If you’re planning on moving to a new state, you probably figured out that it’ll be a daunting and stressful process for everyone involved. However, it is something that can lead to some really amazing things and new beginnings. But, if you never moved long-distance before, you may be wondering – what are some tips that I should remember when looking for a moving firm?
Fortunately for all individuals searching for an answer to this question, this article may be able to assist you. The text below will feature a list of the 10 points you should think about when deciding which moving company will assist you with transport your stuff hundreds of miles away. Let’s take a closer look at the tips:
-
Firstly, Create a Detailed Plan For The Moving Day
The very first thing you’ll need to do is create a detailed plan for your moving day. Hence, you’ll want to consider whether or not you’ll like the movers to take care of everything, should they only load and unload your boxes from the truck, or do you want them to only drive the truck to your new house. This is why you should write everything down.
Additionally, not all moving companies offer the same service, hence, ensure that you figure out what you want them to do and what you’ll do by yourself. Also, you’ll learn what extra services you might need, which can allow you to find the right company that will help you with transporting everything from point A to point B.
-
Setting a Realistic Budget is Crucial
When you start looking for firms, you should set a realistic budget. By knowing how much you can afford to pay, you’ll also be able to find a firm that will fit your budget. Most commonly, an out of state move will cost at least 1.600 dollars. Naturally, this will depend on various things such as the distance, the number of boxes/furniture you have, and how many people will travel with you.
Luckily, once you start browsing, you’ll be able to find a wide range of businesses such as gpsmoving.com, which means that you’ll be able to find a moving company that will suit your needs and budget. Keep in mind, ensure that you compare the service you’ll receive and the quotes offered by some companies since you’ll want to get the best deal for the money you’ll be paying.
-
Getting a Walkthrough is Wise
You should certainly avoid companies that won’t give you a walkthrough, especially since this means that your moving day will be completely off the mark. Hence, ensure that you get a complete walkthrough from the estimator. Basically, they will give you a plan and they’ll probably also ask you different questions.
From all the questions they might ask, the most important one that you should answer is what things you are planning on taking with you and which ones you are planning to donate, sell, or leave to the new owners. Trust me, you do not want to pack unnecessary things, especially since this can raise the overall expenses.
-
Never Pay Upfront
One of the biggest mistakes you can make is paying for the entire service or a huge deposit before the move. Instead, you should pay for the service once everything is delivered. By paying upfront, you’ll have no control over your things, nor where they are. Hence, when you pay, ensure that you use your credit card because it will protect you from possible fraud.
-
Is The Company Licensed?
A lot of homeowners make a mistake of not checking whether or not the company they are planning on hiring is licensed. Keep in mind, all reliable and trustworthy firms will be licensed and they’ll also have insurance for protecting themselves and their clients. You can check if the company is licensed by visiting the Better Business Bureau website.
Additionally, if the company does not have an address, phone number, or email listed on their website, you might want to avoid hiring such companies. Most commonly, these are fraudulent firms, which is why you must avoid hiring them, especially if you want to ensure that your items actually arrive at your new house.
-
You Need to Know Exactly How Many Boxes And Things You Have
When you receive an estimate, the business you are hiring assumes that the number of boxes and furniture pieces is correct. If you have more than you initially told them, it won’t raise the cost of the services, however, it will definitely take longer for them to load and unload everything because they will have fewer men.
Also, this can lead to the company being late from another job, which is something that they won’t be particularly happy about. So, when you are filling out the estimate document, you should count all the things you are planning on taking with you and fill out the exact amount in the form.
-
Measure You Doors, Windows, And Hallways
Ensure that the things you are bringing with you can actually fit through your doors, windows, stairs, halls, and so on. The movers won’t be responsible if the items cannot go through an opening properly and safely. Hence, once you buy the new house, measure everything, especially since it will allow you to figure out what you can take with you, and what you’ll need to, unfortunately, leave behind.
-
Consider The Tips
The people working for moving companies depend on tips in some way, hence, when you are creating your budget, ensure that you factor in the tips as well. Most commonly, the tip rate is 20%, however, a lot of homeowners also choose to prepare some coffee for the movers or a nice meal.
Conclusion
As you were able to read, there is a wide range of tips that you must keep in mind when looking for a long-distance moving company. But, if you choose to follow the tips mentioned in the list above, you’ll surely make the entire process less time-consuming, less complex, and more importantly less stressful for you and your family members.
So, now that you learned what things you should keep in mind, you might not want to lose any more of your time. Instead, you should go back to the beginning of the article, go through it once again, and then start browsing the Internet for a moving company that will suit your needs and budget.