Finding the right moving company can be stressful. After all, you’re trusting your movers with all of your possessions, expensive furniture, and irreplaceable valuables. You’re also hiring them to make your move as seamless as possible.
Moving week is hard enough, but you can make it so much easier by hiring the right moving company. Here are 10 questions you should ask before hiring a moving company, so you can go into moving day with confidence that your belongings will be safe and arrive on time without any unpleasant surprises.
10 Questions to Ask Your Moving Company
Are you properly licensed?
All professional moving companies should have either a state or federal transportation license. Ask for their licensing information and accreditations to avoid moving scams. At Firefighting’s Finest Moving & Storage, we hold both Texas and U.S. transportation licenses.
What liability coverage do you offer?
Anything can happen during a move, and it’s important to make sure that your belongings are covered. Licensed movers are required to offer two types of liability options: full value and released value protection. Full value protection typically comes at an additional cost and ensures that your moving company is liable for the entire value of lost or damaged goods. Released value protection is often no additional charge, and covers no more than $0.60 per pound per article. You may also purchase insurance from a third-party or it may be covered by your homeowners insurance.
What services are included?
Services can vary between moving companies. Make sure you verify what is included in with your moving package and what will be your responsibility on moving day. Services may include packing, loading, unloading, furniture assembly, and storage. Disclose if you have special circumstances such as a steep staircase or narrow front door. Confirm that everything you will need is included in your moving package so there are no surprises for you or your moving company on moving day. Learn more about our residential moving services here.
What kind of payment do you accept?
If you are planning to charge your moving expenses or pay cash on the day of your move, make sure you know what kind of payment your moving company accepts. At Firefighting’s Finest, we accept cash, check, cashier’s check, money orders and all major credit cards.
Do you provide binding estimates?
Oftentimes, moving companies will offer cost estimates that are subject to change based on time or effort. If you are locked into a budget for your move, ask your moving company if they can offer a binding estimate. This means there will be no surprise fees come moving day.
Do your movers have background checks, and do you work with subcontractors?
It’s important to trust your moving company and their employees with your belongings. Before hiring your moving company, verify that their movers all have background checks. Also ask if they work with subcontractors during transit. This ensures that you know who is responsible for your belongings at every stage of your move.
Are they available on your moving day and what is the delivery timeline?
If you have to leave your current home on a specific day, make sure that your moving company is available during that time and can deliver your belongings when needed. Confirm the moving date, arrival time, and delivery date if you have a long-distance move.
What is your policy for cancellation, rescheduling, and inclement weather?
Things don’t always go according to plan. Sometimes inclement weather or a scheduling change can require a shift in plans. Make sure you know your moving company’s policies for cancellations, rescheduling, and inclement weather. That way, you’ll know what to expect if the unexpected happens.
Are there restrictions on what and how I pack?
If your moving company is not packing for you, ask if there is anything you should avoid when packing. Your moving company should be able to give you guidance on what works best, especially for fragile or specialty items.
Do you offer discounts for military, seniors, AAA members, seasonality?
It’s always worth asking if your moving company offers discounts for service members, first responders, teachers, seniors, AAA members, or even off seasons discounts. Every little bit counts!
Ready to Hire a Moving Company?
If you’re looking for a trusted moving company to help you get from point A to point B safely and efficiently, Firefighting’s Finest is here to help make your move fast, simple, and easy. Read through our frequently asked questions for the answers to these questions and more.
If you’re ready to hire a moving company, use our estimate tool to get started or give us a call at 844-715-6625 with any questions you may have.
