Moving into a new home marks the beginning of a new chapter in your life. As exciting as this may sound, the days leading up to the final move are often tainted with mess, hopelessness, and stress.
You are ready to settle into your new nest but the drudgery of moving stands between you and your new home. The plan is to rent a van, stack all of your belongings, and drive to the new location. Sounds easy? Well, it’s not – unless you have special packing and lifting skills. Thankfully, it does not have to be a stress-inducing encounter. By simply choosing the right moving company, you can relax while the professionals do their job.
The key is to hire professional movers to do most of the heavy lifting while you can focus on other matters. Not sure how you can find the right mover to save the day? Don’t worry, help is here! In this article, there are 6 factors to help you choose the right moving company.
Competency and Reliability
You cannot trust an amateur mover with all your valuable possessions. It is essential to choose a moving company that projects qualities of competency and reliability. A high level of experience and industry knowledge is what will strengthen your trust in your prospective moving company.
They take the workload of the relocation off your plate. You should be able to rest assured that they will complete the task without any micromanagement from your end. The right mover will proactively take care of every detail on a moving day.
They are the experts and will not need any guidance from you. Their competency will be reflected in their standardised procedures and expert handling of furniture, appliances, and delicate items. You should be able to trust that they will conduct each step with care and damaging your belongings is the last thing that they would do on earth.
Furthermore, a reputed moving company will offer specialised services for each customer. In addition to providing you with the standardised services for relocation, the company should be able to cater to your unique needs by offering you customised moving assistance. From providing custom-made crates and cardboard boxes to handling large furniture to packing your electrical appliances individually, the right moving company will be willing to go the extra mile to please you.
Successful Track Record and Reputation in the Market
No matter their moving process, a good moving company will skillfully identify the equipment and method necessary to carry out your moving demands. There are loads of moving companies you may choose from, but your quest to partner with the best mover demands some deep research.
Work portfolio and in-depth interviews will give you a good idea of whether the moving company is right for you. The best assurance, however, is testimonials and reviews from previous clients. The right moving company will have hundreds of satisfied customers who are willing to put up a good name for them. A mover’s prolific experience in handling different kinds of challenging scenarios, dealing with unexpected incidents, and unique requirements from many clients will be visible in what their previous customers have to say about them.
Scour through online reviews before making your final decision. Additionally, you can rely on a referral from friends and family as it will give a genuine and fair review of a company. A company that has been operating in this industry for a long time and managed to have a significantly positive impact on their clients is highly likely to provide a smooth moving experience to you too.
Are they Licensed and Insured?
Because the market is so saturated, you may fall prey to bogus movers. These are fake companies who take large amounts of money from clients but never deliver. The only way to know for sure that the company you are interviewing is not a bogus mover is to check whether they are licensed and insured.
A duly licensed mover will never hesitate to provide you with their business registration number. If you reside in Australia, you can check if the mover is a member of the Australian Furniture Removers Association (AFRA) as such memberships can add to their legitimacy.
Another important consideration is whether the company is insured. This detail can give you peace of mind as insured companies are legally bound to protect your belongings at all costs. This might mean you have to pay a premium to secure an insurance plan, but it’s the way to go if you want full protection of your valuables.
Verified and Legitimate Address
Be wary during your selection process as bogus mover may often have a solid online profile. A great way to ensure legitimacy is to check if they have an existing valid physical address that is registered under their company.
Many unprofessional companies will use a residential address. Simply find the address provided on their website and check if it matches the address registered under their license. Consistency in such details suggests that you are dealing with an authentic mover.
Transparent Service Rates
A balance of good quality service and reasonable pricing is a crucial factor in making the right choice. How to make sure you get the best value for your money? Here’s how:
You can ask for estimates from three companies. Compare their prices and conditions by weighing convenience and benefits each one is willing to provide for the quoted pricing. Take note that trustworthy movers will provide you documents such as inventory forms or receipts to assure a transparent billing process. When you are ready to narrow down your choices, request quoted prices including charges for extra services such as bond cleaning, specialised packing materials, packing assistance, and other incidental add-ons.
Make sure to have a clear discussion about payment methods, deposits, refunds, and even discounts. Honest and respectable moving companies prioritise the trust handed by their clients to them first before making any transactions involving money. If a mover seems impatient or hungry for a high upfront payment or cash deposit before you move, consider it a red flag.
Positive and Friendly Work Attitude
While all the aforementioned technical factors are critical to choosing a proficient mover, selecting a team with a positive attitude is equally important. You know that you are in good hands when you can see and feel not only the impressive work ethics but also a positive and friendly work attitude of the team sent by your moving company. The right moving company will be highly responsive and attentive.
They will do everything in their power to make the move an unproblematic and successful one, while constantly updating and assuring you that everything is under control. This can help manage your stress level on moving day.
Conclusion
Finding the right moving company can be like looking for a needle in a haystack.
Therefore, you have to be critical in your search, and it’s not too difficult. The aforementioned factors can help you find a moving company that will take care of everything while you enjoy a trouble-free and effortless moving experience.