Hiring a Pro?
November 12th, 2010 by www.directmovingsupplies.com
If you’ve decided that your move will best be handled by a professional moving service, there are some things that you need to consider to make sure it goes off without a hitch.
- Plan to call at least three moving companies to compare not only prices, but levels of customer care and service (since these will no doubt vary). It’s best to set aside a notebook to keep notes of questions you’ve asked and answers you’ve received.
- Check the Better Business Bureau for each of the services you have elected to consider in the quotation process. If there is even one ounce of doubt after you’ve read references and reviews, delete that service as a prospect and pick another to start researching. This is going to be a stressful time and the last thing you need is to be worrying about poor customer service or unexpected “back end” fees.
- Ask specific questions about how various packing options affect price structure. Listen to the answers, and if you don’t understand them, ask for clarification. Ask this very pointed question “are there any special conditions about my move that will affect the price that we have not yet talked about?”
- If you have unique items that need to be moved such as sports equipment, art, or unusually large or fragile items, make sure you discuss these with the moving companies. Also, should you have anything stored off site make sure the estimator is aware of the items in as much detail as possible before they show up at the last minute and you expect them to be moved.
- Ask specifically “what can’t be moved in the truck?? A lot of times moving companies will not/can not allow items such as landscaping chemicals, paints, open cleaning items, plants. Ask ahead of time so you can dispose of these items in an environmentally conscious way as possible.
- The bids you receive from the various moving services will vary widely. As with most things in life, the cheapest is not always the best. Review your notes, look for strengths and weaknesses, and also listen to your instinct. It’s at this point that you should ask for references so you can call and get real-time feedback. Be leery if it sounds “canned.”
- And last but not least, get a signed contract that stipulates everything you have discussed. If you had a conversation about “Grandma’s heirloom quilt,” make sure it’s in the contract.
On the day of the move, make sure you get contact information for the driver as well as the main hub that will be keeping tabs on the driver’s progress. Arm yourself with contact information, and you should be good to go!
Posted in | | Comments Off
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
-
Last post
-
Categories
- Check List (1)
- En Route (1)
- Solutions (1)
-
Archives
