Advice from our moving experts to make your next move smoother, safer, and less stressful.
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Published on May 14, 2022
•6 min read
By Jessica Parker,Staff Writer
The average person moves 11.7 times during their lifetime, so moving seems to be a relatively common part of life. As you start planning for your move, have you thought of everything? Do you have a list ready? Do you have a plan? Many people hire a moving company for help, which is a smart idea, but a lot of people make some common mistakes when hiring moving services.
If you want a smooth and straightforward move, you’ll want to learn these mistakes and avoid them. Here are seven common mistakes that people make when hiring a moving company.
As people prepare for their upcoming move, they often think about cutting moving costs. The simplest way to cut moving costs is to handle the move yourself. If you don’t hire a moving company, you won’t have to pay the bill. Sounds good, right? Maybe not.
While this might seem like a logical thought, moving is way harder than you think. Yes, hiring a moving company will cost money. But, paying for the services is well worth the costs in the end, not to mention your body will thank you for it!
If you’ve been tossing around the idea of moving, but aren’t sure what to do, you might make the common mistake of waiting too long to hire a mover. If you wait too long, you might have fewer options, and you might end up hiring a company with poor reviews or service.
Therefore, avoid this mistake by acting now. If you’re moving in a few months, now is the time to start looking for a company to hire. Once you find the right one, they can book your move and record it in their schedule.
People also make the mistake of choosing a company that doesn’t offer all the services they need. When you hire a company, they should offer you moving service options. When they explain all of them, you can choose the ones you need.
If you choose a company that doesn’t provide all the services you need, you might be stuck in a bind. For example, if you own a piano, you’ll need a company willing to move it for you.
If you choose a company that doesn’t offer piano-moving services, you might face some challenges as you begin moving. You can avoid this issue by discussing all your needs with a mover before hiring them. Most companies will not move pianos due to their value so be sure to double check with your mover.
It’s also common for people to hire moving companies that are not bonded and insured. Having the right license and insurance is vital for a moving company. After all, they are responsible for your things during the move.
When you contact a moving company, ask them about these things and ask for proof. A reputable mover can provide you with the documentation that proves they have the proper license, bonding, and insurance.
You might also want to ask them if you’ll need moving insurance. Moving insurance is somewhat confusing, but a moving company can help you understand it.
As you begin looking for a mover, you’ll also want to avoid the mistake of choosing the wrong company by failing to properly research companies. Researching a company is always important, as references and reviews reveal a lot.
When you read reviews from past customers, you can learn how satisfied the customers are with the mover’s services. If you read them and learn that people aren’t happy with the services, you can move on to different companies.
A company’s reputation is revealing, so you should avoid making this mistake. You can easily avoid it by spending the proper time and energy reading references and reviews.
Next, many people make the mistake of basing their decision on cost alone. If you request multiple quotes for moving services, how do you know which one to pick? If you’re like many people, you might stick with the lowest quote.
Choosing the lowest bid is not always a smart move, though. The company offering the lowest bid might exclude things from their services such as those licenses and insurances as discussed above. They might have other issues with their services, too.
The better way to choose a company is by comparing mover costs, reputation, and services. If you compare the quotes as a whole, you’ll find the best services for a fair and reasonable price.
While saving money might be important to you, it’s not worth it if you’re displeased with the services. Therefore, base your decision on more factors than price alone.
You’ll also want to avoid the mistake of assuming that the services include more than they do. For example, you might assume that the quote includes moving everything.
If the written estimate doesn’t specifically state this, though, it might not include everything. If you find out on moving day that the company won’t move specific things, you’ll have to scramble around to figure out what to do.
To avoid this issue, get the offer in writing. If it doesn’t specifically list everything you own, ask the company about the items.
The final mistake that people often make when hiring movers is forgetting to ask questions. If you don’t ask the right questions, you might face some challenges when moving day comes.
For example, you might want to ask how long it will take the company to handle your move. You might also want to ask what happens if things go missing or end up broken.
Make a list of all your questions and ask the company before signing the agreement. Getting the answers you need can help you prepare for your big day.
While many people make these mistakes when hiring moving services, you can avoid them. Avoiding these mistakes can help reduce the stress of moving.
If you live in the Austin, TX area and are ready to request a quote, fill out this form to get started today.