Time to pack your bags and move somewhere else? It sounds easier than it is. We’re not saying you should consider not moving and staying where you are – we just suggest you should be well prepared. A part of that process is finding a reliable mover near you. Like with anything else, a half of the job is done once you can delegate it to the right person or party. In this case, you need a dependable moving company, so that you could rely on them to do their job without having to check on them every minute or going crazy all the time. So here are some tips on choosing a reliable mover near you.
Where to start?
Turn to your family members and friends. Chances are someone has recently moved, so ask them if they were happy with the company they hired. If they did, consider checking on them as well. Try to get at least several names before moving on to the next step, which is cutting down your list. Even if you’re moving locally, you should never rush things. And if you’re about to move across the country, you should take even more time. Make sure you find the right assistance for your nationwide moving adventure.
So get to Google and check all the names you’ve collected thus far. What do their reviews look like? Do some upset and frustrated people pop up here and there, complaining about them being unprofessional or worse? If those are mixed with positive reviews that do not seem legitimate, move on to the next company. When you can see real-life stories and real people letting the world know about their positive experiences with a particular company, you’re on the right track. But the search to find a reliable mover near you is not over yet.
Move on to their social media channels and check what their customers had to say over there. After you’ve done all of that and the company seems fine, there’s one more thing to do before you give them a call. Check the relevant organizations, such as Better Business Bureau, the American Moving and Storage Association and state associations of movers. To learn more about the company’s history, dial 888-368-7238, which is the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s consumer complaints hotline. Now your research has officially been done. Hopefully, you’ve ended up with at least three to four names on your list.
What’s next?
Before you start packing, you need to give a call to each one of them and ask for an in-home estimate. They will need to send an employee to come over and take a look. The employee is supposed to make an estimate of the cost and let you know about it. Here are a few tips on how to get the best out of it.
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You should have already made up your mind on what you’re taking with you and what you’re leaving behind.
There’s no point to ask for an estimate if you still don’t know if you’re going to be taking all your furniture to your new home. Maybe your partner is backing the idea to get rid of it all and buy new items when you move, but you’re not so sure? If so, you need to reach an agreement before you ask for an estimate. You might be tempted to learn about possible charges first, but this is something you can get an idea about over the phone. When someone’s there at your place to make an estimate, it’s in your best interest to get as accurate information as possible.
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Ask questions.
How are they going to do it? How long is it going to take? What about insurance? And so on. Don’t refrain from asking all the questions you have. You’re looking to hire someone to do a job, so you may as well ask some questions. If you’ve contacted Neeley’s Van and Storage, you want to learn more about their business and they are supposed to help you with that.
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Watch their attitude.
As already stated, an estimate is all about precise information. Of course, it’s not set in stone, that’s why it’s called an estimate, but if the mover doesn’t make an attempt to provide you with as accurate information as possible, that doesn’t look good. If they don’t want to answer your questions or try to get it rid of you as soon as possible, it’s a red flag and there’s no reason to carry on with them. Move on the next company on your list and find someone who appreciates your time and money. This is how to move in a stress-free fashion.
How to wrap it up?
So you’ve chosen the company you’re going to hire? That’s great, but it’s not over yet.
Here’s a golden rule: before you proceed with signing anything, you should have it all written down. No ifs, no buts and no exceptions. Don’t end up with plenty of nice words and nothing on your hands. If you don’t have all the details specified in your contract, you have no control over the process either. You haven’t specified the date when your items are due to your new home? So now all you can do is sit and wait. Not a perfect-case scenario, is it? So make sure it doesn’t happen to you. No matter if it’s a local or long-distance move, those things are always very stressful.
Is it hard to find a reliable mover near you?
Not really. You just need to use your common sense and make some efforts while searching. Don’t go for vague estimates, never sign a blank contract and you’ll be just fine. If you follow all the steps written here, you should end up hiring a dependable and honest company who will help you tremendously.
We’re sometimes tempted to think that some things are easier to be done than they actually are, only because we’ve never done that before. But we’re not good at everything and even if we managed to pull it through, we should consider the cost. How much time did it take? Could we have done something better and more productive during that time? Something we would benefit from even more? And specifically, could we have avoided that thing ending up damaged and someone almost getting injured? Yes, we could have avoided all that and more. We should have only been realistic and put our time into finding a reliable mover nearby. So let’s just do that! Take the time and find a reliable mover near you. Your move will be a breeze.