Be honest – moving is a pain in the neck. Packing, unpacking, collecting boxes, losing things, cleaning out closets, etc. Some say it’s more stressful than going through a divorce – even if you want to move! To lessen the stress and reduce problems, don’t rely on friends to make the move go smoothly. You need to find experienced moving companies to help you through.
Not all moving companies are the same. There are large international firms that specialize in managing complex moves between countries, and there are smaller local companies that might be family owned with maybe one or two trucks, and they can handle local moves well but anything more than a hundred miles away could pose a problem.
As you contact companies to get estimates, don’t limit this to phone calls. If moving companies can’t come to your home to see what they will be dealing with, don’t use them. Some companies have their phones answered by customer service reps who have never even packed a box in their entire lives, and they are trained to answer questions from a knowledge base. If you have some unique circumstances, you may very well get a quote that can’t be upheld at the last minute.
Also make sure you know how many people you will be paying for. Many companies send out two workers only. Unless you live in a one bedroom apartment, two men can only move a few boxes or one piece of furniture at a time. If their truck isn’t literally at your front door, just loading the truck could take all day.
Ask for a copy of their contract to review. Don’t sign anything during the visit/estimate process. Contracts differ. Look for clauses that explain their insurance limits and responsibilities, and what they do about lost or damaged items.
When the moving companies do show up for the initial walk through and estimate, ask them questions. This visit should be treated like an interview. After all, you are looking for people to do a job. Ask them what experience they have with moving expensive electronic equipment, high end furniture, expensive art work and antiques. What happens if it rains out? Can they protect your furniture as it goes into and out of the truck?
And finally, be wary of anyone who says they need to paid in cash only. This means they are probably unlicensed to do business and if you have a complaint, there’s not much you can do. Only use a company who takes credit cards.
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