You've got a new job in another part of the country, or have sold your current home to move to a better neighborhood. If you've completely settled it in your mind that getting professional help to move your stuff is better than dealing with that headache yourself, you have one crucial other decision to make. Who do you give the job?
You want to give it to professionals who care and treat your stuff like their own — a company which will make the entire process as quick and as painless as possible. While the amount of money you have for the exercise will determine which movers you'll go with, it shouldn't be the deal-breaker. Take the following points into account before you hand over your precious belongings.
The right estimate
A good mover will not give you a cost estimate off the top of their head. They will come to your place and take a complete inventory of your stuff. The base quote they give you on the size and weight of your belongings. When they send you the quote, take time to understand how they arrived at their final costing. Ask questions if anything is unclear. If they are cagey with the answers, that should raise a red flag against that company.
Get as many moving quotes as you can before you settle on a mover. Note that you should base your decision on the perceived value they offer. Don't just pick the mover with the lowest quote. Do they wrap your furniture? Is their vehicle padded? Will they ship your items exclusively or with someone else's?
Get recommendations
Talk to friends or relatives you know who have moved house recently and find out what their experiences were with the company they used. If you can't get any from your loved ones, contact the movers directly and ask them to refer you to some of their past customers. Try to get honest feedback from those among that list of customers you can contact.
Insurance
While your belongings are in transit, the mover is responsible for them. In case anything happens to your items at that point, they are to be held liable. But there are different levels of coverage for items in transit, and there is a cost attached to each. If you opt for Full Value Protection, you will be compensated for the full value of any item damaged or lost while in transit. Either that or they will fix it for you, or get you a replacement. The other kind of liability has no cost to it but only holds the mover liable for 60 cents per pound, per article.
Visit the website of the American Moving and Storage Association for a list of credible movers.