Questions to Ask a Potential Moving Company

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To Ask Questions

Working with a moving company can take a large chunk out of the physical and mental stress involved with moving. The trick is to hire the right moving company to make the process go as smoothly as possible. Part of picking out the right moving company for you is knowing what questions to ask the moving company when you are shopping around for who to use. By asking questions your prepare yourself for what to expect from the moving company, and there won't be any unpleasant surprises on arrival times, additional costs, etc.

The following are some simple questions to ask a moving company before you sign any paperwork with them. You should call various companies to get a sense of who you are dealing with, and what type of moving policies they have.

Questions for Moving Companies

How Will I Be Charged?

All moving companies break down the costs of distance, capacity and time spent in different ways. Some charge by the hours, others charge for works and some by weight. It is good to get a break down of these costs beforehand. Now is a good time to ask about any additional costs that may be added on to a bill after the bill for extra services provided by the company. Moving companies are not always forthright about these costs, so make sure to check your contract for these types of costs before signing anything.

What is the average window of time with estimated moving van arrival and departure times?

There are many stories of people waiting a long time for there moving vans to arrive. Here is a blog where we discuss why moving vans arrive late sometimes. Let the person understand that you know that moving trucks do not have exact arrival times, but you want to know how many hours of waiting you should plan for.

Are your workers covered by workers compensation and liability insurance?

Obviously you do not want to be put in the position where you may be deemed responsible if someone gets hurt on the job. Most larger moving companies will have this policy in place, but if you are using a smaller company you'll definitely need to ask this question to protect yourself.

What kind of liability insurance does your company provide?

If any damage is to happen to your stuff on the move it can be a financial disaster. It is wise to consider investing in the movers insurance that the company may provide. Taking this small cost precaution can save you a lot if any accidents were to happen.

How much work can I do myself?

Some of us may want to do some of the work ourselves to lower the cost. Find out what the company's expectations are from you on this end.

Who does the packing and unloading?

Like the question before, you will want to know what the movers will and won't do. You may choose a company based on what the movers are willing to do, if you do not want to expend the energy or risk and injury during the move.

When do you need me to be there for the move?

Most companies will need you to be there when the movers arrive at both sites and while they are doing any packing. Make sure that you know when the company expects you to be around for the move to avoid any hassles.

Do you guarantee pick-up and delivery dates? What happens if the dates are missed?

Depending on how flexible your move is, this can be a deal breaker for some people. For people who need to move on the exact dates, they should not choose a moving company that does not guarantee your date in some way. You also want more than just the generic word "guarantee", so ask them how they handle situations where they have to reschedule clients.

How do you handle complaints?

Sometimes working with  moving companies does not always go as smoothly as we envisioned. The danger of getting someone else to do the job is always that they will not do the job right. Know beforehand how to process complaints with the company in case it becomes necessary.