Four Tips for Finding the Right Residential Moving Services

Are you looking for a good moving company? When you\’re moving, all of your Earthly possessions are left in the hands of the moving company you hire; hiring the best moving company for the job is very important.


If you need help identifying the best moving company in your area, stand by for our guide, below:


Four Tips for Finding the Right Residential Moving Services

1. Use a mover who gives you an estimate in person.
   
   Your mover will charge you by the weight of your goods and amount of space they take up in the moving truck. This is not something that can be guestimated over the phone. A good moving company will come to your house and look at the belongings they\’ll be moving for you in order to give you an accurate estimate. In order to really create a comprehensive estimate, they need to look through your storage, measure your large furniture, scan your cupboards and drawers, and so on.
   
   
   If the mover you\’re talking to tells you, \”moving a family of your size is going to cost you about…\” without actually looking at your stuff, you\’re better off moving along. If they cut corners on the estimate phase, what corners are they going to cut when all of your belongings are in their hands?




2. Pay attention to the care the estimator gives while looking through your home.
   
   So let\’s say your moving company passes the first point and sends an estimator to your home instead of just trying to phone it it. Great. The next test is how they handle themselves while sizing up your home. Do they act like they already know the estimate before they even walk into your home? Do they pay close attention to your belongings and ask questions about what you\’re going to be taking with you, what you\’re going to leave in the home, and what you\’re giving to charity? Do they have a tape measure with them to take accurate measurements? Do they take notes?
   
   
   The way the estimator handles your belongings is a good indication of how the company will treat your business if you give it to them. Pay close attention to what they do and how they handle themselves.




3. Steer clear of moving companies who want the money upfront.
   When you use a moving company, you should always plan to pay after the work is done. If you pay upfront, you have no leverage to push back if the movers broke your belongings, didn\’t get it to the place you need it in time, or provided any other poor service. In fact, if the moving company wants a sizable deposit before they do the work, you should consider it a red flag. They may require a small deposit before they dedicate resources and manpower to your move, but anything over 10% is not appropriate.
   
   
   While we\’re on the subject, always pay your movers with a credit card. Let\’s say they do the work and everything seems fine, so you pay your bill. Then, you get everything unpacked, and realize that some of your priceless jewelry is missing. You saw it go on the truck, you have a pretty good idea that it went missing in transit. If you paid with cash, you have no recourse for getting your valuables back. However, if you pay with a credit card, you can put the charge in dispute, and your credit card company will fight on your behalf to make sure that you are satisfied with the outcome.




4. Utilize your inner detective.
   
   Unfortunately, there are unsavory people in the moving industry, and sometimes they pull tricks to slide under the radar so that you don\’t realize you shouldn\’t trust them until it\’s too late. To avoid this nightmare, do a little investigation. You should research the company with the Better Business Bureau to make sure there are no claims against them. Inquire about the company\’s licensing and insurance information. Contact the board of licensing and the insurance provider directly to verify that they are covered.
   
   
   Sometimes, when a business gets a poor reputation, they just change names and carry on their shenanigans with a different guise. Make sure when you call, the employee answers with the full name of the business.

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