To hire movers, it’s basically the same no matter where you are located. It’s no different hiring a California mover, a Texas mover or a moving company in any state.  It all really comes down to knowing what to look for and what to ask.  The difference from state to state is the moving companies themselves.

I’m a big supporter of the local family owned moving companies, and those that are more customer service orientated.  Price is a big factor, but it is also about reputation, reliability, and trust.  Whoever you hire, you want to be able to trust that they will move your belongings as if they were their own.

So once you have found and qualified a few moving companies, it’s time to hire a mover.  Based on all the information you’ve collected from finding local movers to qualifying them, pick your top 2 or 3 moving companies. This is where we get into the heart of actually hiring a moving company.

I know this seems like you are constantly asking questions, but the alternative is to hire a moving company blindly and hope all your things show up and make it in one piece.  If you break up these sections a bit, it won’t seem like a big process.  Give yourself a couple weeks to find a moving company so you don’t have to rush into it.

Now, if you already have an idea of who you want to go with, you can skip a lot of these preliminary steps and get straight to the estimate.

Questions To Ask When Getting An Estimate

You should have 2 or 3 moving companies that you feel really comfortable with based on your qualifying questions.  Here are some of the main questions you want to think about and ask when you get estimates from these movers.

Getting the estimate: If possible, you want to have them come to your current residence to see all the items to be moved.  You want to give them as much information as possible. How many bedrooms? How many big items do you have?  The more information you give the more accurate your quote will be.  If they just give you a moving quote over the phone, be aware that your price can drastically change if they feel there were more items than they anticipated.

How much notice do they need? You need to think about how soon you will be moving. Typically you want to give a moving company about 3 – 4 weeks notice before your move.  Particularly if it’s during the spring or summer when the weather is nice and a lot of people move. They may be booked solid for weeks.

What days are you looking to move? Usually the weekends are very busy moving days, so if you can schedule something during the week you’re more likely to get the date you are requesting.  If you can, try to be flexible and give yourself a few different days to work with just in case the moving company is booked on your first moving choice.

How long will the move take approximately? You want to make sure they have enough manpower to move your things.  Your time is valuable as well.  Ask them for an estimated time to complete the move.

Are they licensed and insured? What is insured and how much is covered? This may sound basic but you want to make sure the items you are moving are covered.  Also you need to ask what happens if something is broken along the way. If you have big items such as pianos, pool tables or weight machines, some moving companies charge extra for those.  If you have valuables you can move yourself, it would be a good idea to do just that.

Will weather affect the move? Will they move rain or shine?

Do you want them to pack your belongings, or will you pack them yourself? Personally, I hate packing so I’ll avoid it if the cost is reasonable. It may be an additional cost to have someone else pack your things, but it could save you a lot of time and frustration.  Make sure to ask what they charge to pack your belongings and how far in advance they do the packing.  Usually you can reduce the cost and pack some things yourself.  Perhaps have them pack up your non-personal items like your kitchen or kids’ bedroom.

Do they use blankets, shrink wrapping and padding? You want to find out what they use to protect your belongings during the move.  Most moving companies shrink wrap and use blankets, but some movers may charge extra.  Be sure to ask them if this is standard or if there are any additional charges.

How far are you moving? Make sure to let them know your current location and your new address.  Also, unless it’s a quick move, any plants you want to take along with you will need to be watered along the way.

What is their cancellation Policy? As we all know, life can throw curve balls our way that can force a change in plans.  You will want to find out what happens if you need to change the moving date, or even cancel the entire move.

A Critical Question: Ask the moving company if their moving quote is the final amount, or just an estimate.  Some moving companies base their prices on weight and recalculate after all items have been moved.  This means your final bill can be quite different from what you were quoted.  Make sure to ask the mover about additional charges, if this is a contracted price or can it change. Some moving companies use a “Not to Exceed” pricing system.  This means they will quote you a price and also provide you a “not to exceed” price and you pay whichever is lower.

Get everything in writing and signed by a responsible moving company rep. Get your most crucial questions answered when getting an estimate.  Review all the paperwork and make sure you are comfortable with everything the movers have written down.  Compare moving company quotes and finally hire movers that you are happy using.

Originally posted 2011-01-25 13:48:52. Republished by Blog Post Promoter