Moving to a new house is a complicated process. This is particularly true if you’re moving over a long distance.
There are a couple of things you need to consider. This includes bad road conditions, an extended journey, unpredictable weather, and much more.
These things sometimes make long-distance moving extremely stressful.
Luckily, you can make the moving process a bit less complicated and stressful by hiring reliable and experienced long-distance moving companies.
However, finding the right company to handle the move isn’t that simple as well. There are tons of options to choose from. If it’s your first time moving, you probably don’t know what company to hire and what to avoid.
So, how do you find a trustworthy long-distance moving company? Here are a couple of tips you should consider.
Ask Friends and Family for Referrals
The best way to start is to ask for referrals from your friends and family members. This is particularly true if they’ve hired a long-distance moving company previously.
Doing so will help you get a couple of options to choose from.
Always Compare Estimates
When looking for the right moving company to hire, make sure you get at least three different estimates from different companies and compare them.
Of course, your budget plays a huge role in the process. Thus, you will probably pay close attention to the cost of the move.
You might be tempted to hire the company that offers the cheapest estimate. However, that is not a good idea. You probably think that you’ll save money this way. That isn’t the case.
Though you can always choose the lowest bidder, you should not do it before conducting more comprehensive research on every moving company you’re planning to hire.
To make things simple, price alone shouldn’t be your main deciding factor. This is particularly true since there are a lot of dishonest moving companies out there.
Choose Local Moving Companies as Much as Possible
If you’re planning to move to a faraway location, it’s always a wise idea to hire professional local movers like Mod24.com. If you’re only working with an agency online, they might misrepresent their reputation, qualifications, and licensing.
On the other hand, if you want to work with a local company, you can easily visit their office whenever you want so that you can take a look at their trucks, licensing, and employees.
Examine the Reliability of the Company
Before hiring any cheap long distance movers, another thing you need to consider is their reliability. This is especially true when it comes to professionalism and licensing information.
There are a couple of organizations that can help you determine how reliable a company is. These organizations include.
The Better Business Bureau
This organization provides accreditation to reliable moving companies in the United States. This enables people to rely on BBB-accredited companies to handle their needs.
The BBB has set its own Standards for Trust that movers have to follow to be accredited by them.
Thus, try to see if the mover you’re planning to hire is BBB-accredited.
The American Trucking Association
This organization has a certification program for movers called “ProMover”. Try to visit their website to see if the mover you’re planning to hire is a “ProMover” as well.
If the company is indeed a “ProMover”, this means that they’ve successfully passed an extensive background inspection and have vowed to uphold the Code of Ethics set by the organization.
USDOT
Every long-distance moving company needs to be properly licensed by the Department of Transportation of the United States (USDOT).
If a long-distance mover follows the strict guidelines set by the USDOT, they will be provided with a USDOT number as proof that they are safe and reliable.
Learn the Red Flags
When searching for a mover, try to look out for red flags. For instance, a reliable mover should not ask for a cash deposit before the move.
If you believe that the moving company wants to get your money upfront, that company might not be a legitimate one.
Aside from that, you should consider how unprofessional or professional movers appear when you ask questions. You need to look for another company if the mover cannot answer your questions, seem uncertain of their job, or show up late.
Also, you need to be cautious of any movers who show up in a rented truck. A reliable moving company should have its own moving truck.
Make Sure the Company is Insured
As much as possible, don’t hire a long-distance moving company that isn’t insured. Do you want to hire an unqualified mover driving a heavy truck that is carrying your valuables and belongings?
It is simply not safe. It’s never a wise move to hire an uninsured mover.
A reliable long-distance mover should always be insured. This company can make sure that your belongings are safe and secure.
Even if they lose or damage some of your items, they can still compensate you because they are insured.
Some excellent resources to determine if a mover is insured are movinginsurance.com and Move Insure.
Ask About the Experience in Managing Long Distance Moves
How long has the company been in business? To be more specific, how long have they been handling long-distance moves?
Moving items over a long distance require expertise and skills. Because of this, the experience remains a vital factor when hiring a reliable long-distance moving company.
The track record and history of the company should offer you an idea of their capabilities in performing long-distance moves safely and smoothly.
If a moving company has a lot of years of experience in managing long-distance moves, you can guarantee that they’ll perform the job flawlessly.
Conclusion
To avoid experiencing a stressful long-distance move, it’s best to hire a reliable moving company. You should make it a top priority to find the right mover.
If you don’t know how to find the right one, make sure you follow the tips above. By performing thorough research, you can easily find the ideal mover for your long-distance move.
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