Moving is stressful, which is why it’s important to hire the right movers for the job. Professional movers work efficiently so you can start unpacking boxes in your new home as soon as possible. Moving all your furniture and belongings to a new location is a lot of work, which is why we recommend hiring local movers rather than trying to do it yourself. Keep reading to learn how to hire moving help so you can save time (and your back).
Check License and Insurance
A reputable moving company will be licensed and insured. While anyone can buy a truck and call themselves a moving company, you’ll want to hire movers that are legally obligated to protect your property. Before hiring movers, ask whether they do the work themselves or hire outside contractors. When you pack your entire life into cardboard boxes, you want to make sure that you can trust the movers you hired to do the job themselves. If a moving company isn’t licensed and insured, keep looking.
If you plan on moving across the country, you’ll want to hire long distance movers who are registered with the U.S. Department of Transportation. In fact, interstate movers are required to register. It’s easy enough to check that your long distance moving company is registered and insured—just check with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
Schedule In-Home Estimate
While we understand you have a million things to do before moving day, it’s important to schedule an in-home estimate. During the estimate, let the moving company representative know everything that must be moved. We recommend writing down a list of everything that must go. That way, you won’t forget to include any belongings in your basement, attic, closets, or backyard.
For an accurate estimate, you’ll need to let your furniture movers know ahead of time if you want them to move Grandma’s heavy china cupboard from the attic. Likewise, you’ll want to let apartment movers know if they’ll have to lug everything up two flights of stairs. How much labor goes into your move will affect overall cost.
Get Contact Information
Before hiring a company, check that they have a physical address. While moving scams are relatively rare, it’s always important to check that a moving company is legitimate and not just operating out of a PO box.
Once you hire house movers, you’ll want to get their contact information. That way, you’ll be able to contact them on the day of your move. If you plan on moving out of state, you’ll especially want to get the contact information of your cross country movers. Having contact information is also a good idea for asking questions you might have before the move.
Schedule a Moving Day ASAP
Once you have found the right house movers, you’ll want to schedule a moving date as soon as possible. Local moving companies are more in demand during the weekend because the people who are moving don’t want to have to take time off from work. If you plan on moving on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, call at least a month in advance. If you plan on moving Monday through Thursday, call 2 weeks in advance.
Big Lake Movers offers a range of moving services to help make your life easier. Our professional movers in Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo work hard so you can settle into your new home as soon as possible.
