4 Smart Questions to Ask Movers Before You Hire One

As Americans, we don’t like to stay too long in one place. Millions of Americans move from one home to another over the course of a year, and you might even be one of them in 2020.

If you’re getting ready for a very big move you might already be considering how to get all of your belongings from Point A to Point B. Most families will likely be hiring a moving company to help make sure that all of their items make the journey in a safe manner.

There are a lot of moving companies out there, and it’s important to ensure that you are working with one who you can put your trust in. Knowing the right questions to ask movers can help ensure you’re in good hands. Read on and we’ll walk you through some of the most important questions to ask.

1. How Many Years Operating?

One of the tell-tale signs of a good moving company is if they’ve been in business for a long while or not. Asking about the moving company’s history is a great way to get to know them and to see how much experience they can bring to your move.

There are some moving companies who have been in operation for decades! While a long history isn’t always a sign of quality, it certainly can be a strong indicator. If you ask and find that the company you’re talking to has only been in operation for a few weeks, you might not feel anywhere near as secure.

2. Are You In Compliance?

There are a lot of laws and regulations out there that control how businesses operate. It’s important to work with a moving company that can assure you that they are indeed in compliance with these many laws.

A quick way to check the compliance of a moving company is to ask if they are an Updater Certified Moving Compay. Companies classified in this manner are licensed and insured with USDOT numbers (essential!) and are registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

These registrations and licenses are there to prove to you, the consumer, that this company knows what they are doing. These organizations are also there for you to reach out to and work with in the event you have an issue with the company in question.

Knowing there’s a third-party organization you can reach out to can give you a sense of security you wouldn’t have otherwise during your move. These organizations also put pressure on the movers to do their very best, otherwise, their membership and certifications could be at stake. 

3. Ask For References

If you’re like many Americans, you might have initially heard about this moving company in question through the recommendation of a family or friend. Many people trust the opinion of those close to them more than any other source of information.

However, if you found the moving company through an advertisement or other source, you may want to request a few references. These are former clients that you can call and inquire about their experience.

Local movers likely have strong roots in their community and lots of people who can vouch for their services.

You can look for reviews online as well, of course, but there’s something about being able to interact with and talk with another real person that many people find helpful.

You can ask them about the price of their move, their interactions with movers, and if there were any potential issues that you should look out for. 

A reputable moving company should have no hesitation in giving you a few references to call. If the company is cagey or strange about offering references, it may be an indication that they are not a great choice to work with.

4. How Is Cost Determined? 

Budgeting properly for a move is one of the biggest challenges that many families face. Many moving costs operate on a sliding scale and it’s hard to anticipate just how much things might end up costing.

When talking to different moving companies, it can be very important to ask each representative how they calculate their prices. Each and every moving company might do it in their own individual fashion, making this a hard subject to keep on top of.

Some moving companies charge strictly by the weight of the items being moved. Some charge by the distance of the move and still others charge by the hours and time required for the move itself. There are plenty of moving companies out there that use a formula with all three of these factors involved to land on a price.

It’s no wonder that it can be hard for you to get a handle on price, especially if some of these qualities remain unknowable early on in the process.

At the very least, you should make sure that you have a strong handle on how exactly a company plans to charge you.

Even if you don’t know exactly how much you’ll land at, you will be able to put forward an educated guess based on what you know about your own move.

Questions To Ask Movers Before Hiring

Moving from one home to another can be a major life change. As such, it’s important to put your trust in the right moving company. The above questions to ask movers can help to make sure you’re entrusting your move to the right people.

Need more homeowner advice or tips? Keep scrolling our blog for more.