Advice from our moving experts to make your next move smoother, safer, and less stressful.
We'll give you an exact quote in minutes. No pressure. No surprises.
Published on Jul 29, 2020
•5 min read
By Mike Stackable,Founder
Maybe you just bought a house? Perhaps you’re switching apartments? In any case, you’re in need of a moving company.
The only problem is that you don’t know how to choose a moving company. Fortunately, we do, and we can help you. So, without further ado, here’s what you need to consider when you hire movers.
Regardless of the type of company you’re hiring, you need to find one with experience. Moving companies are certainly no exception to this.
Why is experience important? For a myriad of reasons.
For one, it allows a moving company to perfect its processes. This way, when you utilize that company’s services, everything goes as smoothly as possible.
Secondly, experience allows a company to develop a reputation. This ensures that you, the customer, have the resources needed to judge the company fairly.
Finally, it ensures that you’re not the guinea pig. New moving companies might be able to get the job done, but they’re bound to hit a number of bumps early in their existence. You don’t want to be the customer who’s subject to these bumps.
So, at a minimum, your moving company should have 2 years of experience under its proverbial belt. If a company is still thriving after 2 years, it’s likely doing something right.
When a company is moving your possessions from A to B, there’s a risk of that company damaging said possessions. This is just the nature of moving. Even the best moving companies do damage to their clients’ possessions on occasion.
The key here isn’t finding an infallible moving company. The key is to find a moving company that carries adequate insurance. Not only does insurance ensure that you’re not held liable for damages that occur to your possessions during the move, but it also ensures that you’re not held liable for injuries that the moving company’s employees suffer on your property.
At a minimum, moving companies should offer released value protection. This should come free to you and should cover a portion of your belongings.
You might also want to inquire about full value protection. This will require you to pay a premium but will cover all of your possessions in their entirety.
In addition to ensuring that one of these policies is available, you’re also going to want to make sure that the company has workers’ compensation insurance. If a company doesn’t have this insurance, and a company employee gets injured on your property, you could end up being held liable for the medical bills.
Some states require moving companies to possess commercial moving licenses. Other states, like Texas, only require that the moving company is properly licensed with the Department of Motor Vehicles. In particular, Texas moving companies must be licensed as motor carrier businesses.
To ensure that your prospective mover is properly licensed, make use of the Texas license lookup tool. Just type in the name of your mover and see if a license pops up. If it does, that mover will be good to go; if it doesn’t, you’ll want to look elsewhere.
There are all sorts of business review sites online. You would be crazy not to take advantage of them. Not only will they provide you with average star ratings for moving companies in your area, but they’ll also provide you with a bevy of customer-written reviews.
There is no better way to assess a moving company’s reputation than by utilizing these sites. They’ll tell you just about everything you need to know about a specific mover, helping you to determine whether that mover is, in fact, the right choice for your move.
Not all moving companies provide the same services. Whereas some will only help customers move within a certain radius, others will move customers all the way across the country.
Before you go all-in on a certain moving company, make sure that it does, indeed, provide the services you need. Most moving companies advertise their services on their websites. If your prospective moving company doesn’t indicate this on its website, just make a call and ask.
Moving company costs aren’t regulated. As such, they have the ability to charge whatever they want. For this reason, before hiring a specific company, you need to obtain a cost estimate.
This will ensure that you’re not hit with any surprise bills. It will also enable you to determine whether or not the moving company’s services fit within your budget.
Any respectable mover will provide you with an estimate free of charge. If a mover is giving you the run-around, you’re advised to look elsewhere.
Note, when assessing prices, you should be wary of the exceedingly low ones. Typically, if a company is providing exceedingly low rates, it’s because it provides exceedingly poor service.
Different moving companies work on different timelines. Some will show up at the exact minute you agree upon. Others will give you a time window and show up at some point within that window.
You need to pick one that jibes with your schedule. So, if you’re on a tight deadline, you probably shouldn’t utilize a mover whose arrival time is up in the air. Conversely, if your schedule is open for the day, it might not hurt to hire a more free-flowing mover.
And there it is, that’s how to choose a moving company. Take these factors into consideration during your search and you’re sure to find the perfect company for your move.
Looking for a reputable moving company in Austin, Texas? Muscleman Elite has you covered. Get a free quote now!