Finding a Good Local Moving Company – 8 Steps

Is it time to relocate to a larger or smaller home? Moving from one house to another can be a stressful proposition without a quality local moving company. Experience, muscles and equipment are on the side of the professionals. Let them transfer your belongings from one abode to another in order to streamline the process. Here are 8 steps to take when trying to locate the best trucking company to haul your belongings:

1) Get referrals from friends, family and coworkers. Word of mouth references are the best. Ask in your neighborhood, as well. See someone who’s just moved in? Ask about the company that they used and whether they were satisfied. When referrals are given by former customers, be sure to dig a little deeper to ask if they’d use the company again, then why or why not.
2) Use a business that has a local representative available to come to your place. An over-the-phone or internet quote won’t be very reliable as every person’s inventory of belongings is quite different. The big well known names may not always the best bet, either. Sometimes the lesser known, smaller businesses are more likely to give that personal touch.
3) Once you’ve gathered a list of possibilities from the internet, phone book and simple word-of-mouth, call the Better Business Bureau to see if they are in good standing in the community or if complaints have been lodged against them.
4) Licensed, bonded and insured professionals are a must. These are people handling your worldly goods; you want to be able to trust them and to have insurance coverage in case of an accident.
5) Narrow the list down to 3 or 4 companies that seem like possibilities. Make appointments for each of them to come to your dwelling in order to survey the contents and give you a written estimate. Make sure to read the estimate carefully in order to note what is included and what is not. Are packing supplies included? How about unpacking? What about time frame? How long will it take to pack and unload?
6) Once you’ve selected a winner, it’s time to set the date. Does your time requirement align with their availability? Are certain days of the week less expensive than others? Get all the details before making a firm decision.
7) Although you’ve already done some rudimentary checks on the company, take a minute and make a few more calls. For example, make certain that their license and insurance are current and that there aren’t any complaints against them.
8) Final step, make certain that you keep a detailed inventory of your belongings before they drive away.

Follow these steps and start packing. A reputable local moving company will speed you on your way.