Overview

Choosing the right moving company can greatly enhance your relocation experience. Start by seeking trustworthy recommendations from friends and family, which can reveal top options. Once you have a shortlist, conduct thorough research by checking their Better Business Bureau ratings and online reviews to assess their reputation. Request in-home estimates from your chosen companies and ensure a detailed inventory is taken for accurate comparisons. Review each estimate for clarity and completeness, confirming that they include signed acknowledgments and detailed item lists. Finally, verify each company's credentials and affiliations with reputable moving associations to ensure peace of mind. Following these steps will help you make an informed choice for a stress-free moving day.

Five Tips to Hiring a Moving Company

Choosing a moving company that is reliable, trustworthy, and professional can make all the difference in how smoothly your move goes. While it may take a little extra effort upfront, doing your homework now can save you time, money, and headaches later.

Here are some essential things to consider when selecting the right mover for your needs and budget.

Get Referrals

Ask friends, co-workers, neighbors and real estate agents you trust if they have any moving companies they would recommend. If they do give you a recommendation, take the time to ask follow up questions such as: “How was your experience?” “Were there any problems I should know of?” and “Is there someone specific I should contact?”

Research

First and foremost, check each company’s Better Business Bureau Rating for an A+ rating. Then browse online reviews on sites such as Google, and ReviewBuzz, these will help give you insight into a particular company’s behavior and practices. Finally, make sure that every mover you research is fully licensed and insured.

Get Estimates

Narrow your choices down to three movers and have them come in for an in home estimate. When getting an estimate make sure both you and the mover are thorough in your item inventory. All estimates should match, so you have a true “apples to apples” comparison. Don’t forget the human factor either; take note of how you reacted to each estimator and your generally impressions of them. Many times you can tell a lot about a company by evaluating its employees.

Review Each Estimate Thoroughly

Make sure that a moving company’s representative has signed the estimate. Also ensure that all estimates clearly indicate what items are being moved and to what location they are going. All additional services or special considerations should be clearly marked.

Final Review

It’s always a good idea to review everything one more time. Double check each company’s credentials and see if they belong to reputable national and local moving associations that have high membership standards, such as the American Moving & Storage Association and LIMSA.

These five tips will help get you on the right path to hiring a moving company that will get the job done to your satisfaction. For more details and additional tips, read our post on choosing a Long Island moving and storage company..

Bonus Tip: Beware of Brokers!

Brokers will often turn your job over to an unqualified subcontractor and because they are one step removed from the actual work being performed, brokers do not have the level of control over the services provided that a full-service moving and storage company has.

For More Moving Tips, Read These Articles.