best to nip it in the bud, as the gardeners say.
Get as many references as you can
While you are calling movers, creating moving plans, and taking inventory, you may also want to get your social “feelers” out and search for references. When you want to hire help to move, or for anything else, personal recommendations are king, even in this day and age. Post on your social media that you are looking for recommendations and references, contact your close friends and family members, have them do so as well.
What you want to do is get the information that you are moving and searching for references to as many people as you can. You don’t even need to talk about your reasons to hire moving and storage companies if you do not want to announce your move to your circle, just say you are looking for a friend. Do note, however, that if you do so, it is likely that you will get fewer recommendations and moving or storage tips. It is just how these things work.
Avoid movers that work “As someone else”
When you start looking into hiring movers, you will come across companies that have undergone several name changes. They may represent themselves to work as another company. You want to steer clear of these, as you can never know if they are simply using the previous company’s good name. Furthermore, name and business address changes are never good signs when looking for a mover. If you want to hire professional hot tub movers, you need to know that you are getting them, simple as that. If another company bought the previous one, changed the name, and brought in their own workforce, you simply have no guarantees that they’ve maintained the same level of quality.
While, admittedly, some companies can be worth your time, most are not. It is best to stay clear of them as a rule of thumb. If you have great, recent, recommendations, you might want to consider them. Otherwise, simply do not bother.
Check the BBB rating of your movers
The Better Business Bureau is a great place to check customer reviews, as well as overall mover ratings. No matter which cities for your new home you are looking into.
Every single self-respecting moving company is part of the BBB, after all. However, do note that it is the internet and that you need to take these ratings with a grain of salt, so to speak. It means that you will want to check some other review sites as well, and not trust the BBB implicitly.
The fact of the matter is that there are companies that work hard to “skew” either their reviews or the reviews of their peers. This is why you want to read as many reviews as possible, to try and get a complete picture. It is especially important if you are hiring international movers, as international relocations are much more complex than “standard” ones. You want a company that has both the best reviews and adequate resources for such relocations.
Ask plenty of questions
Another one of our tips for hiring movers is to ask all the questions that come to mind. Not only about your relocation, but about the company as a whole. Ask them how many years have they been in business, what kind of moving equipment do they use, what is their particular experience in the area, etc. The more questions you ask, the better. Never be too shy or afraid to ask, you deserve to know all the answers. This is particularly important if you are about to hire interstate movers, as you want to ensure a smooth relocation process. Note how their representatives answer your questions, too. Experts rarely have to think about answers and they will have one ready for almost any question.
Make sure there are no extra fees involved
When hiring a mover, you are going to be dealing with numerous costs and fees. While this is unavoidable, some companies will “tack on” extra fees on top of what you originally negotiated. Therefore, you want to make sure that your movers will not do anything of the sort. Ideally, you will want this clause in the contract and not only verbal. If you are moving your business or office, this gets even more important. Commercial relocations usually consider the cost of their move as operating costs, and might not look into fees all too much. And this is where some shady moving companies earn a big buck. Don’t let them do so, make sure there will be no extra fees.
Don’t sign a blank moving contract
Never, ever, sign a blank piece of paper. It is never a good idea. No matter how much you trust your movers, don’t put your name on something that you don’t absolutely know the contents of. If you want to hire help to move, make sure that the contract is final before you sign it. Offering a blank contract under any pretense is a sure way to get scammed. The best way to avoid moving scams is to be aware of them and act accordingly. If a mover offers a blank contract, simply find another one. No self-respecting moving company will offer one, anyway.
Tips for hiring movers – Compare moving quotes
Now we get to the part where you want to optimize your moving costs. When hiring movers, you will need to obtain as many free moving estimates as you can. This will provide you with a “standard”, with a few outliers. Even if you need to hire last-minute movers, you can’t afford to only get a single moving quote. Also, make sure that each mover provides the same set of services, and is working with the same information. That way, you will be able to easily compare their estimates.
But go with a binding estimate
Always opt for a binding estimate when hiring a mover. Especially for a long-distance or international relocation. You want to work with guarantees, not “maybe’s”. Also, if you don’t know how to check if you hired reliable movers, you might want to brush up on that at this point. But for the most part, try to obtain a binding-not-to-exceed estimate. That is the best one you can get.
Consider moving insurance, as well as valuation protection
We are nearing the end of our tips for hiring movers, and it is time to talk about insurance. A moving company usually provides some form of valuation protection but it might be in your best interest to consider additional insurance. If you are hiring senior movers, for example, you may need to ensure that all of your items are reimbursed, no matter what happens. Talk with your moving company, see what they offer. The more options they have on the proverbial table, the better!
One of the more important tips for hiring movers – Be ready to get involved yourself
Even if you hire help to move, you will still need to do some work of your own. You may need to direct your residential movers, ensuring that they work under your terms. It is your relocation, after all, and you are the one that needs to make sure that everything is going the way you like it. Simple as that.
The last one of our tips for hiring movers – Try to move in the middle of the month and avoid summer if you can
The last of our tips for hiring movers is when to hire them. If you can, try to book your movers for the middle of the month, as that is the time when you will be able to get the best deal. Furthermore, try to schedule your relocation in any other season than the summer. Most people relocate in the summer, as well as the 1st of the month, so that is the time where moving companies are the busiest. There are many reasons why summer is the peak moving season, and if you can avoid moving in that time, you will be able to reap the benefits. Lower cost of moving, reliable dates, negotiating power, everything is better if you can choose the time of your relocation.
To ensure hiring quality movers, contact Master Moving Guide
Besides getting these useful tips for hiring movers, in order to experience a stress-free move, you will need recommendations for reliable moving companies. Get in touch with our team at Master Moving Guide and let us present you with possible choices. You will save valuable time in trying to find suitable movers and avoid the mistakes of hiring the wrong ones. Contact us to get more information and prepare to enjoy your move.