Hiring A Moving Company? Here’s What To Look For

Posted by: KHTS Articles in News Articles February 16, 2021 - 9:04 am 0 647 Views

Moving can be thrilling—you’re finally getting to the new place where a new life awaits you, maybe even a new job, romance, or family member as well. Moving can also be hectic and overwhelming—there’s so much that needs to be done, remembered, and dealt with, all in a seemingly short period of time. Because of the chaotic nature of moving, many people seek out the help of a moving company.

Of course, if you’ve never worked with one before, you might not know what to consider when choosing whom to hire. The following will explore some of the things you might want to check out before selecting a moving company and signing with them.

Look For Accreditation

Whenever choosing a business to work with, it never hurts to seek out one that is accredited. When it comes to moving companies, you’re going to want to look for something certified by the Better Business Bureau (BBB). This accreditation system gives a letter grade depending on how forthright and trustworthy the business is. A+ is the best grade a company can have, and F is the worst.

Coronavirus Precautions

Given the state of the world at the moment, you absolutely must ask the company about their coronavirus precautions. You’ll also want to discuss what will happen if a member of your family is found to have symptoms or is found covid-positive. Likewise, you’ll want to know how it will be handled if a member of the moving team has symptoms or is found positive. Some moving companies have cancellation fees, but these shouldn’t apply if the cancellation (from either end) is due to a worldwide pandemic that neither party has control over. Beyond this, you’ll want to be assured of mask usage, hand washing, and social distancing within the company’s policy.

Read The Reviews

When it comes to selecting a moving company, one of the best things you can do to help yourself make a choice is to read the reviews left by previous customers on the mover’s site or review sites like Yelp. When looking at reviews, be cautious that you employ the appropriate critical thinking skills. If a review is horrendously scathing or intensely positive, you might want to click on the reviewers’ names and see what other reviews they have left. If they are always abundantly pleased or terribly annoyed, there’s a good chance this is just their disposition, and their review shouldn’t be weighed too heavily in your mind.

Give extra points to reviews that compare one moving company with another that the customer has used in the past—this tends to provide more accurate information. You should also pay heed to companies that have many reviews, as this will give you a more significant data set from which to pull.

If a moving company doesn’t have any reviews on their personal site or review sites, this should be taken as a red flag. If good reviews were available, there’d be no reason why the company wouldn’t post them, right? For an example of a well-reviewed company, take a look at Eagle Van Lines Moving. Pay attention to whether or not reviewers found the moving quote to be accurate.

Ask About And Understand The Payment Structure

Moving companies have more than one way to charge their customers. Some companies charge per hour, while others charge a flat rate for packing and unpacking and then an additional fee based on the truck’s distance traveled. One method isn’t necessarily better than any of the others—what is important is that you understand how you will be charged and are given an estimate for your move’s cost. If you don’t understand all of the fees you’ll be charged, ask questions before signing. You don’t want any surprises.

Ask About The Damages Procedure

Ideally, nothing you own will become dented or damaged on the move, but sometimes life isn’t ideal. Make sure to speak to the company about what the policy and procedures are in the event that something is damaged. Many companies have a time limit during which you can report damages—you’ll want to be aware of this time frame, just in case.

The above tips should help you navigate at least one aspect of your move. Keep reminding yourself that once the frenzy of packing and switching bills over into and out of your name and changing your address on all your cards and accounts is over, you’ll be sitting in your new home, enjoying a cup of coffee or tea. You’ve got this.