Top Tips to Look For in a Moving Company

Written by Posted On Monday, 21 January 2019 11:20

Americans are constantly on the move, packing up a gear and heading off into new locations and residences. In fact, The Atlantic identifies relocating to a new or better home as the leading reason why Americans move, with popular stats blog, Five Thirty-Eight, claiming that the average American shifts base 11.4 times in their lifetime, more than anybody else in the world.

With so much shuffling around, few people relish the back-breaking task of packing, transporting and unpacking all they have accumulated in their lifetimes then rinse and repeat a few years later. If moving is not your cup of tea, you’re in luck. Hiring a professional mover can save you a week of back pain or a pulled hammy not to mention greatly alleviate the stress of having to do an enormous amount of planning. AAAmoversMinneapolis, for instance, handles all the nitty gritty of the entire process meaning you literally don’t have to lift a finger.

If you are planning to make a move soon, here are some top tips to look for in a moving company.

Get a thorough walk-through

A reputable company should take a complete inventory of all your possessions so as to determine their bulk and weight. The estimator should thoroughly check all of your storage places including drawers, cupboards, bookcases, and garages. This is the case because the number, bulk, and weight of your belongings have a huge bearing on your moving costs. Furthermore, the estimator will ask you which items you plan to take to your new home versus the ones you plan to leave behind, sell, donate to charity, and so on. A good estimator should not only provide an accurate estimate of your moving cost but also a reasonable timeframe within which they expect to complete the task.

Don’t give a large deposit

Some movers will ask for a deposit that acts as a commitment fee before moving. Others will only demand a down payment during peak months such as summer months. The amount of deposit demanded will usually vary with long-distance and interstate movers typically asking for more. Overall, the down payment ranges from $100 up to $500. The mover should provide you with a reasonable window where you can cancel the move and still retain your deposit. A reputable moving company should also accept credit card payments, which allows you to protect yourself from possible fraudulent activity.

Beware of extra fees

Professional movers typically factor in the level of difficulty of a move when working out a quote for you. Are you moving from a 10th-floor apartment? Do you live in a multi-storied house or are moving into one? Negotiating narrow staircases, streets or back alleys? If so, be prepared to pay more since the mover will need compensation for the extra work. Whereas a surcharge is a reasonable requirement under these circumstances, some movers introduce other hidden fees for services such as moving on a Saturday or after working hours. The mover should be able to tell you upfront about any such fees and not be economical with the truth in a bid to avoid scaring you with a higher quote.

Get references

Ask the mover to provide you with references. A list of three customers in your area they have done business with over the past three months should suffice. Make a point of actually calling the customers and ask direct questions about their experiences. Alternatively, get a list of reliable movers from state associations of movers or the American Moving and Storage Association.

Avoid blank contracts

It’s absolutely imperative that you get every little detail in writing and avoid signing black contracts. The contract should clearly state the mover’s estimate, any extra fees, and your pick-up/delivery dates. Make sure to go through the fine print of the contract before putting pen to paper. Make sure that everything you plan to move is listed on the contract since you cannot file a claim for something not on the inventory list.

  1. Don’t accept a ‘guaranteed’ quote

Do not accept ‘guaranteed’ quotes. Genuine contracts fall under these 3 formats:

  • Non-binding estimate: The Company is obligated not to ask for more than 10% above the original estimate. Any overages are required to be paid within 30 days of delivery
  • Non-binding to exceed estimate: This type of quote protects you from paying any overages to the original estimate. The original estimate represents the maximum you can be asked to pay
  • A binding estimate: With this type of quote, your contract is the guaranteed price for the move and also covers any extras. Any extra services (such as unpacking) requested for by the client must be paid for within 30 days of delivery.

Report any problem

You are legally allowed up to nine months to report any problems to the moving company and file a claim. So, you are basically out of luck if you delay opening some boxes until a year later only to find shards of glass. For this reason, it’s advisable to open all boxes on moving day and note any problems on the moving company’s bill of lading before appending your signature of approval.

Moving insurance and valuation protection

Moving companies are required by law to assume liability for the goods they transport. These companies provide to main levels of protection:

  • Full replacement value protection: This is the most comprehensive moving insurance cover. It stipulates that the mover will cover the full costs of repairing or replacing lost or damaged items. Movers though are allowed to limit their liability to items of extraordinary value i.e. those whose value exceeds $100 per pound weight e.g. jewelry, china, silverware, antiques and so on.
  • Alternative level of liability: This is a more economical plan because you don’t pay any extra money for it, with the tradeoff being that it provides a lower level of protection for your property. With this option, the moving company assumes liability for a value not exceeding 60 cents per pound for your belongings. This in effect means that the mover will only pay $6 for the expensive 10-pound stereo that you bought for $1,000 in the event of loss or damage.

It’s important to ask the mover the kind of insurance they provide especially when moving expensive or valuable items when you feel that the risk of damage is high.

In many cases, professional movers with decades of service and experience under their belts tend to offer consistently high-quality service otherwise they would not have survived that long.  Interstate movers also tend to be a better choice since they move with you as you change cities or states.

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