Everybody knows that moving home is stressful. One way to alleviate some of this stress is by hiring the best DC movers. Finding the best movers, however, can be quite difficult. The problem is that if you choose the wrong ones, you will only add to your stress. Below are five things to help you find the best movers for your needs.
- Recommendations
Everybody has moved home at least once in their life. This means that people have experiences with moving companies and they are usually more than happy to share what their experiences were. Ask your friends, colleagues, and neighbors about any companies they recommend, or any companies that they suggest you absolutely do not use. The internet is also a great place to find recommendations.
- Estimates
Secondly, you should get at least five different estimates to compare. Do not accept any estimate that has been created over the phone or online, without even visiting your property. Also, estimates should be free and no obligation. If a company wants to charge you for getting a quote, move on to the next one, there are plenty to choose from.
- Services
Next, you need to look into the services that they actually offer. Only you will know what you actually need. Perhaps you want the most basic of all: a truck that you load and unload but that the moving company drives for you. Or maybe, you want any or all of the following services as well:
- Packaging materials
- Movers to actually pack and unpack your belongings
- Movers that carry your belongings out of one property and into the next one
- Temporary storage facilities
- Paperwork
Good moving companies are licensed, bonded, and insured. You should be able to ask for details about this, but do make sure you double check. If, for instance, a company says they are insured through a particular carrier, speak to that carrier to ask whether their policy is still current and valid. This is really important, as you will not be covered for any of your belongings if the company’s licenses, certifications, or insurance policies are out of date.
- Recognize a Red Herring
There are a couple of things that are huge warning signs for potential fraudulent businesses. These include:
- Providing online or over the phone estimates only.
- Basing a quote on cubic feet rather than weight.
- Demanding upfront deposits.
- Not being provided with a ‘Your Rights and Responsibilities’ booklet.
- A company that doesn’t own any trucks.
By looking into the above five pointers, you should be able to find the best company for your particular needs. While it may be tempting to focus on price alone, what you should actually look for is value for money, which is a very different thing. Sometimes, when you pay a little more, you get a little more as well, and that can translate into savings somewhere else. And do remember that your time is valuable as well.