There’s something equally exciting and scary about relocating a long distance from your current home, with new foods, weather patterns, leisure pursuits and friendships to experience and enjoy.
Perhaps you are relocating as a step into retirement, to be closer to a loved one, or heading for a new job or promotion, whatever the reason, most people have the same feelings and concerns- which can probably be best described as being a strange blend of excitement and sheer terror at what lies ahead.
So whether you are moving to the next state, or jumping several for a journey which involves traveling several thousands of miles, having a great experience all revolves around choosing fantastic long distance movers, and here we share some idea on how to find one.
Do get into the research and try to secure a moving date as soon as you possibly can, as this avoids the risk of having to go with whoever happens to have space.
Tip #1 – Look for a moving company who designate one person to take care of you
We all know that moving house involves juggling lots of things at the same time, like arranging for final utility bills in one state while trying to book in new connections in another, arranging mail forwarding, oh and of course that not insignificant task called packing! Basically, you need all the help you can get, and having a dedicated person in a moving company who is taking on the responsibility of organizing your move is invaluable.
You always have a definite point of contact and can trust they will be up to speed on what is happening so there’s no need to get into repetitive explanations of every pint during a call. Of course, you need to check them out at the inquiry stage – and if they don’t fill you with the utmost confidence don’t feel bad about shutting it down and moving on. If there’s one thing worse than a disorganized business it’s one where the only person who knows who you even are is less than stellar!
[**You can expect a move coordinator to help with things like arranging a packing service if requested, coordinating the moving of large items like pianos, plan and confirm moving dates, basically be in touch with updates and reassurance as required.]
Tip #2 – Ask for recommendations
You can certainly have friends and family put the word out, but if they have no direct numbers and names to pass on have them use their own social media to widen the net for firsthand recommendations. Failing that try asking on Facebook pages set up for people in your area for their experiences and possible recommendations. You could also as local real estate agents if they have any numbers to pass on. This is, of course, more likely if they deal with interstate property sales.
Tip #3 – Look at online reviews
Sites like Yelp can be worth looking at, they usually list the top providers for any service you can imagine, and there should be some feedback to look at too. You don’t have to automatically rule out any business without thousands of 5-star feedback ratings, just get a feel for what people praise and make a mental note of the odd negative point. They are natural, so don’t be too influenced by just a few.
Tip#3 – Call them for a chat
Before you attempt to connect always have a list of questions ready that you want to ask. If you call and get a machine or are asked to call later to arrange something that’s not necessarily a red flag, but they should either respond quickly to your phone message or fix a time to call you back when things are a little less hectic. If you don’t hear anything it is wisest to move on as a company which starts out unreliable is unlikely to get better suddenly. The best moving companies in USA will be more than happy to contact prospective customers.
**List of questions to/topics to raise
- How do you decide on an estimate for the move?
- How long do you expect the total move to take?
- What kind of insurance coverage do you offer as standard? Is there any option to upgrade?
- How much of a deposit do you need? (Pay this by credit card for protection. It should never exceed 20% of the total).
- Will the final fee include all charges, such as necessary storage on the route?
It’s advised you look for at least three estimates so that means calling three places to chat. You may come across initial estimate calculators on a moving company’s website, which requires you to add details of things like the quantity and size of furniture you have, the number of boxes, etc.
This is not a bad thing for a first encounter, but any company that gives you the green light to book based on that kind of estimate is unlikely to be legitimate. A trustworthy company would insist on knowing exactly what lay in store for their workers before agreeing on a price which could easily leave them out of pocket. There are three common types of estimate:
– Non-binding. The type you get from filling out an online form yourself. Use these as a very rough guide only.
– Binding. Everything covered on the written estimate must be delivered for the price stated. If you want more adding later it could mean scrapping this and starting again.
– Guaranteed not to exceed: so you pay the actual costs for the services agreed in writing, knowing they won’t be more than the figures quoted. Anything add later would, of course, be subject to charge.
Tip #4 – Check the long distance moving company has the right license
The Department of Transportation (DOT) issues a license to commercial vehicles which gives them permission to move things from one state to another. You can expect to see a company’s DOT number on their website, business card, and estimate form.