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How to Choose Long Distance Movers

Most people who move do so within their own state or even county. However, 14% of moves each year are across state lines. While planning a move is tough of its own, moving to a new state brings its own set of challenges.

The risk of possible damage is much higher in a long-distance move than in one across town. This means it’s extremely important to choose long-distance movers who will take good care of your belongings.

Let’s dive into some moving tips and how to choose the best movers for your situation.

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Licenses and Insurance

If you are planning a long-distance move, it’s very important to choose a moving company that has adequate licenses and insurance. These can protect you financially and give you a better sense of the company’s reputation.

Licensed, Bonded, and Insured Movers

Insurance is an integral part of being protected during a long-distance move. It protects you against financial loss if anything were to happen to your belongings. You should check to make sure your mover carries adequate insurance for your move.

When moving across state lines, there are even more factors to consider. Specifically, your mover must be licensed by the US Department of Transportation. You can check the USDOT website to see an electronic record of the movers you are considering.

Being a member of certain organizations may be a sign of better reliability and trustworthiness as well. One beneficial organization is the American Moving and Storage Association. Members of their ProMover program have passed a rigorous background check.

Better Business Bureau accreditation may also give you better peace of mind. It gives you an idea of the company’s track record and the experiences they have provided in the past. This lets you know that your moving company is reliable.

Reputation and Experience

A good way to find a long-distance moving company is to ask family and friends for personal recommendations. You’ll know you can trust these recommendations and will feel better knowing someone has personally worked with the company.

Military Moving Company Reviews

You should also check online reviews of each company you are considering. Look on Google, Yelp, and social media. This will give you an overall sense of how they are to work with. Be sure to read the actual testimonials, not just the ratings.

Pay special attention to any reviews that mention moves similar to yours. For example, long-distance moves or those with fragile furniture may be a good indication of how smoothly your move will go.

Seeing how much professional moving experience a company has is also beneficial. The more experience a company has the more likely it is that they are a safe and reliable choice. Their website or social media presence may state how long they have been moving.

Get Quotes

When you begin looking at moving companies, you should set a budget for how much you want to pay. Then, be sure to actually stick with it throughout the process. Setting and sticking to a budget helps make sure a move does not become a financial burden all on its own.

Long Distance Movers

Narrow the possible list of companies down to about five. These are the companies you should get general quotes from. After receiving these quotes, ask for in-home visual surveys to get a more accurate estimate.

A company offering long-distance moves should be okay with providing this service. It is a good way for the movers to see if there are any potential issues that may cost extra such as elevators or tight corridors. You don’t want an unexpected fee to break your budget at the last minute.

You should get this estimate in writing and be sure it includes pricing for any special situations or extra services. You may have the choice between a binding or non-binding estimate. Choose the binding estimate. Although this may necessitate a small fee, it is definitely worth it.

A binding estimate is more accurate as it takes the overall weight or cubic feet of items and distance to the destination into account. It doesn’t mean it’s 100% accurate, as extra services needed or more items being included than in the original survey can raise the price.

A non-binding estimate is a more general quote that is free. Usually, the actual cost will be more than this estimate. However, it cannot be more than 110% of the estimate unless extra services are needed to complete the move.

Ask In-Depth Questions

Your in-home visual survey is a great time to ask any questions you have. For example, you may want to ask about extra services they offer, including disassembling furniture or packing your belongings.

You should also inquire into any unique circumstances that your specific move may entail. If you have items that need to be transported in peculiar ways or if you have any additional concerns, this is the time to talk about it.

The way the company representative answers your questions will also give you a better sense of their professionalism and reliability. They should be more than willing to answer any questions you have. Plus, you’ll be able to gauge how knowledgeable they are.

Choose the Best Long Distance Movers

If you’re planning how to move long distance, one of the biggest decisions will be your moving company. Be sure to choose one that will take care of your belongings and give you good value for your money.

Get quotes for the top long-distance movers in the country so you can start the process of finding your moving company today.

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