It can be challenging to select the best movers to help you move to your new apartment. Some come highly rated by many people, while others have few ratings out there, but seem like they will be pretty good. Nothing is better when choosing a moving company than talking to them directly to see what kind of info and feeling you get from them. Here are some questions to ask them:
1. How long has your company been in business?
Lousy moving companies don't last long. They get poor reviews from customers online, and worse, they get scathing complaints at government Website 'protectyourmove.gov' and at the local Better Business Bureau. While this doesn't mean that every company under 10 years of age is not a good one, it's a plus if that moving company has been around for more than a decade.
2. How long have you been doing this?
Experience counts for a lot with a moving estimator, because it's a tough job – they need to tally up someone's lifelong possessions and then give an accurate estimate of how much it will cost to move them. Also, if they've performed other jobs at the moving company, this is a plus – they can tell you what to watch for, and you benefit from their experience.
3. What kinds of estimates do you give?
You want someone who takes the time to explain your options for moving services, because, frankly, can be confusing. And you want someone who knows their stuff. The accuracy of your quote is paramount – you don't want to be arguing with the driver of the moving van on your moving day about whether your quote is legit.
4. When will I get my stuff?
You want something realistic. If you're making a long distance move, you don't want someone who tells you the exact day your stuff will arrive – that kind of prediction would have been challenging for even Nostradamus. You want a range, and you want someone who will be frank about some of the factors that might affect when you will get your stuff.
5. Does your company do any repeat work for businesses in the city?
Many people ask for references, but what company is going to give you a bad reference – or worse, a legitimate reference? If the company works closely on repeat business for another business, that's a solid stamp of approval.
6. How will you handle my precious heirloom?
Ask the moving company about their procedures for handling valuable items, or hard-to-handle items. This is a test of the moving estimator's knowledge, as well as the moving company's meticulousness – if the estimator seems to struggle for an answer, that's a bad sign.
7. Are there any charges I might incur that aren't in the estimate?
Many people who have a bad experience with their moving company claim their movers didn't tell them about charges. Common ones include charges for packing, stair charges, etc. Ask all the moving companies this question, and then compare the responses – you will find it useful to see which ones seemed the most forthcoming.
-------
Updated: 10/21/2021
