One thing that’s inevitable during the home buying process is that you’re going to need movers! We have all heard the horror stories, so instead of repeating those, here are some of the things to look for in a mover, as well as some potential red flags:

 

Are you moving interstate, intrastate, or less than 100 miles away? This will help determine what type of moving company you need. There are two primary types of moving companies: local and long distance. You want to find a company that has a lot of experience with your type of move. Some companies do both but often they specialize in one or the other.

 

If you're moving within 100 miles, you probably want a local mover. Oftentimes you can get great service from a small company: they may have slightly lower rates and attentive customer service. Larger companies can provide high levels of skill and care as well - it really will come down to who you feel is the best balance of price and care.

 

Long-distance movers often specialize in moving interstate or from one side of California to another. They can be a good fit for very large homes with pricey belongings that you want insured for the long haul because you can choose to have a high level of coverage.

 

Containers have become a popular alternative to using a mover. They are often less costly than movers for the shipping portion of your move. They are also great options if you need your items to go into storage locally for a few months. You can order a container and have it loaded by local movers and taken into storage, then when you're ready you can just have the container delivered to your new home. Containers require a little more leg work because you’ll need to arrange your moving company separately to load and unload, but overall your cost usually is lower for the move in comparison to a moving company doing it all.

 

Your friends are vindicated sources that you trust. Reach out to them, as well as a local Realtor, and see which moving companies they recommend. Chances are that if your Realtor, friends and acquaintances had a good experience with a mover, they are worth considering.

 

In addition to recommendations from people you know and trust, review-based websites like Yelp are great resources.

 

Take some time to read the list of reviews, check for red flags and look for consistency. The important thing to take away from these reviews is possible patterns. If you find a moving company with consistent complaints about the movers not showing up or damaged furniture, you may want to skip them altogether.

 

Something to look for in a moving company is transparency in their rates and extra fee. Many companies have flat hourly rates and can provide you with all of the fees that will be charged upfront. Other companies will provide you a rate based on the number of movers as well as the number of hours that will be required for the job. But some companies may also charge you extra fees for things like heavy items, pianos, disposal, long carry, stairs, etc.

 

Make sure that they can provide you with all the fees that will be charged upfront. If they can’t, you should probably steer clear!

 

You can get a pulse on local prices and how they vary from company to company by calling a few movers in the area.

 

When getting a quote, don’t only look for the lowest rate, look for the movers who offer good customer service, give you the most attention, and ask questions and to provide you with an accurate quote.

 

Insurance is important when moving interstate or long-distance, but if you’re moving locally and feel good about a smaller company, not having it doesn’t have to be a deal breaker.

 

If you have high value items, it’s a good idea to go with a company that can cover the value in the unfortunate event of damage. With that said, some companies decide not to use their insurance and pay out of pocket for damage.

 

Most full service movers come with $0.60/lbs insurance coverage included as part of the service. If you have high value belongings, it may be a good idea to up your coverage. However, the movers will usually charge you for higher insurance and these deposits are normally non-refundable. If you don’t have anything of particular high value these factors become less important.

 

We hope this helps you with your next move. If you want a list of recommended movers, don’t hesitate to reach out.