6 Things to Look for in a Moving Company

by Tyler Roberts Content Creator

When preparing for a move, there are many important factors to take into consideration including logistics, supplies and most likely, selecting a moving company. Hiring a moving company is extremely helpful in taking a load of work off your hands and ensuring that more cumbersome items are safely moved from one house to another. However, there’s no doubt that with hundreds of moving companies to choose from, it can be hard to choose an international removalist that’s going to cater perfectly to your needs. Therefore, we’ve listed below 6 things to look for in a moving company to help you make the right choice.

Good Reviews

Undoubtably, one of the first things people do when looking for a moving company is to jump on Google and start researching. Therefore, when researching, spend time looking on each moving company’s Google MyBusiness listing to check their reviews. Doing this will immediately disseminate the companies with a good reputation from the bad, already narrowing down your decision-making process. Once you’ve found some companies with good reviews, have a further look at what’s been said in the reviews and if this aligns with things you look for in a moving company.

Experience and Track Record

With experience comes knowledge and perfecting skills, which is why often, a good moving company will be one that has been operating for a number of years. Moving companies that are tried and true are trusted because they have a proven track record for being on time, taking care with your possessions, remaining affordable over time and being highly contactable and friendly. A good reputation takes years to build, therefore the safest option will always be choosing a company based off experience.

Licensing and Insurance

This goes without saying, but you should never, ever hire a moving company that isn’t licensed and insured. If they’re not, the company is not legally bound to touch and protect your property, leaving you helpless and out of pocket if one of your possessions gets damaged or stolen. Licensing and insurance laws will most likely vary depending on where you live, so make sure you research the laws in your own state so you can ensure your moving company is following them.

Cohesiveness

Now that you’ve found a moving company that has a great reputation and is licenced and insured, think about whether their specialty services suit the need of your moving situation. Every move is different, especially if you’re transitioning from an apartment to a large home, or vice versa, it’s important to consider if the moving company you’re choosing is fully equipped to help you with your move. Some questions to consider might be:

· Does the company have a truck big enough to fit larger furniture items?

· Do they supply packing supplies such as boxes, bubble wrap, butchers' paper and tape?

· Do they work outside of normal business hours?

· Will they allow you to offer advice?

Cost and Consistency

There’s nothing worse than getting a quote from somewhere, only to find out that upon receiving the invoice; it’s changed! When it comes to moving companies, they can often only provide you with a standard rate based on the number of hours you’ll need them and how many movers it will require. Unfortunately, without seeing your possessions, most companies aren’t able to give an exact quote as heavier items and unexpected overtime work can add extra costs. Make sure, however, that the company is clear with you on this so that you can be prepared to pay a little extra when moving day comes.

Look for Warning Signs

Like most services, you always need to be wary of frauds, including when you’re selecting a moving company. While most overseas moving companies will be legitimate, it can never hurt to take extra precautions to ensure you’re working with a real company, including checking licensing, looking up their service records and making sure they have a valid address. You also need to be aware of companies that ask for a large initial deposit, which is usually more than 20%. While these factors are not a given for fraud companies, most, legitimate, trustworthy moving companies will have all of these factors and generally won’t ask for a deposit.