You finally have a new home, promising a fresh start, and understandably you are very excited about the change. Starting a new chapter in your life is a refreshing yet tiring process. With all the packing and preparations to settle into your new house, you must be exhausted already. In such a case, the last thing you need is to encounter any problems during the move.

Millions of people move from one home to another every year in the United States. Surprisingly, most of them go smoothly without any significant issues. This only goes on to highlight the importance of hiring quality movers- movers who won’t scam you or put your belongings in danger. Therefore, you must be very careful when you hire a moving company for their services. Some tips that can help you during this process are listed below. Have a look.

1. Do thorough research 

Before you start hiring, it is essential to conduct some research about the most frequently hired companies that promise a safe move. You can use your network of family, friends, and colleagues to learn about popular choices. Their personal experiences can offer you quality recommendations or warnings about unreliable movers you need to cross out of your list.

You can also perform a quick local search on Google to identify leads in your nearby city. For example, if you live in the suburbs of Seattle, run a search query with the phrase ‘local movers Seattle‘ and shortlist companies that offer great deals and promise reliability. Choosing a moving company situated in your city ensures that it complies with county and state laws.

2. Get estimates 

In most cases, the service charges depend on distance, the number of items needing transportation, and weight. If you are also acquiring packing and lifting services from the movers, it adds up in the bill. Therefore, before you settle on a company, we recommend getting an estimate from at least three companies.

To help you with this process, you can acquire the services of a relocation consultant to create an inventory of your belongings. They can provide you with an estimate about how much it should cost to move them to your new home. Doing so will help you avoid moving companies that overcharge. Apart from that, also confirm if the estimate is binding or non-binding, insurance coverage, etc.

3. Make the movers aware of every item 

To ensure that you have a smooth, hassle-free move, you must inform the movers about every item they need to move. There are two reasons why this is important. One- if you add anything to the shipment that you did not include when making an estimate, the prices will increase. And two- the moving company needs to be aware of any items that require special care. For example, if there are fragile items in your belongings, the movers should know how to pack and safely place them in the truck, so they don’t break or damage. Also, you don’t want to leave anything behind when you leave your current home.

3. Get insurance 

If you have a long commute ahead of you for the move, then it is best to consider getting moving insurance. You would want to ensure that the company you hire pays up for anything it damages during transportation. To save yourself from this issue, pay a bit extra service charge and have the movers pack your belongings themselves. This way, you can have insurance coverage for all the items in the vehicle. The moving company will be liable if the things suffer from any damage. As a bonus tip- avoid hiring movers that do not provide insurance.

4. Pay close attention to the contract 

The moving company will issue a bill of lading that legally binds the customer and the moving company. Go through this document thoroughly and understand every point in it before you sign the agreement. After signing on the dotted line, keep a copy of the bill with yourself in case anything goes wrong. The bill of lading should include the following information about the moving company and the agreement.

• Name of the company
• Address of their office
• Type of payment method
• Time of pickup
• Payment estimates
• Terms and conditions

5. Make an inventory list 

Creating an inventory will not only help you keep track of your belongings and the boxes you’re moving, but it will also help you avoid missing items. When the movers arrive at your new place, cross-check each item from the list. If anything is amiss, ask the movers immediately.

We understand that a moving process is hectic, and you won’t have the time or energy to look through each box. But you should still go through your inventory list to check out oversized and fragile items such as furniture, TV, equipment, etc. At the very least, ensure that the company has safely delivered every box on your list.

6. Don’t pay a deposit in advance 

Reputable and reliable moving companies do not demand a large deposit before or during the move. If any company does, then it is a major red flag. Paying in advance leaves you in a very vulnerable position. You won’t have much control over the company’s actions and whether every belonging safely reaches the destination. Therefore, always pay after the company delivers all items. When you do, make a credit card payment to protect your rights in case of fraud.

Conclusion

Choosing the best moving company is crucial for a safe move. This article has a few tips on choosing the right movers. Do your research, get recommendations, get multiple estimates, create an inventory, share your list with your movers, and get insurance. Following these tips will ensure that you have a safe and trouble-free move into your new humble abode.