Relocating can be a very stressful task. It is not just the move itself but also becoming familiar with your new location. If you are using a moving company for your move, it is very important that you carefully select the right company.
Finding a professional moving company
When searching for the right company to handle your relocation, look for a company with a reputation for providing professional service. This can be done by searching social media, sites such as Angie’s List and Yelp and by reviewing the moving company’s own website. Does this site offer helpful information? Is there an easy way to contact the moving company? Is the company a member of the Better Business Bureau and what is it’s rating with the BBB? Is the company affiliated with organizations such as the California Moving and Storage Association and the American Moving and Storage Association? For a successful relocation it is important that the company you choose has proven excellence in providing complete professional services including packing, storage, etc.
Personalized Service
After choosing several potential companies for your relocation, contact each of them by phone. Pay close attention to how you are treated on the phone. Is the company’s representative polite and courteous but, more importantly, does that representative act like they want you for a customer? Can the person answering the phone answer all of your questions or refer you to someone else in the company who can? You can also try contacting the company by e-mail. Pay close attention to how quickly you receive a response and whether or not that response is informative and answers your questions. When hiring a professional moving company it is important to find out if you will be treated as a valuable customer.
Van Line Affiliation
When choosing a moving company for a long-distance relocation make sure that the moving company you contacting is affiliated with a well-known national moving company such as United Van Lines or Mayflower Transit. If the company has no such affiliation it is highly likely that they are simply a broker that will farm your move out to someone else.
Payment
When evaluating potential moving companies for your move, always ask about payment options. Does the company accept credit cards? When is payment due? If the company expects payment or a deposit up front, run the other way. After all, the moving company will have your belongings so they certainly do not need your money until they make delivery. An exception to this is payment by credit card. For long distance moves, professional moving companies ask for credit card information prior to load day but do not actually charge your card until your belongings are loaded. If you are paying by cash or cashier’s check, there is no need to make payment until the day of delivery.
