When it comes to moving house, you want to be sure that the company you choose is the right one for your needs. It’s a significant decision and one that comes with a lot of expense, so if you get it wrong, it’s an expensive mistake to make
And with so many companies offering different services for your moving needs, how exactly do you find the right company and avoid making hidden mistakes?
The thing is, many people do make the same mistakes over and over, and this post is going to look at some of the more common ones so you can avoid them next time you need to book movers to help you move home.
Not Researching More Than One Company
One of the biggest mistakes is going with the first company you find or only getting one or two estimates.
At the very least, you need to get three quotes from different companies.
Compare their services and the duration of the service they will be providing. The pricing and customer reviews. Go through the different packages available if there’s more than one to see what suits your needs, and then, once you have the right information, you can decide between the different removal companies to get the right fit for your next move.
Choosing Based on Price Alone
The cost of the course is a really important factor, but you should not choose your moving company based on price alone. Not everyone has the luxury of huge budgets to cover a lot of different options, but within your price range, follow the above point and consider what you’re getting for the cost. The lowest price can expose you to inexperienced movers, a subpar service, or hidden fees you get stung with once you start the moving process.
It might turn out that the cheapest quote you got is the right one, but if you’re happy it offers what you need, then book away, but before you do, make sure you have chosen the company based on more than the price alone.
Not Checking Credentials
Did you know that all movers in the US should have a USDOT number? It’s issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and it proves that the company is licensed, insured, and regulated. Without these, you’re exposing yourself and your home to unlicensed movers who might not be the company they say they are or as reliable as you need them to be, especially if something were to go wrong. But by asking for their licensing credentials, you can verify the details via the FMCSA website for added confidence.
Not Getting a Written Estimate
There’s getting an estimate, and there’s getting a written estimate. Verbal agreements alone or vague estimates not confirmed can lead to disputes, surcharges, hidden fees, and more.
A written estimate will clearly detail the cost and what it includes, so you know what to expect from moving day. It gives both parties the terms and conditions of the agreement, and everyone is clear about what is being charged and what service this covers. Always ask for clarification on anything you don’t fully understand from your written quote, too.
Not Reading Reviews or Feedback
These days, it’s never been easier to get written reviews or feedback from companies. From word of mouth in your local community to Facebook pages, groups, noticeboards, local apps, and online reviews in Google, the Better Business Bureau, or Trustpilot, you have plenty of different ways to get reviews. Legitimate, reliable companies will also feature testimonials, but also get further reviews, and don’t just rely on these alone.
Look for recurring themes in reviews and don’t just focus on single outstanding or poor reviews.
Details you need to be looking for in reviews include reliability, trustworthiness, communication, handling of belongings, etc. If people are complaining about the same thing or reviews are overly negative, it’s probably best to avoid them.
Not Understanding Insurance Coverage
All licensed removal companies will be insured should anything go wrong. And for the most part, they will include a basic valuation coverage for goods when in transit. But this might not cover single high-value items or be enough to replace an item with a new or even like-for-like product if anything happens.
Take the time to ask about what is and isn’t covered, how much you will be covered for, and look at purchasing additional moving insurance to give you peace of mind that if anything does happen in transit or even during the handling aspect, if movers are doing this, that you will be covered for what you need to be.
Not Asking About Additional Services
Many moving companies do just more than move your belongings. They can — and this completely depends on the company, not all companies offer any or all of these — provide services such as packing and unpacking, assembly and disassembly, and storage options. Some companies might even work with other providers, such as cleaning companies offering an end-of-tenancy clean, for example, so you have one less task to tick off the list once everything is out.
And remember, if they do offer these, they might not be included as standard in your quote. So get your quote for the move, then enquire as to what else they offer and how much any applicable add-on services would be for you.
Not Reading The Fine Print
So you’ve got your written quote, you’ve explored additional services and insurance, that’s all right? Wrong.
You need to read the fine print of any contract you sign, as this will give you details of things like cancellation policies, what happens if they cancel or can’t fulfil the service quoted for, it will have the payment schedule, liability for loss or damage, and any exclusions and limitations that apply too. Again, ask for clarification if you don’t understand something or if it’s not clear. Use hypothetical situations to get a better answer if needed, and if you’re not happy with the terms or the answers you get, simply walk away and choose someone else.