You’ve finally made a big decision, found a new house and a perfect neighborhood and chose the date of moving. There are many things that you had to consider along the way and many important decisions to make. One of the first and the most important ones definitely was whether to move by yourself or hire local movers. You decided that you want professionals to take care of your possessions and to make sure that everything goes smoothly and easily, but how to choose which local moving company is the most reliable and trustworthy for your future local move? We made a list of ten questions that you should always ask your local movers before you decide to hire them. Asking smart questions will help you find the perfect moving company for your needs and help you feel confident your belongings are in good hands.
- How many years have you been in the business?
It is important to start by finding out about the history of your company. Of course, being in the business for 100 or 5 years is something that doesn’t have to play a big role and you can get the same quality service, but it is always good to start with this question so you can get to know your future furniture movers a little better and hear their side of the story. In this business, experience, professionalism and hard work play a big role and it all comes with years and commitment to the work that local moving companies invest.
2. Is your moving company licensed, bonded, and insured?
Of course, this is one of the first and most important questions you should ask your professional movers. You should only work with a moving company that is professionally licensed and fully insured. The simple way to check is to ask if they are an Updater Certified Moving Company. Moving companies that are classified as Updater Certified must be licensed and insured with a USDOT Number and be registered with the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration). You should also get the name of their insurance company as well as the company’s policy number. Verify their coverage is current and valid before proceeding. When it comes to these things, it is always better to be safe than sorry.
3. Do you have references for your service?
Nowadays, finding movers became so simple, you can just type “movers near me”, “local movers near me” or “furniture movers near me” and there they are. The thing is that you need to do proper research before you schedule any. While researching on your own, you should also ask your local movers for references of past customers. Reputable moving companies should happily provide you with references from past customers from online testimonials or by request.
4. How do you determine the cost of the move?
Every moving company has its own policy when it comes to estimating the cost of the move. In order to determine your moving expenses, you should ask each moving company how they calculate their pricing structure. Some moving companies charge by the weight loaded onto the moving truck and the distance, others charge by the hour and the size of their team, and some charge by a combination of the two. Finding out how each moving company charges can help you plan when packing up your home. What is always helpful is to get moving quotes from a few companies and compare them, so you can decide which one fits your budget and needs the best.
5. Are there any extra fees I should be aware of?
Even when you find out about the cost of your moving and you fit that into your budget, you might end up surprised when moving day comes and your movers with truck give you a long list of extra fees that you need to pay as well. That is why you need to make sure you ask your moving company about their moving policies in advance. Some of the “extras” the company may charge you for and you should find out about might include:
- Packing and unpacking services
- Parking or storage fees
- Fuel surcharges
- Disassembly and reassembly services
- Oversized item fees
- Travel time to and from the location
Find out in advance exactly what’s included (and not included) in the estimate. You should also find out their deposit and cancellation policies.
6. What kind of equipment do you use?
You should know in advance whether your moving company will provide you with all the equipment that your moving requires and what kind of equipment that is. Moving equipment includes moving vehicles, tools, packing supplies and all the other things that are necessary for your local moving to go as smoothly and safely as possible. You should find out about equipment used in any kind of service you might need, like packing, handling big pieces of furniture, fragile items, etc.
7. Who are the people who do the moving?
When you decide to hire professionals, you usually count on the fact that experienced, trained local movers will handle your relocation, but this is not always the case. That is why you should ask if the team of local movers is actually made up of experienced, professional movers. Some companies hire subcontractors to do the heavy lifting or they might even employ temporary workers or college students. These “movers” may lack experience and injure themselves (or your belongings) in the process. They also usually don’t have any references and you can’t be confident about the success of your future relocation. It’s always best to go with a company that has a permanent team of professional, experienced movers.
8. How much time will the moving take?
Most local moves can and will be completed in one day. Still, you need to know how long the movers plan to work so you can plan your day accordingly. If you need to hire a babysitter or drop the dogs at a kennel, you need to know how long they’ll be there. The same goes for arranging for parking spaces or street parking. Local movers generally charge per hour, but this varies by company. Many companies have a minimum hourly charge (regardless of how long the move actually takes). Make sure you understand their policies and have all the necessary information.
9. What do your local movers do and don’t move?
There are hundreds of local moving companies out there and their policies on the things that they can and will move for you vary. Of course, there are some things that no moving company will move since it’s forbidden by Federal Law, such as any corrosive, flammable and any kind of dangerous items, but when it comes to all the other things, you should ask your specific moving company about their policy and the way they handle things. You don’t want to find out on a moving day that your pool table can’t be moved and to have to think of another solution at that moment. It is always better to know everything in advance, so you can plan alternatives and arrange everything well.
10. What’s your policy on property damage?
The last thing you want to deal with is property damage to the residence you’re vacating — or the one you’re moving into. Find out what measures the local movers take to protect against damage. How do they protect the floors, walls, ceilings, and doorways? Do they use drop cloths, moving blankets, or carpet films? They should also measure doorways, stairwells, and elevators to ensure your largest items will fit through them. If you’re moving items of monetary or sentimental value, you want to be sure the movers will handle them with care. How will these items be loaded and secured on the truck? You should know every detail in advance, so you can make sure that when you hire a certain local moving company, you hire trustworthy and reliable people who will handle your moving with the utmost care.
If you are moving around Chicago, don’t hesitate to give us a call and ask us any or all of these questions, as well as get your free moving quote today. Chicago Moving Company can handle your relocation in a blink of an eye.