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bedroom furniture is being moved out from the house carefully using the stairs. we see a black SUV on the left of the frame and a white moving truck on the far right.

The Essential Guide to Hiring Movers

Few people have never moved, whether locally, intrastate, or interstate.

In the past, moving depended solely on one’s personal ability to organize and on the number of friends and neighbors who were available to help. Finding adequate transport was also not easy.

The need for professional moving companies was recognized as early as the 19th century. They flourished during the 20th century. The golden age of development began in the 21st century, and this was contributed by the mass migration of people and the development of modern technology.

The Internet, social media, and smartphones have made connecting with moving companies easy.

However, easy access and a lot of advertising do not guarantee that your choice will be the right one. That’s why it’s good to listen to the advice of experienced people and find out how to hire movers.

Tips for Hiring Movers

Your decision to hire professional movers should primarily be based on an assessment of need. If you are moving from a smaller space and have a few things that may be light, and if it is a local move, then you can do it yourself. The help of friends and relatives is enough.

If you have so many things that you need a large truck or more trucks and it is a question of long-distance moving, then the help of professionals is necessary. You may have valuable or fragile items that require special treatment. Our experienced team will ease your potential moving stress with efficient organization, packing, transportation, and unloading at the destination itself.

Find out about the basic profile of the Moving Company

The main question at the beginning is whether they have the necessary license to do this business, which is the FMCSA. There is an FMCSA website where you can check the license of your chosen moving company yourself.

  • Do they deal with removals as brokers or carriers? Brokers have a wider range of services and the possibility of various types of assistance and additional interventions. They are intermediaries between you and other services and agencies. This is possible thanks to cooperation with an extensive network of agencies whose services may be needed during the move. Carriers provide workers and transportation and move you directly.
  • Ask about how long the moving company has been in existence, whether it has always been under the same name, and what kind of references they have.
  • Consider at least three moving companies, compare the prices and their complete offers, the way of working and all the details important to you.
  • Read detailed reviews and check ratings about experiences with these moving companies.

Contract

Any serious business requires a clearly defined contract. Satisfaction will be mutual, if all items that are important for both parties are precisely formulated in the contract.

  • The first and basic warning is to never sign a blank contract. Leave enough time to study each clause, consult with an expert if necessary, and only then sign.
  • The price must be clearly visible and determined. If additional services are foreseen, they should be specified in the contract, as well as their price. Compare prices with other moving companies.
  • Payment options. You must agree beforehand whether you will pay by credit card, cash, checks, or money order and whether you will pay the entire amount at the end or a deposit at the beginning. Never contract an excessive sum as a deposit.
  • Insurance is mandatory; no professional moving company can operate without it. Check what type of insurance is provided. Is it only a basic option, or does it include additional insurance options? Also, compare insurance with other companies.
  • Check the existence of the cancellation policy.

Hire a Moving Company on Time

Never allow yourself to do such important things at the last minute. It’s a big mistake, and it certainly doesn’t benefit anyone.

Moving companies are not only at your disposal. They have a large and demanding clientele that must meet the most diverse requirements. Also, each move takes a certain amount of time.

If you need fast service on short notice, it costs more. Also, weekends and holidays have a special price.

You run the risk of something being damaged in the rush and of staying on hold because no one will have a free appointment for you. So plan early and make an agreement with the authorities in the selected moving company. That’s how you will see how moving companies work when they have time and work at full strength. Research shows that the cheapest days for moving are Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. If you can, fit in those days.

Ask for Recommendations

Do not hesitate to look for a direct opinion about the services of one of the moving companies in addition to reviews on the Internet. People who surround you, neighbors, friends, and relatives, have certainly already had experience with movers.

Ask them about every detail of their deal and make a complete impression and recommendation. Every investigation bears fruit, and so will this one.

Undertake a detailed assessment

Never make flat-rate deals out of nowhere. In the case of delicate actions, such as moving, insist on estimates of the entire inventory for the move.

Have a responsible person from the moving company come and assess the quantity, type, and approximate weight of your belongings. If you have special requirements regarding antiques or sensitive pieces of furniture, please arrange specialized packaging and separate shipping. You may need storage for some things; leave the option open for that as well.

Specify that request in the contract if you also want an unpacking service at the new destination.

Real professionals will always meet you at a reasonable price.

Extra service

The extra service includes help with packing and unpacking, as well as supplies provided by the moving company. If you agree with them, the company will provide boxes, adhesive tapes, stickers, bubble wrap, and wooden pallets. The price is higher, but you are spared the effort of purchasing everything. This is of great importance when the hustle and bustle of moving plans and work starts.

Specify the deadlines

Just as you are obliged to call and hire an earlier moving company, you must also determine the day the move starts and ends.

No one likes breaking deadlines, and especially not living in a mess, so it is necessary to respect the agreement on the time in which the moving will be done.

Real professionals have no problem with that. Their estimated time will be approximately correct, even if an issue arises during the move.

It is in their interest to finish their job successfully and move on to another one, and it is in your interest to settle into a new home as soon as possible.

Conclusion

What to know before hiring movers is no longer a secret for you. You learned how and what to find out about moving companies, what questions to ask, and what the contract and payment should look like to satisfy both parties.

You are now a master negotiator in all aspects of moving. You know what is crucial and what to pay attention to.

Just as employees at Smooth Move & Delivery are open to cooperation and flexible in agreements, you will also show your awareness and readiness for an agreement.