What questions should you ask a moving company?

What size moving truck is right for your move? What's the best way to move with pets? How much does it cost to ship a car? What is the best. Would you allow random people to handle your household items as they see fit? Do you think that what needs to happen will happen, no matter what you do? However, you should be careful: many moving companies claim to be among the best, but not all of them will do it really well. Some moving companies simply aren't competent enough: they don't have the experience, specialized equipment, or professional knowledge to carry out a safe and smooth relocation. Adequate accreditation doesn't necessarily guarantee that the moving company offers you fair prices and quality service, but it does indicate that the company complies with the law and follows ethical business practices.

Fortunately, it's pretty easy: all you have to do is go to the official FMCSA website and check the USDOT number (or MC number) of the moving company. A long business history does not necessarily mean that the services are of high quality, but moving companies that have been in the business for many years have gained considerable experience and have achieved good results to remain competitive for so long. You can easily find out how many full-time employees the company has, but that number doesn't guarantee that you'll hire experienced carriers for your move. The only thing you can do is request a professional moving team for your move. Why is it important to ask if moving companies can do everything you need? Discuss the details of your move with the potential moving company and inform them of potential difficulties (steep stairs, small doors, etc.).

Don't forget to also ask about the costs and conditions. No matter the experience and reliability of moving companies, they will not be able to do a good job without the necessary equipment: a moving truck of the right size (and in excellent condition), transport platforms and transport belts, packaging supplies and quality protective materials, specialized tools and equipment to perform the necessary additional services (such as a mounting system with ropes and pulleys if it is necessary to lift them), safe and climate controlled storage facilities (in case of that it is necessary to store during transport), etc. Know how much moving companies charge: by weight, by cubic feet, per hour, etc. Therefore, it is very important to ask in advance about everything you are going to pay: flight fees (for taking objects up or down the stairs), elevator fees (for the time lost while waiting to use the elevator), extended transportation fees (for taking objects more than 50 feet from your house to the moving truck), parking fees (for reserving a parking space for the moving truck), labor costs (for handling bulky items), transit fees (for storing your items stored while you're ready to take them), etc. Ask the moving company if they charge more for the trip as well as the time to and from home.

However, more importantly, finding out what payment methods moving companies accept can give you an idea of the company's level of ethics. You don't want to lose your deposit or be charged more in that case, so it's important to find out what the moving company's cancellation policy is. Professional moving companies must provide you with several documents before the move: a bill of lading, an appraisal attachment, inventory lists, receipts, etc. Make sure you have received all the necessary documents, read them carefully and confirm that the details of your move (price, services, deadlines, conditions, etc.) Knowing what questions to ask a moving company about moving costs and rates will help you not only choose the best carriers (trusted professionals) who offer quality service at a fair price), but they also avoid unpleasant financial problems and surprises on the day of the move, and can even help you find efficient ways to reduce your relocation costs. There are some items that moving companies don't move for safety reasons: hazardous materials, perishable products, etc.

You should know what these objects are so you don't waste time and effort packing them for the move; the moving company will refuse to take them to you, so you'll have to leave them behind. You also need time to decide what to do with these disallowed items: carry them in your car (when you drive to your new home), give them to friends, neighbors or charities, use them before moving in, etc. You'll want to leave your old house in good condition when you move in (so you can sell it at a higher price or so you can get your security deposit back) and make sure your new home stays in good condition when you move in (so you won't have to do expensive repairs or extensive cleaning), for What you must ensure that you take appropriate measures will be carried out to prevent damage to the property during the move. Ask moving companies how they intend to protect the floors, stairs, walls, doors and windows of your old and new homes, and ask them to do everything possible to prevent damage to the property: use protective materials (blankets for moving, carpets, corner protectors, etc.).

They'll take steps to protect your belongings from moisture (professionals will use plastic boxes, cover cardboard boxes with plastic sheets or tarps, and wrap larger items in plastic wrap, etc. If the moving company doesn't guarantee a delivery date, it's quite possible they'll be late without owing you anything, and that's not something you want to see happen). So, if you're moving long distances, the moving company is likely to give you a delivery time, a period of several days in which you can wait for your belongings to arrive. If the moving company intends to do everything they can to make the move successful, they will be focused and careful and will ask you for any relevant information that you have forgotten to share.

Then, they'll give you lots of practical tips to help you prepare for your move in the best possible way. Thanks for the advice to ask a moving company how long they have been in business. It would make sense to find someone with experience because it would show that they do a good job. My husband and I need help moving to another state, so we'll have to check who has enough experience to help us move. I like your suggestion to ask what happens if something is lost or broken, and to make sure that the company you choose handles the situation peacefully and logically.

My husband and I want to move to a larger house soon, so I've been doing some research on how to choose a good moving company. I wasn't sure what questions to ask while we were trying to decide, so I really appreciate your advice to ask about broken or missing items. I like how the article explains, so you should be sure to ask if they have enough experienced crew to be able to move your items and make sure they're being handled well. My husband and I are moving to a new state and we need to pack our things and we have some fragile things, so we want to make sure that experienced carriers take care of our things carefully. We'll make sure to hire experienced carriers, as they know what they're doing.

Thanks for the advice on how getting at least three quotes will be a great help in finding the most optimal residential moving services. I am interested in looking for these services because there are times when I think about moving to a smaller apartment. I think that will help me save money, since I don't need a lot of space anyway. The postal code is required and must have 5 digits. However, in the event of a thunderstorm or heavy snowfall, moving companies may have to postpone your move.

Your ride may be delayed for several hours (until the rain subsides or stops) or it may need to be rescheduled for another day (if roads are blocked by snow, for example). My parents are moving to their new home this month, so they are currently looking for a long-distance moving company that can transport their things. I would make sure that the moving company I was going to hire was licensed so that I could feel comfortable seeing them touch my belongings. Ask if this is possible and evaluate how much it could save you compared to the additional time and labor you'll need to do part of the move yourself. No one wants to be left unaware that the price has doubled or even tripled in the middle of a move due to commissions or additional changes.

You need to know the deadline, the amount of the cancellation fee (if any) and who to contact if you need to cancel or postpone your move. In this case, the moving company will wait a while, but will charge you a waiting fee, calculated per hour. When you hire a moving company to help you move, you need to know what to expect from them and how to best prepare for your move. Before you commit to hiring a moving company, you should ask detailed questions about credentials, pricing, insurance, claims processing and services.

Moving companies should be able to provide you with important information about how they manage parking, as well as provide additional information about who to contact in the pickup city if a permit is needed. Packing is an excellent additional service to consider if you don't feel like getting stuck in a mountain of boxes and having a back-and-forth conversation questioning every item you have.

Irene Mccravy
Irene Mccravy

Certified pop cultureaholic. Hardcore coffee maven. Certified beer enthusiast. Infuriatingly humble travel guru. Amateur food maven. Devoted social media practitioner.