How to Choose a Moving Company

Whether you're moving down the road or across the state, your moving needs are complicated. Not only are you dealing with a new job or learning a new city, but you're also faced with packing all your belongings, taking care of large furniture, and protecting your valuables and breakables. Hiring a moving company can make life easier on moving day.

Professional movers — like the best Phoenix moving company — can help the entire moving process go more smoothly. However, hiring movers is stressful in itself. No matter where you live, you likely have several professional movers to choose from, and you'll no doubt want to compare your options to find the best one.

Do you have a move coming up? Keep reading to learn how to choose a moving company and find the right one for the job for in-state moves or long-distance moves.

Thinking about your move? Get a free quote from Muscular Moving Men today!

Ask for Recommendations and Reviews

When it comes to choosing reputable moving companies, one of the best ways is by asking for recommendations and reading reviews. Odds are that your friends or family members have used local moving companies. To find potential moving companies, ask around to see who they used and whether they would recommend their moving team.

Be sure to ask about their experience with the move. Were they moving a long distance or a large home? While they may have had a good experience working with a moving team for a short move, if yours is more complicated, you might not necessarily have the same experience.

You can also read online reviews and recommendations from others. Look for reviews on sites like Google, Yelp, or even on social media. Browse for companies with lots of online reviews, as this is likely to give you a better idea of what customers really think.

Be mindful of trusting reviews from companies with only a few reviews, especially if they're all extremely positive. Some moving services offer discounts for reviews to help build up their ratings on search engines. This can skew the results and may not help you accurately judge whether it's the right company.

Verify Licenses and Valuation Coverage

When you've narrowed down your options to one or two reputable moving companies, the next step in choosing the right moving company is checking their license and valuation coverage.

Hiring professional movers means trusting your belongings to strangers. The last thing you want to do is trust your items to a company that doesn't have the necessary valuation coverage. If they damage your belongings, you could be left covering the cost of replacing items. You can purchase supplemental insurance to protect your belongings during your move, but the company you hire should have insurance as well.

In addition to valuation coverage, a good moving company should have a license. For interstate moves, the company should have a U.S. Department of Transportation DOT number and possibly a Motor Carrier number. It should also have a general business license from its local government.

One place to check for licenses is through the Better Business Bureau. Here, you can check the moving company's license and learn whether it has received customer complaints. You can also ask the company directly to confirm that it has the proper licenses and valuation coverage.

Verify credentials to ensure that the license it's claiming to have is real. Another place to check for licenses is through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration site or your local licensing agency.

Look for Experience and Accreditation

Any new moving company can have valuation coverage and a license. But the best companies for the job are those with experience. When comparing different moving companies, you'll want to check out their experience.

Having years of experience — and many great customer reviews to show for it — is a good indicator of a reputable moving company. Ask a company how long it has been in business. Years of experience are especially helpful if you have any specialty items that you need to move, like large antiques or a piano.

Another good indicator is accreditations. In order to get these accreditations, moving companies must meet certain criteria. The AMSA ProMover certification is a great accreditation to have. As with a license, ensure that you verify credentials and check any accreditations a company claims to have.

Chris Ryan / iStock

Compare Written Estimates

Once you've verified the information of any moving companies you're considering, the next step is to get written estimates. While it can be tough to get an exact total before the move, having an estimated cost can help you compare companies.

Make sure to ask whether there are any hidden fees. While a company might appear to be the cheapest, hidden fees can cause the cost of your move to skyrocket.

Estimates can be provided in person or virtually. With an actual in-person inspection and estimate, a moving professional will visit your home to evaluate what needs to be moved. With a virtual estimate, you'll provide details about your move and your belongings. That information is then analyzed by a professional to create an estimate.

When requesting quotes, ensure that the information you provide is as accurate as possible. They'll likely ask how many rooms' worth of belongings you're moving, how far you're moving, and whether you have any specialty items, like large, heavy furniture. If you aren't accurate, your estimated costs won't be accurate either, and you might end up with a much larger bill and additional fees that you weren't expecting.

Keep in mind that while many estimates are not binding, which means you can use them to compare companies, others are binding. This means that by getting a quote, you're committing to hiring the moving company. It's best to opt for non-binding estimates when comparing moving companies.

Want a transparent estimate? Contact the best Phoenix movers for a free quote.

Watch for Red Flags and Scams

When researching moving companies, be aware of a few common red flags and scams to watch out for. Some common scams include:

• Hostage goods: A moving company refuses to unload your belongings unless you pay a fee that's higher than originally agreed upon
• Fake companies: Scammers pose as reputable movers online, take your deposit, and then disappear
• Bait-and-switch: Some moving companies offer a low rate to secure your business but raise the price significantly once the move starts
• High deposits: A company will ask for a large deposit upfront and then disappear before completing the move
• Valuation coverage scams: Some companies will perform a job without having adequate valuation coverage. Customers may not know until something goes wrong, and they need to file a claim.

There are several ways to identify these scams. Always check out any moving companies you're considering. Verify the business name, address, and license. When the team arrives, verify that their truck and shirts display the company name.

Understand Moving Insurance and Valuation

Before booking a moving company, make sure you understand valuation. There are a few options for purchasing moving valuation coverage. Full value protection provides full protection for your belongings. It covers the full replacement value of your lost or damaged goods. It's more expensive than other forms of moving valuation coverage but also provides the greatest level of protection.

Released value protection is cheaper than full value protection. It's the most basic form of coverage and typically covers household goods based on their weight, with a cap of a certain amount per pound. This may help you save, but it can cost you big if you have to file damage claims.

Some moving companies may also offer the option to purchase third-party or additional liability insurance, offering more coverage beyond what the company provides.

Ask us about your valuation coverage options — we’re here to help.

Ask Smart Questions Before Hiring

Before hiring a company to help you move, you should ask a few important questions. Requirements vary from one mover to the next. Ask any companies you're considering these smart questions:

• Are you licensed and insured?
• Will my items be transferred or subcontracted?
• Do you offer packing services?
• What’s your claims process?
• Will I sign a moving contract first?
• Do you create moving inventory lists?
• Are your services available at an hourly rate?
• How many people are on your team?
• Do you work with a storage association if I need to store my belongings during my move?
• Do you charge any extra fees or hidden fees?
• What is your cancellation policy?'
• Do I need to clear pathways ahead of my move for your movers?

Bonus: Money-Saving Tips When Hiring Movers

Want to save on your move? There are several ways to save on moving costs without risking your belongings to an untrustworthy company.

One option is to try to move during off-peak times of the year. Before you start your move, declutter your home to avoid paying to move items that you may later discard. You can also save money by packing your belongings yourself before the movers arrive and paying a company to move them, instead of hiring them to pack your items. Ask your friends and neighbors to see if they have things that you can use for your move, like packing materials.

If you opt to pack yourself, check out our guide to making an inventory list.

Give Muscular Moving Men a Call Today!

Moving can be stressful, but a reliable moving company will save time and money and minimize stress on moving day. When you work with the Phoenix movers at Muscular Moving Men, you will enjoy customizable services, affordable prices, and a team that will work hard for you. To discuss your move and get started with a free quote, give our team a call today at (877) 434-8668.