Are you looking to move house soon?
Well, you’re not alone! Indeed, six million houses are sold in America every year. That’s a lot of people moving to new homes, neighborhoods, and beginnings all across the country.
If you’re doing the same, then you’ll no doubt want the process to be smooth from start to finish. And, when your house has sold and you’re ready to go, hiring a moving company is one of the best ways to do it.
After all, packing, loading, shipping, and then unloading your worldly possessions is back-breaking work! Having professional movers handle the task provides an almighty weight off your shoulders.
But only when you go about it properly! Read on to learn about six key mistakes to avoid when hiring a professional moving company.
1. Failing to Book In Advance
Booking anything at the last minute is a recipe for trouble. And that’s definitely the case when you want to hire a moving company!
In worst-case scenarios, everyone will be booked up for the date you want/need to move.
Remember, the early bird catches the worm. Make your inquiries with moving companies well in advance. Only then can you guarantee the support of a reliable, trustworthy set of movers on your chosen date of departure.
Leave it too late and you might have to hire substandard movers who do more harm than good. Or, even worse, you may have to hire a van and handle the entire move yourself!
2. Being Too Quick to Hire a Company
Many homeowners are in a hurry to sell their house and move.
They want to get everything organized in record time and rush the process of hiring their moving company. The result? They book the first one they find and suffer as a result.
Accepting the first quote is never a good idea! Without checking other options, you risk overspending on unreliable service. A bit of effort could have revealed a much better rate from a more reputable company.
That’s why diligence is so key. Taking your time to get multiple quotes and weigh up the different options means you’re far more likely to find the best company for the job!
3. Accepting Word of Mouth Estimates
Be sure to get those estimates in writing as well. The last thing you want is to end up with a bigger invoice than you were expecting.
Unscrupulous movers may conveniently ‘forget’ the word of mouth estimate they’d provided. Getting a written version of the quote means they can’t go back on their word.
Ask for as much detail as possible as well. Have the company include a break-down of all the costs involved, as well as what isn’t included in the price.
That last bit’s vital! It’s up to you to know exactly what fees for moving companies you’ll be paying for. Only then will you avoid nasty surprises on the day of the move.
4. Failing to Ask About Extra Charges
This point leads on from the last.
Basically, some moving companies with extra services won’t include them in their quote. Everything from the cost of fuel to packing your boxes and being insured might cost extra. However, you won’t know about it unless you ask!
These charges should be down in your written estimate. Check that first, but always ask about any extra services and costs- just in case. Don’t, and you could end up paying far more than you were expecting and being unable to do anything about it.
5. Taking the Budget Option
Have you ever heard the saying that you get what you pay for in life?
Well, more often than not, it applies to house moving companies too!
It’s very tempting for homeowners to go for the cheapest option possible. After all, moving house (not to mention buying one in the first place!) is an expensive business. It can sometimes feel like you’re hemorrhaging money at every turn.
The opportunity to save money is, of course, what makes budget quotes so attractive. But it can end up back-firing in the long run.
Movers that charge considerably less than the competition could be cause for concern. You could be entrusting your treasured possessions to unscrupulous and unreliable companies. Paying a premium might be well worth it in terms of peace of mind and quality service delivery.
Avoid These Mistakes When Hiring a Moving Company
Millions of people move home in the United States every year.
If you’re planning on doing the same, then hiring a moving company will make your life ten times easier. They’ll take care of the time-consuming packing and back-breaking heavy lifting, while you sit back and relax.
As we’ve seen, though, it’s important to a) hire the right company for the task, and b) go about the process in the right way. Fail in either regard and a dreamy moving solution can soon become a nightmare. Hopefully, this post will help you avoid that fate!
Do you want professional support moving house in Chicago? Contact us today to see how we can be of service.