Important Factors To Consider When Comparing Professional Movers

One of the main concerns involved in moving from one place to another is choosing a trustworthy mover for the job. This can be a difficult decision since factors like distance, company reputation, and price are not always simple to evaluate, and they can either fluctuate wildly or, in some ways, be misleading.

When traveling a long distance, such as out of state, it might be tempting to go for a cheaper company, but price is not the only factor that should be taken into account. In addition, price assessments are complex in their own right, so it’s not always as simple as getting a quick quote. There are many factors that movers take into account when figuring a quote, and that brings in a whole host of issues that their customers need to be aware of. Thus, going by price alone can be problematic.

When comparing professional movers, some of the factors one should consider include the mover’s reputation, their experience and services, and their process for determining a quote.

Reputation

Most people have probably heard one or two stories about shady movers. A moving company’s reputation is among the first things people should consider when deciding whether to trust them with their household belongings. An untrustworthy company could mean damaged or stolen property, and getting those items back can be difficult, if not impossible.

In general, movers who have been in business for a long time will tend to be more reliable. This is due to the fact that having dissatisfied customers is generally bad for business, so a reputable company will try to avoid that as much as possible. In addition, sources such as the BBB can be useful in evaluating a mover. In this case, it’s important to give the BBB a call and ask about complaints. Just because they have a satisfactory rating on BBB’s site doesn’t mean they don’t have an extensive log of complaints.

Another source is social media. Doing a quick search on Facebook, for example, can help individuals and families determine whether a company is truly reliable based on comments from past customers.

Services

Some families and individuals prefer to pack their belongings up on their own. Others will want help. Some moves are short, while others may be out of state or even out of the country. Determining what services a mover will offer—and what they’ll charge for them—can help with making a wise and cost-effective decision about which company to go with.

Experience

The level of experience a mover has indicates two things. First, as has already been mentioned, it helps indicate reliability. Second, it can show the competency of the company as a whole. Certain licenses and permits are sometimes required to successfully make a move, and it helps expedite the process if the company is familiar with those protocols. In addition, if the mover offers packing and loading services, an experienced team will ensure that the processes of packing everything up will be handled with skill and care.

An experienced moving company staffed with skilled and knowledgeable workers will also be able to provide more reliable quotes, which helps prevent unpleasant surprises along the way.

Assessing Quotes

In some cases, a company may give a quote over the phone based on one’s estimate of how much needs to be moved. This is called a “sight unseen” quote, and it’s very seldom reliable since homeowners and movers alike can be far off the mark when estimating the total volume of the belongings. A quote is far more reliable when the mover sends someone over to make an estimate in person. Naturally, this should be done only after the reliability of the company has been established.

Most movers give a quote as a sum total of expenses. To make a more informed decision, homeowners should ask for a breakdown of their quote, including the costs of packing, loading, unloading, transportation, and so forth.

Comparing Movers

In summary, selecting the right mover involves not only evaluating price, but also researching their reputation, services, and experience in the industry. Once it’s time to determine price, going with a full breakdown of costs and getting a price assessment in person will help tremendously in making a wise decision when comparing professional movers.