How to Select a Moving Company

Hiring a Professional Home Mover

Price vs. Cost

Choosing a home moving company may seem like an overwhelming task. Where do you start? What qualities should you look for? The following checklist can help:

Give yourself plenty of time to select a moving company.

• Start your research at least eight to ten weeks before your move.
• Ask others for recommendations:
• Were the movers on time?
• Were they professional?
• Did they have enough people and the right equipment for the job?
• Did they damage anything?
• Contact local consumer protection groups for performance records and other relevant information.
• If your employer is transferring you, ask your relocation agent for recommendations.

Determine your moving requirements.

• Determine the size, distance, and timing of your move.
• Size: The weight of your move. The more weight, the more cost.
• Distance: The number of miles you're traveling and the states of your old home and your destination. Some carriers only serve certain states.
• Time: The time of year you decide to move. Moving during peak times, such as the summer or holidays, means that you'll pay more for your move.
• Look for Hidden Costs

  The charges on local moves are usually based on labor time while long distance moves are charged based on weight and distance, and regulated by the federal government. However, do your research and ask your moving company if there are extra charges for: Extra heavy items such as piano, safe or riding lawn mowers, disassembly or reassembly of furniture or other devices, a long walk from the truck to the house or stairs.

• Moving Services Contract
• Always get a written contract that includes all the items to be moved, all costs and charges, delivery time, delivery address, phone numbers, insurance coverage and a total cost figure.
• Read the contract and the fine print before you sign.
• A free on-site estimate is recommended before engaging with a moving company.
• Get several online or phone estimates and 2-3 on-site estimates before choosing your mover.
• Be sure to include all the items to be moved for an accurate assessment and price quotes.

• How much do you want to spend on your move?
• How much work do you want to do yourself?

Self-Service vs. Full Service Movers

• Self-Service Move
• The moving company transports your belongings from old house to new, but..
• .. you have to pack and unpack everything at both ends of the move.

• Full-Service Move
• In addition to transporting everyting, the moving company also packs and unpacks all your household goods.
• Most people who hire professional movers choose full-service.
• Although you could do a self-service move to save money, long-distance moves with lots of heavy, valuable items are best left to the professionals.
• In addition, cargo insurance for do-it-yourself moves is limited to $25,000 and covers only damage caused by such disasters as crashes or fire.

• Regardless of the "Type" of mover you choose:
• Obtain a written cost estimate.

  Most companies give free estimates, so be sure to ask ahead of time. If the estimate is not binding, however, the final cost may differ.

• Don't deal with any company that is not licensed.

  A licensed company should also be able to demonstrate that it carries worker's compensation insurance to protect the company and its customers. When you contact the licensing authority, ask if the company has been in good standing for several years. You don't want a company that lost its license and is now operating under an new name. Here, you need to know the names of the owner(s) to track their license history.

• Visit the local moving company office and talk to the owner.

  If you can only take the time to talk to an owner by phone, ask about the firm's experience and client list. If the list includes corporate clients for executive relocation services, call the client contact to verity references.

• Call your local Better Business Bureau to determine if the company has any outstanding complaints.

  Consumers who have disputes with moving companies usually file complaints with local business bureaus or associations.

• Never, never, invite anyone into your home for a cost estimate until you have performed a background check.

  Don't be tempted by persuasive telemarketers with empty promises.Take the time to protect yourself, your belongings and most importantly, your family.

Other factors that might affect the cost of the move:

• Packing

  If you want to save money, it's best to pack as much as you can on your own, leaving only the hardest tasks for the movers.

• Appliances

  Many movers will disconnect major appliances (for example, washing machine, ice maker) at your old home and reconnect them at your new home. However, movers typically charge for this service.

• Staircases

  Expect additional costs based on the number of staircases that your mover needs to use to move your belongings to the truck (and into your new home, of course).

• Pianos

  Pianos are big, unwieldy objects that are difficult to move. Movers typically charge extra for each piano they move.

• It may pay NOT to move some things.

  Consider the value of a donation to Goodwill or the Salvation Army against the cost of moving something near the end of it's life expectancy.

Moving Day

• Be at home when the movers arrive so that you can supervise their work at all times.
• Accompany the moving crew foreman as he fills out the inventory sheet and supervise the loading process into the moving van.
• Before your sign the inventory list take a second walk throughout the house to make sure all items are accounted for.
• Supervise the delivery process as well, even if it is to a temporary storage facility.