There are a variety of factors that you need to take into consideration before making a decision. Some of these factors include the cost, the distance, and the moving company’s reviews. Utilize the following guide, so you know what to look for to prepare yourself for the big day.
The Cost of Moving Services
When it comes time to move, there are many reasons why different people choose to use moving companies. Some individuals don’t have any other choice but to use professional movers simply because they can not move all their items to their desired location by themselves.
If you decide on using a moving company, you must be aware of the total cost associated with your move. You need to request an estimate from each potential moving company to get an idea of how expensive your move will cost.
You need to get a detailed estimate that includes any extra fees that may come up during your move, such as mileage if you are moving across the country. It would help to estimate how much time it will take for the movers to complete their work. This way, you can budget accordingly.
What exactly is a long-distance move in Denver?
A long-distance move in Denver, CO, is considered anything over 100 miles away from the city. Due to Denver, CO being on the far west end of the country makes for a long move if you are moving from east to west. Furthermore, some moves can take more time depending on whether they are cross-country or coast-to-coast moves.
Hiring a Moving Company with Excellent Reputation
You must hire professional and experienced movers if you don’t want your moving experience to turn into a nightmare. Before hiring any movers, make sure to check out their reviews on the internet and customer review websites like the Better Business Bureau.
In addition, ask family and friends to see if they can recommend any potential movers for you. If the moving company is well known, they have worked with many different people, and their work has been satisfactory.
You should always pick a moving company that can offer references of previous customers that you can contact at your convenience.
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Using a Full-Service Moving Company vs. Doing it Yourself
The benefit of using a full-service moving company is that they take away most of the work for you. However, if you’re looking to save money on your move by packing and hauling everything yourself, you will have more responsibilities and more work to do. However, if you consider hiring professionals and paying for their services, your move will go much smoother and faster, even though it will cost extra money.
Are you thinking of renting a truck?
One of the downsides to renting a moving truck is that you can’t pack what you want. You are limited to the number of boxes and belongings that will fit in your rental.
If you don’t have large enough boxes, you will need to purchase them at an additional cost. It may be simpler for some people to load their belongings into their car than hire movers, but this could lead to injury or accidents.
This is why most people choose to go with a full-service moving company. After all, you don’t want to spend your moving day worrying about how much money will cost or trying to load a truck that doesn’t fit all of your belongings.
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If You’re Moving Out of State, Make Sure the Movers are Licensed and Insured
This should be an obvious tip for anyone looking to hire movers. If a moving company doesn’t have a license and insurance, there is a good chance that the movers could rob you of your belongings or hurt you.
You can click here for more information about choosing an interstate mover. This is why it is pertinent that you check out the credentials of potential moving companies before hiring them.
Licensed and insured movers are required to post their Dept. of Transportation license and insurance on their website so that potential customers can verify this information against the DOT Movers Directory before they hire them.
If the company doesn’t have these credentials on its website, you should probably steer clear of them. You can also request certificates of insurance from the movers in case they refuse to post it somewhere on the internet.
Ask the movers to survey your home before the move.
The best way to determine how much it will cost and how long it will take for your movers to do their work is by having the movers send a representative to your home to carry out a free in-home survey.
The representative will carry out a walkthrough of your home, compiling an inventory using their professional analysis. This will conclude in you receiving a not-to-exceed price for your move.
A binding not-to-exceed moving estimate is a price that the moving company can’t exceed while carrying out your move.
If a prospective moving company balks at the idea of sending someone out to you, that’s a red flag indicator that they are not operating within your area in the first place.
Ask questions!
If you are planning on hiring movers, there are some things that your company should be able to answer. When meeting with a moving representative, be sure to ask these questions to know exactly what you’re getting into.
- How much does your company charge for a move?
- What size truck do you use?
- Do I need to be home during the move, and what is the cost if so?
- Is there anything that will add additional costs to my move?
- Why do the prices vary?
- How long does it take to move my belongings?
- Are there any discounts available?
Verify the moving companies location
If you’re not sure if the moving company is legit, you can verify their address by searching for the company by its phone number. Once you’ve found the number, plug it into Google Maps and view the street view.
If the address doesn’t exist or is in a residential neighborhood, then there is a good chance that the company isn’t local. Moving companies should list their physical address somewhere on their website so that customers can verify this information for themselves before they hire movers.
Be objective when reading negative reviews.
When you’re reading negative reviews about a company, it is important to be objective. It may seem like a red flag that the company is deliberately causing damage or delays to your belongings, but they may be legitimate.
The movers could have been in an accident, or they could have had a personal emergency. It may also boil down to a case where the client is simply exaggerating the situation, so be sure to analyze the wording of the review before deciding for yourself. Be sure to look at both sides of the story before jumping to conclusions.
Build a relationship with your moving coordinator
A good coordinator will always keep the lines of communication open with you rather than pushing you to one side if you don’t whip out the credit card after the initial call. What you should know about the right reps:
- The right coordinator should be able to answer all of your questions and address any concerns.
- They should know what types of products you are looking for and provide specific suggestions based on your needs.
- They should also provide a price quote with a clear breakdown of the costs, and they should be willing to negotiate if necessary.
- They should not make any guarantees or promises before you have a chance to review their initial quote.
- They shouldn’t pressure you into purchasing anything immediately but instead give you time to think about it.
How expensive is it to move across the country from Denver?
It depends on where your destination is. You could be moving from Denver to Seattle, WA or Orlando, FL, or somewhere relatively close, like Kansas City, MO. However, expect to pay a minimum of $2300 to move across the country. Sometimes it can be more, but that’s the ballpark estimate for a simple cross-country move.
What is the safest way to arrange a consultation or an appointment with a mover during the COVID-19 pandemic?
There are many ways you can arrange a video survey for your move. Some clients opt to take video recordings of their goods and forward them to the moving company.
However, the easiest way is for your coordinator to arrange a video call with you to see your coordinator’s face and take them on a tour of your home so you can show them all the articles you require moving.
This is an excellent way for the coordinator to get the necessary information from a Covid-safe perspective, and the result will come in the form of a binding not-to-exceed price, just as if they came out to your home in person.
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Ask how many trucks the moving company has.
This can be a clear indicator of how large the moving company is, how stretched its resources are, and how long your goods will be in transit. Obviously, the more trucks they have with them on-site in addition to you, the faster your goods will be delivered.
However, if they only have one or two trucks, then it may take longer for you to receive your belongings. You can also ask how many employees they have working at any given time. The more movers are on-site, the faster your shipment will be delivered.
Ask for a realistic time frame for your goods to be delivered.
The timeframe is one of the most important things to consider when hiring a moving company. You should ask the moving company how long it will take them to arrive at their destination. Several points determine the timeframe, such as:
- How many other customers do they have on their schedule? If there are plenty of other customers’ items moving on the same truck, then you may need to wait longer for your goods.
- How much traffic is on the road? If you are moving in a busy season, then there will be more traffic. This may require you to wait longer for your shipment.
- What are their delivery schedules? Some companies offer same-day or next-day deliveries (where geographically possible) to customers who need their items within a concise time frame.
- Do they offer storage services? If you need to store your items for a while before having them delivered, this can also add to the timeframe.
Beware of pushy moving coordinators!
There is no shortage of moving coordinators out there live purely to make a sale, and very often, they will often pressure you into making a decision. If you are not sure, they may even use the argument, “It’s the middle of peak season, there won’t be any more trucks available.
You’re not going to find any better deal.” This is a tactic that many unscrupulous movers use to get you to commit right now so that they can earn money for themselves. Then they will suddenly become unavailable if you try calling back to reconsider.
If you feel pressured by a moving coordinator, ask them if you can take some time to think about it. Tell them that you want to discuss the quote with your family members first and that you will get back to them after a day or two.
Of course, they may try to coerce you into making a decision right then and there. If this happens, ask for their number and tell them you will get back to them.
It is vital not to let the moving coordinator push you. If you get the feeling that you are under pressure, drop them and continue your search!
Ask if there are any hidden charges.
There can be a multitude of hidden charges in the quote you receive from the movers. It all depends on what is printed in your binding quote and whether or not it includes these extra costs. Be sure to inquire about any potential hidden charges and how much they will be, for example:
Fuel Surcharges
If the truck uses a lot of fuel, then this will increase your moving costs. If fuel surcharges are not included in your quote, ask for an explanation from your coordinator so you know if you must pay or not.
Elevator Fees
There are typically labor charges for utilizing an elevator in your old/new home. It’s important to know if you will face such fees and how much you can expect to pay.
Multiple Flights of Stairs Fees
With the exception of the first flight (10-15 steps), moving upstairs is not included in your base quote. If it’s not, ask about any charges for moving upstairs. This will help you prepare for the extra cost before time, so you don’t need to worry at the last minute.
Off-Route Fees
If your goods are being picked up from or delivered to a substantially remote area, you may be susceptible to off-route fees. This is where the moving truck has to deviate off the main interstate roads for an extended distance to honor your pickup/delivery. The added fuel expenses are reflected in this fee.
Shuttle Fees
Shuttle services come into play when the long-distance moving truck is physically or legally unable to park directly outside your pickup or delivery address, and a smaller box truck is required.
This truck is referred to as a shuttle and is used to bridge the logistical gap between your home and the long-distance vehicle. Depending on the service, this fee may or may not be included in their price quote.
If it is not included in your quote, ask what the cost of the shuttle fees is to budget for your move accordingly. This usually tends to be the most expensive hidden charge and thus creates the biggest upsets for the client if they have not been informed ahead of time.
Conclusion
The moving process can be both exciting and stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. It’s prudent that you carry out your research before deciding on a Denver mover for the job. If they are not upfront about any hidden charges or fees in their quote, don’t feel pressured into making a decision right away. Take however much time you need to consider what you want from your mover, then go back to them with questions if necessary!
