Features of a Quality Moving and Storage Company
One of the most stressful parts about moving is choosing the company that will provide your moving and storage services. You need to know that you can trust your belongings with the company you choose and that you won’t get ripped off with excessive fees before you can get your items in your new home.
Well, you can let go of your anxiety over which company to hire because if you look for these features of a quality moving and storage company, you’ll make the right choice.
Get Recommendations From Friends
You trust your friends, so you should also trust their business recommendations. Unless they work for a moving company, they aren’t going to steer you to one that is less than reputable (and hopefully, you don’t have friends who work for disreputable companies anyway). Find a friend who has moved recently and ask them which company they used. Ask them whether they had any problems, no matter how small, and what the company did to remedy those issues.
Check Online Reviews
While online reviews get a lot of flack, they can be a good way to weed out the really bad moving companies from consideration. But don’t just look at the overall rating that a company has on any one site. Take the time to actually read the reviews left by real customers to pinpoint problems that keep cropping up or issues that went unresolved. Repeated complaints about the same problem from different customers is a huge red flag as are issues that the company didn’t address at all.
Look for Time in Business
New moving companies definitely need customers to earn a positive reputation, but you probably don’t want to be a guinea pig for an unproven mover. You just have too much at stake with your belongings to give a potential fly-by-night company your hard-earned money. This isn’t to say that all new moving companies are shady, but too many of them are. Let other people build their business while you stick with a tried-and-true company that will keep your belongings secure while in their possession and wont’ charge you an arm and a leg to get them back.
Ask to See Their License and Insurance
Never hire a company that doesn’t have a license and insurance. You’re just asking for trouble. Anyone can buy a truck and call themselves a moving company, but do you really want to trust your stuff with just anyone? Usually, the answer is no. Any reputable moving company will be happy to show you their license and insurance and in fact, will probably offer it before you ask for it.
Ask For Rates Up Front
You want to know how much you’ll pay for your move before you hire any moving company. While you won’t get an exact amount, you should get an approximate quote based on factual information such as how much you have to move, the size of truck or container you’ll need, and for how long you’ll need it. No reputable moving company is afraid to show you their rates and stick to them once moving day arrives.
Conclusion
When you’re ready to hire a moving company, these tips will help ensure that you find one that meets your needs in every way possible, from cost to security to timeline.
