Whether you’re about to embark upon your first-ever move or are an experienced mover, choosing a moving company is imperative to have the best possible moving experience and get the most for your money. Even if you’ve used moving companies in the past and have had good experiences, you might not even know how to keep yourself and your items safe from moving scams or from movers who don’t have your best interests in mind. Hiring movers is something that you should be making an educated decision about.
A lot of families only find themselves moving once in a while, often with years in between their transitions. This can make you a little rusty on the whole process of moving and how to go about hiring movers for the job, leading you to use moving companies that don’t have the best service, prices or overall experiences. Learn what questions to ask movers to cover all your bases and make hiring professionals who will get all of your belongings safely to your new home a breeze.
How to Choose a Mover: Questions to Ask a Moving Company
No two moving companies are built the same. When shopping for the right moving company, there are many different things to consider. Are you planning a local move or an interstate move? What is your budget? Are you moving any high-value items?
The right movers are the ones who have the services and policies that align with your needs. Before you sign contracts or make any deposits, ask these questions to ensure you’re choosing a moving company that will be best for you.
1. What Kind of Company is This?
One of the ways to evaluate a moving company is to determine what type of company it is. This wording might seem kind of vague, but what we mean here is to determine whether the company you’re looking at is a broker/brokerage, carrier/van line, or a broker/carrier hybrid. So what’s the difference between these types of moving companies?
Broker/Brokerage Moving Company
Brokers/brokerage moving companies don’t handle their moves with in-house moving crews or employees. Instead, they outsource their services to other companies that they have partnerships with. Once you inform your brokerage about the details of your move, they’ll notify their partner companies and allow them to place bids on your move.
Using a brokerage has upsides and downsides. Because companies bid on your move, you might receive a pretty good price for your services. However, this also means that the company or crew that shows up to perform your move will be different from the one you initially spoke to, which can be unnerving. It can also result in miscommunication or hidden fees on moving day, as the crew who comes to perform your move might not have even spoken to your original broker.
Carriers or Van Line
Carriers or van lines, such as Bekins, handle everything having to do with your moving process with in-house staff and crews. This ensures you receive a seamless experience free of miscommunication or distrust. Though this may cost you slightly more than using a brokerage for your move, having a trustworthy in-house crew who knows the details of your move, and knowing what your total fees will be before moving day will more than make up for any extra cost.
Carriers or van lines are able to provide a personalized service that you might not find with other types of moving companies. Because you’re working with an in-house crew, your experience will be more tailored to your unique needs. You’ll speak to the people who will actually be coordinating your move, and they’ll help answer your questions so you feel prepared when moving day finally comes.
Broker/Carrier Hybrid
A broker/carrier hybrid company is exactly what it sounds like – a combination of a broker moving company and a carrier moving company. These companies have their own vans and in-house crews in some areas but also hire crews to handle moves in other areas. If you’re planning a long-distance or interstate move, you might encounter some broker/carrier hybrid companies in your search for the right mover.
Before committing to any kind of moving company, you should always know which kind of company you’re using and how they operate. Make it a priority to use a moving company with the right structure and process for you so you’re comfortable entrusting them with your belongings.
2. Do the Movers Have the Right Licenses?
One of the first questions to ask a moving company is what licenses they have. Always ask your movers for their USDOT number, which should also be listed on their website, to cross-check their licenses with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). This agency regulates all commercial trucks and vehicles, which includes moving companies. Making sure your potential company is FMCSA accredited and licensed won’t guarantee that you’ll receive the best possible pricing or service, but it will let you know that you’re using a legitimate company that isn’t a scam.
Additionally, don’t just take your potential company’s word for it when they say they’re licensed or accredited with the FMCSA or another agency – always make sure to check for yourself. Use your company’s USDOT number and MC number (which should both be provided to you) and look them up on the FMCSA’s database yourself. Check the information listed under “Operating Status” to make sure it says that your company is authorized. If they’re not listed as authorized or if you can’t find them, odds are this company is a scam.
3. What Kind of Coverage/Insurance Does This Moving Company Offer?
Despite the most thorough preparations, accidents can still happen. When picking a moving company, it’s best to understand what type of coverage each mover offers so you know what to expect if you’re dealing with damaged belongings. Moving companies legally cannot offer an official kind of “insurance,” but they can provide some kind of coverage to ensure you’re compensated in the event of damage or loss of items during the moving process. Though no one (especially your moving company!) wants your items to be damaged in any way, it’s important to make sure you’re covered just in case.
All moving companies have to provide you with basic liability coverage. This will be included in your move, regardless of moving package. If a moving company tries to tell you they only use coverage that’s extra in fees or cost and don’t offer the basic liability coverage, this is a red flag. It’s likely they’re trying to rip you off.
Beyond basic coverages, your moving company should also offer full-value protection, which will cover your items for their current market value. This means that if something happens to any of your belongings during your move, you’ll be completely reimbursed for the total value of the item, no matter what it is. Full valuation protection will cost an extra fee on top of your initial moving costs, but the peace of mind is often very worth it.
4. Does This Moving Company Offer the Specialty Services You Need?
One of the most important questions to ask your moving company is what specialty services they offer to make sure every aspect of your relocation can be easily handled. Even if you think that a service is standard, never assume that every moving company offers the same things. Movers are different, and they might not all offer the services you need.
To ensure you’re getting the services you need, make sure to ask your moving company about their:
- Loading & unloading procedures
- Packing services
- Custom crating
- Furniture assembly & disassembly services
- Procedures/services for specialty items like pianos, pool tables, or hot tubs
- Storage options
- Vehicle shipping
Before hiring movers, research their services completely and always ask if they don’t mention a service you need.
5. Does Your Moving Company Use Binding Estimates?
When choosing a mover, the price is one of the most important pieces of information you need to make your decision. An accurate quote is necessary for you to make the right choice for your needs.
Many moving companies, especially if they’re not of high quality, might give you an estimate for your move that’s specifically designed to entice you with an initial low price. This price can then be increased at a later time without warning – even on your moving day itself. Hiring movers that aren’t professional can cause cost discrepancies.
Avoid getting backed into a corner without time to pick another option by making sure you’re working with professional movers that offer binding estimates. Binding estimates lock in your price and ensure that you won’t get any unexpected fees or price increases as long as your move goes as planned and you don’t add anything on at the last second.
6. Are There Hidden Fees to Watch For?
In addition to binding estimates, checking for hidden fees is an important step when choosing a moving company. Reputable movers will have transparent pricing. While shady moving companies might not come right out and mention some extra, hidden fees, there are ways to determine if you can trust their pricing or if you should go with different movers.
One of the most important things you can do during your moving research is to check the customer reviews of the moving company you’re interested in using. Look for reviews that mention hidden fees or the company increasing pricing come moving day.
Companies could also hide extra fees within a ton of paperwork that can easily go unnoticed. If you notice a trend of reviews saying that they were charged extra fees, try to avoid that company.
7. How is the Price of Your Move Calculated?
Many factors can impact the price of your move. To make sure you’re working with a reputable company, another good strategy is to ask how they calculate your total moving cost. Reputable moving companies usually base their costs on the weight of your move, the distance of your move, season and labor rates. Certain companies might also charge for fuel for extra specialty services.
If your company charges by how large your move is (not by weight), or by how much room it might take up in your moving truck, it’s a definitive sign of a scam. Additionally, use this information to properly budget and calculate your moving costs to ensure that you’re not overcharged for anything.
8. Does Your Moving Company Let Your Track Your Delivery?
It’s easy to get antsy or impatient when you’re waiting for your belongings to make it to your new home, especially if you don’t know where your items are in their journey to you. When choosing movers, knowing if they offer tracking or delivery updates can make a huge difference. This will help you know where your items are and when they’re due to arrive.
How to Hire Movers: Ask The Right Questions
When it comes to choosing a reputable and dependable moving company for your move to a new home, it’s imperative to make sure that you’re asking the right questions and doing your due diligence to ensure you’re getting the best service, prices and overall experience. Hiring movers isn’t a decision you can make lightly. Asking the above questions will help make sure you’re informed before committing to a moving company.
The Quality of a Bekins Move is Never a Question
Looking for a professional moving company that will always put you and your belongings first? Use Bekins Van Lines as your professional movers to get the best possible relocation, and never wonder whether you’re getting the best deal. Hiring movers has never been so easy. From our customer service to our quick and professional delivery, we’ll make sure you’re confident in our services and satisfied with your experience.
