Moving can be stressful and chaotic, even under the best of circumstances. However, a bad moving company can take what is simply an annoying process and turn it into a nightmare. A good moving company, alternatively, can make the process as smooth and simple as possible. If you are preparing for a long-distance or even overseas move, the process of finding a good, reputable moving company can be even more difficult because of the cost and possible timeframe involved.
Finding the right kind of moving company is the key. To find that ideal moving company, States Van Lines has come up with several questions you should ask.
1. Basic Information
Start online with a list of local movers in your area. When you call them, ask if they offer moving services to the area to which you are going. Ask for a general price quote or range of prices for moving a home of your size and do not forget to ask if they are licensed and insured by the Department of Transportation.
Ask for their license number and check the information at http://lipublic.fmcsa.dot.gov
You will need the Department of Transportation license number, legal name and the doing-business-as name, if the name is different from the legal name, in order to check their information on the Department of Transportation website.
2. Get the Specifics
After you have picked two or three companies who seem reputable, call them back. Ask how long they have been in business, whether or not they are willing to provide customer references and if they will offer a specific price quote for you. In addition, ask what the delivery schedule will be for your specific move.
Remember that the old adage that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is exists for a reason. When it comes to hiring a moving company, beware of moving companies that offer amazingly low quotes or a delivery schedule that is hard to believe. Moving takes time and effort, which means that you will a decent price for decent service and the delivery schedule should be reasonable but is usually not immediate. In addition, if you have difficulty getting a moving company representative to call you back, beware. If customer service falters before the move is even scheduled, the chance of problems later down the road is high.
3. Make Your Choice
Check the references that each moving company gives you and compare the specific delivery schedule and quotes provided. Ask the references when they used the moving company, how far they moved and how the moving company performed overall. Inquire whether or not the moving company was responsible and careful with your items, if they listened to instructions and answered questions and whether or not the experience was a good one. Ask about the negatives of the experience and about the positives as well.
At this point, the choice of one or two companies should be clear and you can feel confident you can make a good choice.