Did you know that the average American moves 11.7 times in their lifetime? These moves can be anywhere from down a few streets to across the entire country!
Maybe you have an upcoming move and you’re of the former group. While it’s certainly not as stressful as a cross-country move, even a local one can still be enough to have you pulling out your hair.
For that reason, you should find a reliable moving company to help ease your burden and make the move a smooth one.
Wondering how to choose one? Then keep reading to find out how to get the best local moving companies for the job.
Ask Around
Your friends, coworkers, and even family members may have moved around just as much as you have. There’s a good chance that they haven’t stuck to their hometowns, which means they might’ve used professional movers for their relocations.
Ask around to see if people have recommendations. On the flip side of things, they might also know of some companies that you should absolutely stay away from.
In any case, take full advantage of your social network. A great way to do so is to make a post on your social media accounts, as you’ll be able to gather insight from multiple people in a short amount of time.
Search Online
As with most other services nowadays, you can search for movers online. Google (or any other search engine) will give you quick results on which professional movers are around you or serve your local area.
Along with the business names, you’ll see their addresses, phone numbers, business hours, and most importantly, their customer reviews. For your shortlist, you’ll want to choose ones that have plenty of good reviews and an overall rating of at least 4 out of 5 stars. Stay away from those with poor or no reviews.
Check Out Their Websites
When you’re researching moving companies online, their websites are also listed. Take a little extra time to click on them and read through the pages. The way their websites are set up will tell you a lot about the companies.
Does it look professional? Is it easy to navigate? Are they transparent about what services they offer and how much they cost?
If something feels off about the sites, you might want to consider crossing those businesses off the list.
Find Out What Services They Offer
It might come as a surprise, but professional moving companies don’t just offer moving services.
For example, some specialize in moving unique items, such as pianos, hot tubs, or even gun safes. If you have any priceless belongings you need moved, then you’ll want to make sure you go with experts who know how to take care of them as if they were their own.
Many also offer additional services that can make your move easier, such as decluttering, packing/unpacking, and storage units. If you’re struggling with your relocation, it can be a good idea to find a mover that offers these services so you get a load off your shoulders.
Make Sure They’re Properly Licensed
When you’re looking into a moving company, an important thing you need to check is that they’re licensed. All professional moving companies must be licensed by law, so if a business can’t produce proof of licensing, that’s a huge red flag.
Not only do moving companies need to be licensed, but they must be bonded and insured too. This ensures that if anything happens to their employees or your belongings during transport, they can adequately cover things like medical bills and compensation for your items.
Businesses that can prove they have all 3 should give you peace of mind, especially if they don’t hesitate to provide proof. After all, legitimate moving companies that have nothing to hide will be upfront and transparent with anything you ask for (within reason, of course).
Make Sure They Have Years of Experience Too
In addition to being licensed, bonded, and insured, movers should have plenty of experience as well. A moving company might have lots of enthusiasm for their profession, but without a few years under their belt, they might run into issues. And you don’t want those issues to be with your move.
The more years of experience, the better. Not only does this mean they’ve had time to smooth any kinks out, but it also proves that they provide exemplary services that have kept them in business for so long.
Always Request Estimates
Once you’ve done all the above, don’t just jump into things just yet. We highly recommend you get a few estimates; at least 3, if possible. These can be quite telling.
When you have 3 to compare, you’ll be able to tell if all 3 are honest or if there’s one that’s trying to price gauge you. You can then immediately eliminate them off the list.
But beware of insanely low prices as well. This usually means they’re trying to scam you. These unscrupulous companies will give low quotes to entice customers and then tack on a bunch of hidden fees so you end up paying an exorbitant price.
Choose the Right Moving Company With Our Help
There are plenty of moving companies out there, but a good number of them will be a headache to deal with. Make sure you pick the right moving company for your needs and budget by using the information in this article.
If you take the time to do your research and carefully vet local movers, then you’re sure to end up with one that’ll make moving a cinch!
For more articles like this one on local movers, be sure to read the rest of our blog page.
