Despite proper planning, moving day is typically very hectic. If you are planning an upcoming move, enlisting help is not as simple as calling a moving company and setting an appointment. Without researching or comparing movers, you might end up wasting money or worse – putting all of your belongings, your life, in the wrong hands.
This is why it is important to ask a few key questions before you set an appointment and hire a moving company to help you out. Read on to get a good idea of a few questions that will help you find the best movers for the job, and help you avoid paying too much or increasing the stress of moving day.
Do You Offer Binding Quotes?
This happens far too often: A customer hires a moving company and gets a quote. After the move, they discover that they owe much more than they bargained for because the company added extra fees and charges.
Many movers offer a binding quote after personally inspecting the items involved with the move. Never trust a company that offers a binding quote without inspecting your items first—they might charge surprise fees at the end of the move, putting you over budget.
Any Other Charges?
Don’t assume that a binding quote is really binding. Some moving companies add on extra charges for other services that you request after receiving the binding quote. For example, the moving company might add extra fees for items that are unusually heavy or very fragile.
They might also sneak extra charges onto your moving bill for extra mileage, extra storage, and extra time. Make sure you ask about those sneaky little charges so that you know exactly what to expect come moving day.
What is the Cancellation Policy?
It is always wise to ask about a moving company’s cancellation policy before hiring. If you decide to cancel and reschedule your move for next month, you want to be aware of how much it will cost.
Some companies charge their customers a large cancellation fee to cover their expenses. If your move date is tentative, be sure you are aware of the mover’s cancellation policy, and don’t set an appointment until you have more of a set date for the move.
What Type of Insurance is Included?
Most moving companies offer their customers insurance in case something happens to any of the items. However, the insurance is simply basic. The insurance might cover a few cents per pound. Of course, you could ask them if they offer upgrades.
Be cautious, if they do not offer their customers upgrades. You might come out on the losing side if your items are damaged in the move.
Are Items Transferred to Another Company?
A long distance move could cover several states. Often, a company will transfer the items to another truck that is driven by a new crew. This is a lot of extra handling that racks up extra charges. Transferring items also increase the risk that your items will get damaged.
Check with the company before hiring to see what kinds of fees they charge, and discuss the route for the items. That way, you’ll be fully aware of where your items are, who will be handling them, and how much it will cost.
Make sure that you are well aware of your moving company’s policies before setting up an appointment and signing a check. Do thorough research on the company website, and address any remaining questions with a member of the company so that you know exactly what you are getting into. The last thing you want to deal with on moving day is extra fees, broken items, or an inefficient moving crew. By doing a little research and comparison before hiring anyone, you can be sure you are getting exactly what you need for a successful move.
This article was written by Dixie Somers, a freelance writer who loves to write for health, women’s interests, and the home niches. She lives in Arizona with her husband and three beautiful daughters. Dixie got advice for this article from the New Jersey movers at Moving of America.
