Moving Company: Quotes Moving

OK…you just found the house of your dreams, and you’re excited! In order to fully complete your transition, you need a moving company that will be able to move all your belongings with care and experience. Now before you go flipping through mountains of websites and yellow page ads, there are a few things may want to consider when choosing your moving company. How long have they been in the moving business? What are others saying about your movers? Review the tips and achieve a successful move every time.

When choosing your company,consider the moving company's experience in the industry. Find out exactly how long the company has been in business. Don't be afraid to ask for proof if they can offer it, remember these are your items that they are moving. Also, you really want to go with a company that has been in the industry for a number of years and are still in business. Because more often times than not, a bad moving company has a tendency to go out of business quickly. Therefore, finding a company that has been around for a long time is a pretty good sign that they are good at what they do.

When it comes to getting closer to choosing the right company for your move, it is a good idea to check the credentials of the moving companies you're thinking of utilizing. Ask the company for their MC (Motor Carrier), US DOT (United States Department of Transportation), or FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) number and run the number through the SaferSys.org website. When you arrive at the site scroll to the bottom of the page and select the section called "Company Snapshot" and run a search on the company using the MC or US DOT number. You will access pertinent information about the moving companies your thinking about choosing.

Now, the next thing to consider is the rate. Most companies will provide a rate based on per pound and a distance rate. If the company offers a quote based on cubic feet, do not hire them. Choose someone else. A company estimate must be based on weight if you're moving long-distance. And for short-distances, some companies will charge a per hour rate. Usually both the hourly rate and pound rate will not change, but can vary depending on what carrier is chosen. Remember the moving company must give you an estimate in writing and they must provide you with a copy. The estimate must include all charges and both you and the mover must sign it. The estimate must also indicate the method of payment and be dated.

So, you have an idea of the company's rates and estimates but there are often times, additional fees. Some companies will charge extra money for awkward shaped items or if the destination does not have easy access for the movers. Note that if there are any stairs, and if you are moving to a condo or high-rise, investigate any possible obstructions such as elevator usage and load restrictions. These extra charges are called Flight Charges and Long Carry Charges and they should be discussed with your mover ahead of time. And if your belongings cannot be unloaded on arrival, they may need to be stored. A Storage-In-Transit fee will be charged along with a Warehouse Handling fee. Try to avoid these charges as much as possible.

Ask questions about the moving company's insurance policy. The company will provide the standard insurance coverage, $.60 per pound per item. The standard coverage is usually not enough to cover the true cost of the damaged item.  So securing additional insurance is necessary.

One of the most powerful ways to find out about a moving company is to ask around and to research the company online. Past customers will provide some sort of opinion of the moving company, and when someone has a negative experience with a particular company, you can rest assured they will be more than happy to tell you about it or post it on the website. Try to avoid companies that have a vast amount of negative feedback from customers.

Now you have all the right tools to choose the best moving company, I hope this Hub has been quite useful.  Drop me a note...share your experiences.