Important Questions To Ask Before Hiring A Moving Company

Important Questions To Ask Before Hiring A Moving Company

Nowadays, the advent of the Internet in many ways facilitates the process of finding various services. The same goes for moving as well – you can easily hire a relocation company from the comfort of your home. But, no matter how reliable this online booking method is, it’s always best to meet face-to-face and talk about the move in more detail. After all, you’ll be entrusting your precious belongings to them, so you have the right to ask them anything that’s unclear. But, in order to get the answers, you need to know what questions to ask before hiring a moving company. So, read on as we guide you through the most important topics you need to cover prior to hiring movers.

Start with inspecting a website

Assuming you’ll be searching for a suitable moving company online, your first impression will be based on their website. Among a plethora of choices, we recommend you choose a man and van company. They usually have a moving manager whom you can ask for clarification regarding the relocation process.

But, before hiring a moving company, assess their online presence. It has become so important that it’s one of the top things to look for in a good relocation company. Movers that care about their clients will run a blog and have an About or FAQ page, which means all moving-related details are available to you.

However, websites can turn out to be misleading as well. To avoid being scammed, meet your movers before the moving day for a face to face conversation. This way, you’ll it will be easier to determine whether you find them trustworthy.

The best opportunity to conduct the interview is to call your movers for an in-house estimate. This is beneficial for both parties – you get to ask questions while your mover gets to access the weight of your belongings and loading strategy.

Prior to hiring a moving company, take a look at their website and social media

The level of experience matters, too

Of course, when relocating our valuable stuff, it’s perfectly natural we want them to be safe during transfer. While accidents can still happen, the risk is minimised if you hire a reputable man and van company. That’s why you should ask your mover about their experience in handling your type of relocation.

For example, if it’s an out-of-state move, you should inquire whether they have experience with a long-distance relocation. Don’t be afraid to treat this conversation just like an employer would treat a prospective employee. After all, your mover is expecting these questions and should have a ready answer.

While on the topic, ask if you can read testimonials from their previous clients. A respectable company will have nothing to hide, and you can even contact their clients in order to check whether they were satisfied.

Prior to the actual interview, you can scroll through their online reviews and check the responses. Be wary of excessive praise and all five-star reviews, as they might be fake. This is a common way in which frauds try to draw in new clients, so be extra careful.

Reading reviews and testimonials from previous clients will help you decide whether the company is trustworthy

Inquire about types of estimates, rates and fees

The main purpose of interviewing the mover is essential, so you can avoid last-minute unpleasant surprises. Imagine if, on a moving day, you get presented with the final bill and it turns out to be way higher than the original estimate.

In order to avoid these unwelcome situations, you need to be firm about having all costs in writing. Of course, the price can vary depending on the type of estimate. So, if you prefer to know the cost ahead of time, ask for a binding estimate. This way, you’ll be ensuring that all hidden costs are brought up right away, so you know where you stand. After all, in order to get everything ready for your relocation, you need much more than just packing. In fact, a good financial plan is essential to a well-organised relocation.

On that note, you are also free to ask exactly how the final price is estimated. Hiring a moving company can be quite a costly endeavour, so setting money aside is a necessary step. Mostly, the price is deduced from the total weight and distance, but some moves are priced on an hourly basis. The more info you gather, the smoother the whole process will feel.

Ask about additional services

We’ve mentioned the infamous hidden fees which some moving companies can trick you with. However, sometimes it’s entirely the client’s fault as they tend to just skim their contracts. This usually happens when the mover is not informed about certain particularities regarding the handling of items.

For example, if you’re moving a piece of antique furniture, it is going to require special equipment and packing material. Now, of course, these are services you’ll have to pay extra for, which is why it’s you need to discuss them beforehand.

Most moving companies nowadays have all their services listed on their websites. Go through them when you’re creating a moving checklist and ask for clarification during the interview. It’s especially important to cover the gray area of whether disassembling and reassembling furniture or flight charges count as additional service. The prices and services will vary from one company to another, which is why this topic needs to be discussed.

Ask about insurance policy before hiring a moving company

Last but certainly not least, learn about the company’s policy when it comes to insurance. As we’ve mentioned, accidents happen even to the best. Sometimes, external factors like a bumpy road or bad weather can be the reason why something gets broken during transport.

For this reason, most movers offer various insurance options to cover the damage. Make sure to ask whether they cover the full replacement value of the broken item. Usually, movers have a basic coverage option where the liability is £0.60 per pound. Of course, you can opt for additional coverage, but make sure to talk it through with the mover.

Also, you need to be on the same page according to the rules by which you get insurance. This may be one of the most moving questions to ask before hiring a moving company to guarantee at least some form of compensation in case something goes wrong. For example, some movers will only insure items they’ve packed themselves. Ask what their policy before hiring a moving company so everything is clear.

Important Questions To Ask Before Hiring A Moving Company