The process of moving is more than most people can handle alone. After all, even just considering the logistics of moving every item, including large appliances and furniture, from your home is a bigger job than most people can do without help. In addition, even if you could physically manage it, it isn’t likely you have a moving truck at your disposal. Therefore, if a move is in your near future, you are likely going to need to hire some movers. The following are some tips on doing just that:
Tips on Hiring Professional Movers
- Ask For Recommendations: The first step to take when you have decided to hire movers is asking for recommendations. Ask your friends and family members who they have used in the past. Ask if they were treated fairly and their belongings treated with care. If you don’t know anyone who has moved recently, consider researching local companies via Angie’s List or Yelp. Of course, ideally, you will want to get personal recommendations and then check reviews as well just to be safe.
- Don’t Wait too Long: The best movers are often booked weeks or months out, so if you know you have a move coming up, get with them as soon as possible to get on their schedule. If you are moving during the colder months, you might get away with a last-minute reservation, but in the summer and spring months, this is less likely to happen.
- Be Flexible: As we just mentioned, good moving companies often get booked. Therefore, it’s best to be flexible on your moving dates, to the best of your ability. For example, consider moving on a weekday instead of a weekend. This will make it easier for a moving company to find some availability for you.
- Understand How Movers Charge: Generally, movers charge by the hour for their labor. Usually, you can expect to spend around $30 an hour per individual mover helping you. Therefore, it’s a good idea to get an estimated cost up front. However, know this price might be less or more than originally quoted due to certain circumstances. In general, though, the estimates quoted by movers are typically a good indication of how much you can expect to pay as they are professionals at estimating how long a move will take. Keep in mind, if your move isn’t local, you will likely have to cover a mover’s travel time too, meaning their travel time from your new home back to their office. Ask about a fuel surcharges as well, as that is another element that can make up the total cost of hiring movers. Also, although you might think you can save money by hiring two instead of three movers, consider the fact that three movers will get the job done that much faster. In other words, sometimes, it’s more cost effective to hire more people, even though you are paying per person.
- Know Their Payment Methods: Many movers prefer cash payment overs credit cards and many will not take personal checks as payment at all. Therefore, make sure you are prepared to pay your movers in their preferred method.
- Ask Questions: Communicate the true scope of your project to any movers you hire. Ensure they have a large enough truck to accommodate your belongings without making a ridiculous number of trips. Ask questions up front, not the day of to ensure you and your movers are on the same page.
Keep these tips in mind when hiring movers for a more enjoyable experience.