It doesn’t matter if you’re a family or business, moving local or across the country, moving can be a stressful time, but with a little research and planning, you can hire a reliable mover in your area. Here are some helpful hints to finding the right company:
Get Referrals – Online reviews and word-of-mouth are the best place to start when choosing a moving company. Ask friends, family members and coworkers if they can recommend a moving company. If you’re working with a real estate agent, ask the agent for a referral. You can also check out moving companies with the Better Business Bureau. You can also ask the moving company for three referrals. Call those customers and ask questions about their moving experience.
Get Three Estimates; Make Sure One is From Us – Moving companies are now offering virtual survey instead of at-home surveys to provide you with a price estimate for your move. Make sure to list everything you are moving. The moving company can only give you a fair estimate if they have all items you’re moving. Find out how many years the company has been in business, ideally 10 years or more.
Make Sure the Mover is Licensed and Insured – When you’re moving from one state to another, your movers must be licensed with the federal government, which means they’ll be assigned a Department of Transportation number. You can check ProtectYourMove.gov (https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/protect-your-move) to ensure your movers meet the necessary requirements. From this site you can also verify the movers address, phone and complaint history.
All moving companies are required to assume liability for the value of the goods they transport. Make sure you ask about insurance protection for your belongings, and get details about coverage in writing. You should also check to see if your homeowners’ insurance policy applies while items are in transit to your new home.
Be Wary of Large Deposit Requirements – Reputable movers won’t demand cash or a large deposit before moving. You should only pay upon delivery. If you pay in advance, you have no control over when you will see your belongings again. When you do pay, use a credit card to help protect you from possible fraudulent activity.
Report any Problems – In most states you have nine months to report any problems to the moving company and file an insurance claim. If you’re opening boxes a year later and find shards of glass, you’re out of luck. On moving day, try to open each box and sift through it to check for damage. Report any problems to the moving company as soon as possible.
Your mover has 30 days to acknowledge receipt of your claim. Within 120 days of receiving it, he must deny your claim or make an offer to pay.
Trust Yourself - At the end of the day, use your better judgment when choosing a moving company. If a mover shows up for an estimate with a dirty truck and disheveled clothing, the company might not provide the quality service you deserve. As long as you do your due diligence and listen to your gut, you can trust you’ve chosen the best company in town.
Above Average Moving
With over 18 years of moving experience, Above Average Moving takes pride in being able to provide nearly any type of moving service that you could need. We’re conveniently located and serve the entire Madison, WI area including: Beaver Dam, Columbus, Cottage Grove, Deerfield, DeForest, Edgerton, Fitchburg, Janesville, Johnson Creek, Lake Mills, Marshall, McFarland, Middleton, Milton, Monona, Oregon, Portage, Poynette, Stoughton, Sun Prairie, Verona, Waterloo, Watertown, and Waunakee.