Millions of consumers move from one home to another every year. Many will hire movers to help them with packing, loading and transport to their new home. The process involves a lot of different steps and starts with a series of questions for the moving company to help them prepare a quotation.

Before making a decision regarding which moving company to hire, many consumers will interview several companies to better understand the services that will be provided and of course the price for moving.

The following are a series of questions that many people will ask during the interview process to help them select the right company for their big day.

Check their Background

How long has the company been in business? If they are a new company or have been in business for only a few years, check their background more thoroughly.

The first step is to check their online customer reviews. You may also want to check the process for leaving a review to determine how much control the company has over the review process. Ask for direct references from previous customers and give them a call. Check for the company’s reputation in detail.

Confirm that they have the appropriate licenses and insurance policies in place to protect your belongings. Are there any restrictions or limitations in their insurance coverage that may be an issue for you?

Costs Will be an Important Issue

Most consumers have a limited budget for moving. Everyone needs an estimate of the costs for packing, transportation and unloading along with any other fees that may apply. Examine the services and costs carefully.

While one mover might have a lower estimate, are they also offering fewer services that you may need for your move to be a success? Watch for extra costs that can be added after the move is complete. Protect yourself by asking for a fixed price contract or one where the estimate cannot be exceeded.

Details are important. Every move is a bit different. You may need to make special arrangements or adjust your budget depending on the answers. The following list may help. Ask these questions if they apply to your situation:

• How are long distance and interstate moves charged?
• If this is a local move, will you be charged by the man hour or on a fixed price basis?
• Does volume matter, particularly on international and long distance moves?
• Are there items that the mover will not handle? E.g. gasoline containers or lawn mowers?

Protecting your Belongings

Training and moving techniques are also important. Experienced movers know they need to protect floors and walls in both locations as your belongings are moved from one place to another. Make sure they discuss the protective coverings that they will use.

Professional companies will cover their workers with worker’s compensation insurance. This is important to ensure that you the home owner are not liable for any injuries and health claims while they are working on your property.

If your belongings are not properly packed, they could be damaged during the move. Ask the sales person to discuss what packing materials are used and what precautions they take. They should also have insurance coverage to protect your belongings during the move.

The claims process for damaged goods should be straight forward. In large moves something may be damaged and you will want to feel comfortable with the process in advance. This is also a good question to ask the references. Did they have a claim and how well was it handled?

Scheduling

Scheduling your move packing date, loading date and arrival date at your new home is also important. Often you need to have everything packed and out of your home by the closing date. Move in dates need to be coordinated at the new location.

Long distance moves take time to ship your belongings across the company. These scheduling dates should be clarified before you make your final decision.

Based on the answers to the above questions, you will gain a great deal of insight into the professionalism, charges and policies of the company.

Your own expectations will be better managed as well since they will be based on the answers to these questions. Barring unforeseen events, your move will be a positive event and meet you and your family’s needs. Browse through Andy The Guy With A Van for more information.