6 Essential Questions To Ask Local Movers Before Hiring
Choosing to hire a local moving company means you’re trusting them with your belongings. And before you make a hiring decision, there are specific questions you should ask concerning its movers.
Given how rarely individuals relocate, it’s easy to make assumptions about the moving business and hire local movers on a whim. However, you’d be surprised to discover there are lots of things you aren’t aware of.
That’s why we’ve compiled a list of well-informed questions to ask potential local movers before hiring. If you’re looking to relocate anytime soon, these questions will help you get the best local movers to work with.
Of course, every moving company is looking to acquire more customers, grow their user base and make more money, but more than one of them is the right fit for you.
The following are questions to ask potential movers before hiring them, making selection easier for you.
How Long Has The Moving Company Been In Business?
This is one of the factors to consider while selecting a local moving company. If the company has been around for a few years, you might want to do some digging into their background.
Being in business for a long while is proof that they offer quality services, operate legally and have professional local movers. On the other hand, it’s difficult to find reviews of new moving companies.
So, it’s better to consider hiring local movers who have been in the business for a long time.
Is The Moving Company Insured & Licensed?
It’s typical for legally operating moving companies to have proof of their insurance and license on their websites. But if the companies you’re considering don’t have theirs on their sites, ask for them.
Knowing they are legally qualified to operate ensures your belongings are safe with them. To prove their authenticity, most upstanding local moving companies will readily send all legal documents to convince you.
Are There Any Special Conditions About Your Move That’ll Attract Extra Charges?
Of course, no one wants surprises when it comes to moving charges. Thus, it’s ideal to ask the moving specialists of the companies on your radar if there are any extra charges for your special moving conditions.
However, keep the following information in mind when hiring a moving company:
- Local moves are typically charged hourly per worker.
- Interstate and long-distance moves are charged based on your shipment’s weight, not the distance covered.
- International moves are charged based on your shipment’s volume.
Being armed with this information before speaking with a moving company can help you ask about any other extra moving policies they operate by and how they’ll fit your moving needs.
What Are The Moving Coverage Options Of The Company?
Having professional local movers from an upstanding moving company to handle the transportation of your belongings is one thing, but knowing their moving coverage limit is another.
So why should you ask this question?
Well, moving coverage is pretty much like an insurance service that covers the cost of your possessions in case they get damaged, stolen, or lost while in transit.
By law, all moving companies are obligated to provide their customers with basic moving coverage that insures all their possessions for about €0.30 per pound for local or intrastate move and $0.60 per pound for interstate move.
To put this in perspective, here’s an example of how the basic moving coverage works:
Imagine hiring a moving company to transport a 300-pound glass table. If the table falls off the truck and shatters to smithereens while in transit, the company would reimburse you €90 if it’s an intrastate move.
If it’s an interstate one, you’ll be given €180.
Such meager compensation won’t be enough to buy another glass table of the same quality. However, there are some moving companies out there that offer their customers full-value protection (FVP).
If, your belongings get damaged en route to your destination, you’ll be given the exact amount needed to fix it or buy a new one of equal value.
The downside of the FVP coverage is that it’s quite expensive, and not too many moving companies offer it.
This is why you must ask the moving companies on your radar about their moving coverage limit.
Does The Moving Company Offer All The Services Your Require?
Ensure the moving services you require are offered by the moving company you hire. The services offered by all moving companies vary. This is why you shouldn’t make any assumptions.
Here are the services a typical moving company offers:
- Packing
- Cleaning services
- Furniture assembly/disassembly
- Vehicle shipping
- Loading and unloading
- Transportation of delicate items like hot tubs and pianos
- Storage
Some companies offer all these moving services, while many others offer some of them. However, you should hire one that offers all the services you require.
Does The Moving Company Have Hidden Fees?
Many moving companies are very good at hiding fees in your contract, only for them to show up on your final bill. To prevent any surprises, ask the companies you’re considering hiring.
Or better yet, read their online customer reviews. This will help you know if any customer had to pay surprise fees.
If there are too many complaints about hidden fees from past customers, that could be a sign that you shouldn’t work with such a moving company.
Key Inquiries To Make When Evaluating Local Moving Companies
- Experience And Expertise
When evaluating a moving company, check their customer reviews and ratings, and if you have friends or family who have hired its moving services, ask them about the experience. Take your time to gather as much information as you can.
- Ask For References
You can also go as far as requesting the contact details of past customers to be sure of the quality of a company’s moving services.
Need To Move Intrastate?
Moovick connects you with professional and well-experienced local movers who’ll make your transition smooth and easy.
We understand how overwhelming relocation can be. This is why, as a moving company, we also offer cleaning and handyman services to help with your packing and unpacking.
We provide the best market for comparable stellar moving services, and all of our customers can attest to that. Reach out to Moovick now for your intrastate relocation.
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