How to Hire a Local Moving Company
Moving is often ranked among the more stressful events in life. So it is totally natural to feel just a little anxious should you have a move coming up. Perhaps you or someone you know has had a bad experience. Well, not to worry- you've come to the proper place. This guide will assist you to navigate through the process of hiring a moving company!
Following these three simple, effective steps will ensure you have a solid, reliable crew show up at your door come moving day.
Step 1 1 - Utilize BBB Sorting Tool TO GET Member Companies:
"Furniture Movers" is the most researched category at the BBB, and is a superb place so you might start your visit a moving company also. To do this go to the BBB Website and go through the
"USA Site" or "Canada Site" link (this will generally work better than the option of entering postal or zip code).
When the next page arises, click on the orange link titled LOOK FOR A BBB ACCREDITED BUSINESS.
Next, go through the "Kind of Business" Tab, and enter "movers" for kind of business, and your city and province/state. Also, make sure the "Limit my leads to BBB Accredited businesses" option is ticked.
Then click "movers" again, to further specify what sort of business you are interested in. What should appear next is a set of BBB accredited movers in your area listed to be able of what is closest to you. This is handy, as movers usually charge for travelling time and energy to and from their office, so all the things being equal, getting a mover located nearby is most beneficial. Most companies could have a direct connect to their website within their BBB company profile.
Step 2 2 - Arrange 3 IN PERSON Quotes
Each company could have a rating from A+ (highest) to F (lowest). Search for companies with a decent rating and whose info on their website seems to fit your preferences and makes sense for you. (For example, when you are moving long distance, concentrate on companies that specialize in moving long distance). Hiring a moving company is not exactly like ordering a pizza or a taxicab, so unless you move is a simple one, it should not be simply booked over the phone. Note that not absolutely all companies will be ready to come over and give an personally quotation, and that means you may need to contact several companies to get your 3 quotes. Be prepared to set up an extra quotation in the event that one of many companies don't show up, or don't get back with a quote once they've visited.
Step 3 3: Evaluating the Quotes
Now that you have your three quotes before you, it is time to complete the ultimate step - choosing the best company from these.
The central & most important area of the quote will be correctly evaluating the number of furniture, which should be listed somewhere on the quote either in cubic feet or pounds (1 cubic foot = 7 pounds).
Everything else necessary to plan and price your move will observe from this - amount of movers, number and size of trucks, and so on. If moving locally, the quote should give a minimum of 1 mover for every 400 cubic feet of furniture, assuming average moving conditions. Remember that if your move involves difficult access (many stairs, steep driveway or what have you) this 400 cubic feet per mover ratio should be lower.
If the quotations do not include an estimate of how much furniture there is (or have an abnormally low estimate*), the resulting estimate of time and cost will at best be a shot in the dark, and will almost certainly appear lower than the other quotes that have calculated this figure accurately. If you encounter this, be mentally disciplined and resist the temptation to obtain seduced by a low sounding price.
In the end you will not likely save anything, and will be putting your move at an increased risk. A firm or "not to exceed" quote is really a special treat, if offered!
*A general rule of thumb when moving locally is 1 cubic foot of furniture for every 1 square foot of liveable space. A 600 square foot apartment could have 600 cubic feet of furniture, a 1200 square foot home could have 1200 cubic feet of furniture, and so forth. Remember that for moves going in the united states, the number of furniture is often pared down, which ratio would typically be lower.
Make sure you are happy and will abide by the Company's Terms & Conditions before making the hiring decision, especially regarding breakage. Both sides should be clear before the move starts what their respective obligations will be in the event of any damage (ie partial/full replacement, deductible payable etc). If these are not included with the quote, politely ask the business to send them for you.
Your estimator is point person for the move, in fact it is a good sign if he or she, while giving your quote, recognizes and proactively solves any issues that could come up on moving day such as for example reservation of elevators & parking while loading/unloading, re-locate and move around in deadlines, or hard to go items like pianos.
Extra Questions to Ask:
Does the quote include any specialty wrappings, such as for example mattress bags for mattresses, shrink wrap for sofas?
The cost of these wrappings are nominal, and it's a good sign if your estimator automatically includes these without asking. But make sure you request these if your quote will not automatically have them included.
Are the truck(s) equipped with ramps or tailgates (or neither)?
A truck with out a ramp will take a lot longer to load and unload. moving companies near me that passed screening step #1 may very well be equipped properly, but it doesn't hurt to accomplish a systems check anyway.
By this time you've done your homework and you also are prepared to make your decision. After you have the decision made, let the company that you have chosen know immediately that you would like them to book you in. Don't wait, as moving companies often get booked up. You don't want to procrastinate and have your moving company chosen for you personally by fate rather than your good choice. As in other things, good things come to those who act decisively. There will always be an element of going for a leap of faith, but if you've done the effort and followed these steps, you've maximized the chances of having an excellent crew show up on your door come moving day.
Extra TIPS ABOUT Making Your Move Go Smoothly:
Avoid scheduling your move right at month end, when you have this luxury. Moving companies are generally more stretched for labour and resources at month end. You have a good chance of getting the company's finest movers & equipment dispatched for you if you book your move right before or after month end. (As an added bonus, your hourly rate is often lower if you schedule mid month).
Ensure that you are fully packed when the movers arrive on moving day. If your furniture isn't packed properly, it will literally take doubly long to go, and the chance of something breaking escalates. In addition, your moving company will likely insist that they not be held to the initial estimate of time. If you need assist in this area, go to the Packing Section at VanCityMoving.com to get a step-by-step guide on packing your belongings.
When it comes time and energy to start unloading, the process will go much faster in the event that you station yourself next to the door and present direction on where each piece of furniture goes. Your moving crew needs you at this time, resist any urge to abandon your post and begin unpacking.