Moving can be fun but only if you have everything planned out well enough. A major part of that is deciding which moving company to pick. Making this decision is not easy at all, especially when you have too many furniture movers in the market. In addition to this, there are a lot of factors that play a vital role when you are making this decision.
Some of them are listed below for your convenience and you must go through them thoroughly before you pick a Movers. Let’s begin:
- Moving Inventory
There should be an in-person survey and if not, they should be willing to perform a virtual assessment of your belongings as soon as possible. They should be able to give you an estimate of the entire moving cost keeping in mind your bookcases, tables, chairs, cabinets, drawers, and other bulky cargo. They will be able to break down the entire cost for you to understand it better so that you can decide for yourself what items you want to get moved by the professionals and what items you want to move on your own.
- Walkthrough Of Your Property
A walkthrough of your property is going to give them a better perspective as to what moving van should be chosen for your property. Generally this practice is undertaken by professional movers like CBD Movers; small time movers might just depend on your description of the goods for property assessment. It also gives more clarity as to how much workforce will be required to pack all your stuff and move it to your new location without any delays and hassles. Different items in your house will need different levels of packing and padding to prevent them from breaking when in transit. Always choose a furniture mover that agrees to a walk-through of your property before giving you an estimate.
- No More Big Deposits
You should never associate with a mover that asks for a huge deposit right up front. Remember, any reputable moving company in your city is never going to ask you for a deposit in most cases. You do not have to pay up anything in advance except for perhaps a nominal fee that is mostly regarded as a booking fee and at times an initial deposit. This is usually 15% to 20% of the entire amount and is a widespread industry practice. Any moving companies in your city that ask for a bigger amount than this should be avoided.
- Changing Your Name? Suspicious Much
You should always stay away from moving companies that keep on changing their names. Also, it is better to choose a provider that has a local address and is listed with the same name with the registrar of companies or a similar body in your city. The operational name and the name on the contract should be identical. The employees of the companies should always answer with their full business name. To know better about whether this company is genuine or not, you should always make it a point to visit their physical office before you sign any contract or agreement.
- Rely On References
Rely on families that have used their services in the past and can vouch for the quality that the moving companies provide. You should call them up and ask them for the details of the experience that they had with the company. You can also connect with them on social media platforms if you are not too comfortable having a conversation over the phone. Also, ask them whether they were able to get any discounts on their final cost and keep in mind the amount they had paid so that the company does not overcharge you for a similar move.
- Check For Any Packing Costs
A lot of homeowners find it more affordable to pack on their own, especially if they are moving on a budget. This way the only person that is responsible for any probable damage that happens to their cargo is them. It also gives them a certain peace of mind. But if you are being charged an inflated price for the packing materials you didn’t even order, then you have a problem. It is better to ask them upfront about all the moving costs and get a detailed breakdown of every amount that you are going to pay them. No packing cost or any expenses related to packing materials should be mentioned in this cost.
- Hidden Fee Should Be Avoided
Let’s just say that you live on the 11th floor. Should you have to pay extra for living a little higher up on the building? Absolutely not! There is no reason for the moving company to charge you an extra amount for any additional floors they have to climb to get to you. Should you expect an extra charge for a smaller vehicle that the company intends to use to transfer your luggage to the large truck? Absolutely not! This is not the way any reputable mover is going to move. Extra charges are usually for the services that are being provided outside of the agreed-upon services in the contract.
- Blank Contract, Out The Window
Should you sign a blank contract? No way. It should either have the estimated amount or the critical terms and conditions that need to be upheld as the process of packing and moving takes place. Make it a point never to sign a blank contract under any circumstances. If the company intends to get your signature on such a paper, avoid it at all costs.
- There Is No “Guarantee”
There is no such thing as a “guarantee” when it comes to packing and moving your stuff and relocating you from one place to another. So it is better to move away from such claims every time you see them. There are primarily 3 kinds of moving contracts that you will come across such as:
- Non-Binding Estimate
This means that the company is only going to charge a 10% extra fee on the estimate that they had quoted to you earlier. You will have 30 days to pay that extra amount.
- Non-Binding To Exceed The Estimate
This means that there is no extra charge that you have to pay. The estimate that you get will include the cost for every service that you receive.
- Binding Estimate
This means that there is a price for all the extra services that you receive. You can ask for additional services and they will cost you a little more as per company policy.
Is There A Moving Etiquette?
Finally, understand that there is always moving etiquette. There is an amount that you should always tip your movers at the end of the move. This is really a reflection of how satisfied you are with the service. The tip is usually 5% to 20% of the entire amount that you pay. Remember, if you are dissatisfied with the service, it is always better to convey this right away. If you were happy with your choice, it probably means that you paid attention to the list given above and you picked the best furniture movers.
