Questions to Ask of a Moving Company

One of the most important things you must do when you are planning to move is to hire a reliable and responsible moving company that has a solid and well respected reputation. After all you want your belongings to be handled with care and you do not want to have to worry about anything getting broken when it is being loaded onto and off of the truck or during transit. 

It is so smart to do your homework on moving companies well in advance of your move. You have enough to worry about that you do not want to add the scramble to find a moving business to the list!

If you do not have a lot of experience when it comes to moving then you may be feeling a little tense about the prospect of moving and finding the right people to move you. The first thing you need to do is to relax and stay as calm as you possibly can. The next thing you need to do is write down some pertinent questions on a piece of paper. These are questions that you will ask of every company that you contact. Asking these questions will help you to narrow your focus and will make it easier for you to find the crew that is most suitable for your needs. 

Be aware that you can find a broker to pair you up with a relocation provider that is suitable for you. If you decide to go this route however it is important to be aware that a broker cannot provide you with an estimate that is binding. As well, he is she is not responsible for any damage or loss that takes place during your move. 

Ask the question- Do you provide binding quotes? When you are speaking to a broker or a mover over the telephone it is likely you will be given a quote that is not binding. A mover that you are speaking with may give you a binding quote or a “not to exceed” quote only after reviewing for himself what you have in person. 

Once you have been provided with a quote you then need to find out if it includes any additional charges. For example appliance charges, fuel charges, parking charges, flight carry charges, etc. If you own anything that is very large or very awkward then you need to inform the moving company of this when you are looking for quotes. 

If you are making a move over a long distance then it is possible that at some point in the route your property will be transferred onto another truck. This is something that you need to find out from the beginning. While this will not cost you any extra money it does increase the potential that your boxes could sustain some damage. Ask the question of the moving company- Will my belongings be transferred from one truck to another at some point during the move? 

You also need to ask about payment and the terms of the payment. Compare the price quote you are given with that of other companies. It is best to not choose a company that only accepts cash payments. Make sure you know for sure the difference between the deposit amount and the amount of money that is due upon delivery. You should also find out if the deposit you put down can be refunded. The majority of moving businesses that have merchant accounts are able to accept credit card payments. Find this out right away if you would prefer to pay by credit card.