10 Tips for Choosing Affordable High Quality Movers

Moving can be a stressful time of transition for you and everyone in your household. Here are some tips for selecting a moving company that will take care of your home, belongings, and memories, without breaking your bank account.

1. Plan Ahead

One of the best things you can do is start planning early. Researching and selecting your movers several months ahead of time allows more flexibility with dates and gives you more time to iron out the details. If you can, plan to move in the off peak season as rates can be much lower.

2. Decide What to Get Rid Of

You don’t want to pay to move anything that you aren’t going to use. Carefully consider your house and figure out which items you wish to take with you, and which items aren’t worth what it would cost to move them. Unwanted items can be donated or sold during a garage sale.

3. Do Some Research

Take an inventory. Write down how many rooms, what furniture is in each one, and any other large items like a piano or appliance. Then do some homework about costs to move those extras. Also research the different billing methods and the differences between them. Some companies charge per room, some will weigh the truck, others will offer a flat rate.

4. Ask for Recommendations

One way to begin finding a trustworthy mover is to ask friends, online email groups, or a local real estate agent for recommendations. You will get your best information about companies from people who have experience with them.

5. Read Reviews

Online reviews are now a great way for people to make these decisions. Take into consideration overall ratings. If the vast majority of the reviews are positive, a few negative entries are expected. Make sure there are no complaints lodged against the company at the Better Business Bureau

6. Get Multiple Quotes

Get at least three moving quotes, and more of them if you can. This will help you understand what a reasonable cost is, which can tip you off to prices that are suspect because they are too low, or unreasonably high.

7. Compare Companies

Do a careful comparison of the moving estimates as different movers have different ways of calculating costs. Pay attention to charges for additional services (packing, packing materials, unpacking, disassembly and re-assembly of large furniture, temporary storage, etc.).

8. Make sure your moving company has the license and insurance it needs to move you legally.

Call the FMCSA’s Safety Violation and Consumer Complaints hotline at 888-368-7238 (open 24/7) and ask about complaints against your moving company. And, if possible, go to the company’s address and check out the facilities in person.

9. Get it in Writing

Many discount movers are known for adding fees for services that were not agreed upon in the initial quote. Ask for discounts and specials When you are choosing the mover to hire don’t always go for the lowest price. Scammers often provide a low estimate, then add charges and fees you were not aware of.

10. Do Some of the Packing Yourself

Get some items packed before moving-day. This can help to reduce your packing fees, so you can afford a higher-quality service. Be sure to leave the valuables or fragile items for the professionals to pack. They will not insure items that they did not pack themselves.

If you follow these tips, you’ll be able to afford a quality moving service to care for your items during this transition.