Moving is consider one of the most stressful life choices due to what is involve in a moving process.
You have to deal with people that you do not know and count on them to move your precious goods. At East Coast Boston Movers we understand the difficult chaise you have to make and as professional movers we understand that you will choose the company that makes you feel more comfortable.
Finding a moving company that fits your move criteria and your budget takes some careful consideration and smart comparison shopping. To make sure that your belongings are placed in the hands of an experienced team of movers, you’ll need to follow the right steps to narrow down the field and we’ll show you how to do it in five easy steps.
1) Know What You’re Looking For
Most of us have a few distinct guidelines that we need to cover when we hire movers, particularly when it comes to moving truck size and the location that assistance is needed. Figure out what your non-negotiables are early on so that you don’t waste any of your time researching local moving companies that aren’t going to be able to meet your needs. Most companies will share information about their transportation area and capacity right on their websites, so you should be able to save yourself a lot of effort by ensuring that companies check off those key boxes before dedicating any more time to the task.
You should begin looking for movers at least several months in advance, especially if you are moving during peak season (May to September). Moving companies’ schedules fill up quickly during this period, because it is the most popular time of the year to move. To ensure you can secure a reservation, give yourself a sufficient amount of time to compare and research potential companies.
The market is flooded with moving companies competing for your attention and your business, so it can be easy to fall prey to an unprofessional, unethical company with all the movers that are vying for your dollar. Knowing how to search is key.
- Start online. With endless amounts of information at your fingertips, you can start with a general search for movers in your area, then narrow your search based on further research on the companies you find. Use the Movers.com quote form for FREE quotes from up to seven different moving services in your area.
- Verbal recommendations. Any information from people you trust will be helpful, so ask neighbors, family members, friends and coworkers if they have moved recently. Someone may offer a good company for your consideration.
- Customer reviews. Reading reviews and testimonials from real customers can be extremely valuable. The more info you can glean about a certain company, the better your decision-making process will go. It’s important to see what other people are saying about the particular companies you’re considering. Check out reviews through other reliable sources like Google, BBB and Facebook. Pay attention to what people are saying in terms of availability, ease of scheduling, pricing, and quality of service. If a company doesn’t meet your needs and expectations based on the reviews that you find, remove them from your list of potential hires.
2. Narrow your search down to at least three movers
The best way to narrow your search for a moving company is to find three movers in your area that you believe best fit your criteria for your move. Then, from those three, break down the pros and cons of their services to help you decide. The more options you have to compare, the better your chance will be to secure the best price as well as availability on your chosen date.
Ask each company you are considering plenty of questions, including if they charge extra fees for stair carries, long carries and packing supplies.
While everyone wants to save a little money, you should always be skeptical of a mover that offers an unusually low quote. This often a red flag for a common moving scam — the company offers an enticingly-cheap estimates, secures the customer’s service and then hikes up the price exponentially prior to delivery. If the customer refuses to pay, the mover will hold the goods random and deny delivery until the bill is paid in full. If the price seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Most people will start the finding process thinking what is the cheapest company, unfortunately you get what you pay for in most cases, if you tell the moving company whoever you choose for a local move that you only have a few items to move, the estimate will be based on just moving a few items. Please let me explain.
A local move which are the moves within the same estate are always going to be based on an hourly rate, the more movers and trucks you need the more is going to cost per hour. Thinking of these you will most likely say well I will take less movers to pay less, well it does not work that way, the more bedrooms you have in your home the more movers you going to need to make the move efficient and cost effective. If you have two movers to move a 3 Bedroom apartment chances are that they are going to take 3 times as long as if you have 3 or 4 movers, not only that but the movers are human beings and they get tire as the day advance and the more tire they get the slower the move will go, costing you more money and potential damages to your goods or property.
4. Comparing more than just the estimates from movers
Don’t make a decision solely based on price. Although rates can be a major factor, the company that is the cheapest does not necessarily provide the best service. You can end up sorely disappointed if you choose on numbers alone.
Other things to consider when comparing quotes:
- Years of operation in the industry
- How their employees are trained
- Any outstanding complaints on the company
- Experience with specialty items
- What they include with their service
Obviously budget is a major factor to keep in mind when you’re researching and comparing local moving companies, which is why we recommend getting quotes from at least three different movers. Prices can vary widely, even among companies serving the same areas. And since pricing for each move is largely dependent on how much stuff you have, when you’re moving, and how much labor your move will require, you are always going to be better off reaching out for a quote directly instead of trying to parse together cost information from what’s available on a company’s website.
Keep in mind that while cost is key, it shouldn’t necessarily be the sole deciding factor when choosing among local moving companies. Pay attention to pricing structure (hourly versus by the job), as well as what else is included in the quoted estimate (does the quote include moving blankets? Packing services?). With all of that information in mind you’ll be able to narrow your list down even further into local moving companies that offer you not just the best price but the best value.
Note that quotes are just estimates and are not necessarily the exact price that you’ll pay come moving day. They should provide a general baseline however that you can go off of when selecting your most cost effective option. Also, check to see if any of your local moving companies are offering promotions, or if they have a discount that might apply to you—many offer deals for veterans, seniors, and other specific groups of people.
5. Verify the moving company’s credentials
Once you’ve narrowed down your search and gotten estimates, the next step is to do a background check to make sure they are operating legally. Depending on the laws in your state, your local moving company is required to have certain licensing credentials to operate. Ask any potential moving company to provide proof that they are properly licensed and registered.
- Most states require that local carries have a USDOT number.
- Others only mandate the company is registered with the state department of transportation.
- If you are moving across state lines, the company will need to have relevant licensing in both states.
- Find out if they are accepted by the Better Business Bureau.
- You can also ask the companies for references; most reputable moving services will have plenty of customers or affiliates that can vouch for great service.
Hopefully after completing the steps above you have the name of a company that you want to schedule your move with. In that case, it’s time to check their availability and book your service. If you have a few companies that fit the bill, contact all of them to check availability and mention that you’re still deciding on your best fit—one company may lower their prices for you in order to get an edge on their competitors.
Booking service with a moving company is easy, and can often be done online. Let the company know if you have any flexibility with your moving date, since some dates and times are cheaper than others and they may be able to offer you an even better rate if you’re open to a range of available slots.