If you are planning on moving, chances are, you are considering whether or not to hire a moving company. If you are moving overseas this is a no brainer because you pretty much have to hire movers to ship your belongings. However, you want to make sure you have all the right questions to ask moving companies before you decide which one to go with. Here’s a few ideas.
Do you give definite quotes?
If you are asking for a quote over the phone, a moving company may give you a quote based on assumption or an estimate and then once they review your items, the price could change. Generally speaking, there should be a deposit and a delivery amount. Make sure the delivery amount is in writing before you let them leave.
What the quote include?
This is not just about extra fees. You’ll want to ask about flight charges, appliance charges, parking charges, storage charges, fuel charges, large objects, etc. If you have an awkward shaped item that is heavy or cannot be boxed, you should let them know up front. Ask if they have equipment to help with heavy or awkward items.
Will my items need to be transferred?
Moving long distances sometimes requires the items to be transferred to another truck to finish the trip. The extra handling increases the chance for damage to occur.
What forms of payment do you accept?
Some moving companies only accept cash but if this is going to be one of the questions to ask moving companies, it is recommended that you do not go with someone that only accepts cash. You want a company that has a paper trail. Most companies will have a merchant account but be sure to ask and ensure they accept credit and debit cards on site.
What type of insurance do you offer/ Is included in your quote?
If you are not comfortable with the insurance offered by the company or it is to expensive, you can actually use a third party insurance.
Is something breaks or goes missing, who is responsible?
This is kind of a ‘part b’ for the insurance question, but it is still good to clarify.
These are just a few of the things you can ask movers to make sure you are getting the best service possible. Some other ideas of questions to ask moving companies are asking about the history of the company and how long they have been around, how many moves that have assisted in, etc. Getting references from satisfied customers, or unsatisfied customers, will give you a better idea of how the company functions. Also, asking about cancelling policies is important in case you end up needing to change your moving date or cancel the company all together.