Moving is never an easy task. There just always seems like too much to do. You need to figure out what you will do with your things. Then, there is a suitable location and a new home to find. Finally, there’s a sea of paperwork to wade through. However, there is a cure to this. Once you find a reliable mover, the job gets easier. They are the people who will help you throughout the whole process and will follow you during each step. In this article, find out how you can find cheap and reliable movers in your area, and what to look out for!
Get recommendations you can trust
One of the first things you will need to do when looking into movers is to gather a list of various moving companies that offer their services to you. There are multiple ways in which you can go about getting recommendations:
- your friends and family can help you find a reliable mover,
- your colleges may have moved recently and
- you can look online or at various advertisements.
Your friends can be a great source of information when trying to find a reliable mover.
One of the most reliable ways to do this is through people you know. It never hurts to simply ask around. You might already know if someone close to you has undergone a move recently – give them a call and ask questions.
Talk to them about their experiences. They might have some great intel that will help you choose your mover carefully. On the other hand, they might also have some good information about the movers you should avoid. In the end, any way that conversation goes – you will have more intel about the movers in your area.
Then, there is the internet. When it comes to searching for information online, you need to be very careful. There are many review websites you can look into but always keep in mind one things. The information you find online does not necessarily need to be 100% true. A lot of reviews can be manufactured or not real. For example, ask yourself if it can be possible for a company to only have five-star reviews. When you have been working in the moving business for years, it is perfectly normal to run into a client who will be at least a little dissatisfied with your services.
Call the companies to find a reliable mover
The next thing you want to do is to call the moving companies on your list. Pay attention to everything in that conversation – from the way they answer their phone to how polite and professional are. First, mark down how they represent themselves. They should use their name – don’t trust the companies that use something generic like “movers” or “moving services” when they answer your call. Changing names often is one of the tells by which you can recognize rogue movers.
Make a point of calling the references.
There are two things you should ask from the representatives. First, ask for references. These should be the clients that moved within the last three months – their experience needs to be fresh in their memory. Ask for their names and contact information. You will want to call these people on the phone and talk to them. Be very specific about the things you will ask them. Don’t choose broad questions like “Tell me something about the movers.” Instead, ask things like “What was one thing you disliked the most about the move?” Questions like these will give you great information, but will also show you if the person you are talking to is being honest.
The second thing you should arrange is a visit from the company’s estimator. Don’t agree to do a phone estimate – they need to see your things personally in order to give you a good bid. This is a great way to find a reliable mover – the fraudulent ones will try to evade in-house estimates.
Things to look out during a moving estimate
When the moving estimator comes, look at how professionally they behave. If they are just barely looking at your things and not asking a lot of questions, don’t trust the moving company. Professional moving estimators, like the ones at Dorothy & Martha Moving NYC, will be very careful and very thorough. They will ask what you plan to do with your things. You can also ask them any question that you might have concerning the move. The estimators might even insist they look into your basement and attic – they need to see everything you have.
Pay attention to how professional the estimator is.
You should also ask estimator a lot about the moving company itself. After they are gone, make sure you know how long the company has been doing business, the names they have been doing business as, as well as their U.S. DOT (Department of Transportation) number. It is also a great idea to get the binding estimate from the estimator. This document, signed by both you and the company, is a legally binding document that states the company won’t charge you more than the estimated.
However, be careful when signing anything. Make sure you carefully go over it and read the fine print. It is perfectly normal for you not to understand something. If that happens, make sure you call your lawyer so they can explain everything to you. Once you sign a document, you will be legally tied to a moving company and the terms in the contract – even if you claim you didn’t understand them.
Conclusion
To conclude, there are a couple of things you can do in order to find a reliable mover. First, ask around for them. Your friends, family, colleges, neighbors are all a great source of information. If you come empty-handed, then head over to the internet. Read the review websites, as well as some trustworthy experts – like Better Business Bureau. Then, call the companies and get their estimators and references. After you gather the bids from various companies, you can compare them. If anything pops out too much, make further investigation into the reasons why. This way, you will thin your list and find the best company for you.
