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Choosing a moving company doesn’t have to be hard. With these simple steps, you can compile a list of the best movers:
- Get Local Recommendations from Family & Friends
- Research Each Company’s Reputation
- Verify Moving Credentials
Once you’ve whittled your list down to a handful of moving companies in your area, make sure you:
- Request an In-home or Virtual Survey
- Compare Estimate’s Against Each Other
- Review Your Estimates & Choose a Mover
Whether you’ve already done this before, or you need an extra tip to help you out, these steps will help you research, compile and ultimately choose a moving company that fits your needs best.
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Though choosing the right mover can be difficult, it doesn’t have to be!
If one takes the time to prepare themselves ahead of time by doing ample research and comparing moving companies against one another, taking the time to find a reputable moving company can be worthwhile.
To make sure you’re starting off on the right foot, consider reading the rest of this article for valuable steps to help you choose a moving company.
Get Local Recommendations
If you’re unsure where to begin, start small. Instead of biting off more than you can chew, stick closer to home and ask a few friends, family members or coworkers what kind of experiences they’ve had in the past with moving companies in Philadelphia. Pay extra attention to those who have had poor experiences corrected successfully by the moving company.
Although they may have made a mistake, it’s noteworthy that they took quick action to resolve the issue.
Alternatively, you can use Google or any other search engine to search for terms like “movers near me” or “Philadelphia movers”. Choose a few companies from the first two pages of Google and check out their websites for relevant services specific to your needs.
Once you’ve finished getting your list of movers together, it’s time to research each mover’s reputation to see if they’ll handle your move with professionalism.
Research Reputations
Line by line, use Google to research each mover’s reputation. It’s not only important that they’ve been in business for a long time, but how they present themselves to the public and how they handle positive or negative reviews online.
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is an organization designed to increase the trust of consumers and businesses by granting accreditations and ratings based upon customer complaints, issues or positive experiences.
Ask yourself a couple of questions: (1) Is the chosen mover accredited with the BBB? (2) Do they have a rating of B+ or higher?
If you can’t answer yes to one or both questions, be sure to check out the company’s Google or Yelp reviews page to see how they respond to negative and positive reviews.
Additionally, there are consumer-advocacy sites out there like www.movingscam.com or www.ripoffreport.com that have blacklists of moving companies with a history of consumer complaints, so be sure to look for your chosen movers on either of these sites.
Verify Credentials
Whether it’s before or after, ensure you’re verifying your chosen mover’s credentials. This will help you understand how the company operates on the customer-facing side of your move.
Ensure you verify the following credentials:
- US DOT & MC Licensing: Verify that your chosen mover(s) has an active license and the proper insurance. All companies should have a US Department of Transportation number as well as a Motor Carrier (MC) number. Additionally, you should verify that they have a Pennsylvania license number.
- American Trucking Association (ATA): Formerly the American Moving & Storage Association, check to see if the mover belongs to the American Trucking Association. This represents a mover as being nationally recognized to uphold high-quality industry-wide standards for any move.
Get an In-Home or Virtual Survey
Today, a lot of things are done digitally and providing quotes is no different!
Oftentimes, you’ll find that a mover has two options to survey your items: in-home and virtual surveys.
In-Home Surveys: The traditional method whereby a person visits your property and physically walks through to note the weight, quantity and quality of your shipment(s).
Virtual Surveys: Digital surveys are becoming more commonplace because of how easy they are to do! Conduct a virtual walkthrough of your property using your smart device by recording a video or FaceTiming with your moving coordinator to receive an accurate estimate.
Compare & Review Your Estimates
You have your list! Now what?
Now’s the time you want to review each estimate and compare it against the others by looking at:
- Type of Estimate: Make sure it’s written/printed near the top of the form
- Date & Sign: The date & signature of the mover should be present for legitimacy
- Type of Move: There should be a brief description regarding the type of move you requested
- Inventory: The estimate form should include the type of shipment, including the quality & quantity of each item
- Timeline: From start to finish, how long will your move take?
- Hourly Rates & Additional Costs: Compare low and high bids vs. services offered to get your best choice
Don’t forget to reach out and contact your moving coordinator if there’s something you’re unsure of regarding the estimate.
Now You Can Choose a Moving Company!
Once you’ve completed the last step of comparing and reviewing your estimates, you’re ready to settle on a moving company to help you relocate.