There are a several important things to be aware of when it comes to moving. Some things are general: such as making a plan for budgeting and staying organized, getting multiple moving quotes, and knowing what resources are available to you. But there are also some specific things, things that we’ve learned are important to know and often misunderstood.
There is a catch-22 when it comes to advertising for moving: we want to be able to warn you about the risks of hiring moving companies, and yet we don’t want to end up losing your trust in us as a moving company. We don’t wish to dissuade you from using a moving company by warning you of the risks; rather, we wish to make you more competent as a customer of what the stereotypical moving experiences are like in order to help you avoid making a risky decision and protect you from becoming one of the “horror stories” out there. We hope to bring these issues to light, making your a better customer, and helping you see the ways in which we are breaking the moving stereotypes, minimizing the risks involved, and ultimately helping you have the best moving experience possible.
1. Communication Is Crucial
The estimating process is almost entirely dependent on good communication. And it is helpful for you to be aware of the kinds of questions an estimator should be asking. If pricing is based on timing (per hour), then it’s crucial that the moving company collect information that relates to the total timeframe. This involves much more than knowing how much needs to be moved; it also includes knowing the walking distance, whether assembly/disassembly is needed, if there are small miscellaneous items, all of which can multiply the time needed for a move. For example, a company may ask what floor you live on but they don’t know how long of a walk it is to and from the stairs, or how close they can park to the entrance, or if they will need to use an elevator between floors. Those are critical questions that the moving company has the responsibility to investigate in order to avoid a 6-hour move turning into a 9-hour move, costing you about 50% more than originally estimated.
Many companies will dodge the blame, hiding behind the excuse that the customer did not provide accurate information. But it is not the customer’s responsibility to know what information is important to share. It should be the responsibility of the moving company to ask the rights questions; all the customer should need to do is answer truthfully.
As a customer, it is important to accurately update the moving company about progress or lack-of progress in preparing for the move. If a company is counting on everything being packed up but there are miscellaneous unpacked items scattered around the home, that is going to be a significant increase in time. Just image the difference between carrying in groceries from your car without any bags; it takes significantly longer than if you had the groceries bagged up and ready to be carried inside. The same is true of moving: an organized, packed home will be loaded onto a truck much faster, and the moving company is dependent on you to accurately update on the “readiness” of your home.
2. The Crew Is The Crux
The previous point has more to do with the process of estimating and preparing for a move; this point is about the execution. This happens often enough that you likely may have experiences in mind of a moving company who had great communication but the crew who showed up at your door, to say the least, was a disappointment. As you inquire about hiring a moving company, it is helpful to know what kind of filter they have for their workers. Otherwise, you may end up with movers who present a risk of theft, “milking” the job, mishandling your items, or acting inappropriately in your home, whether it be smoking or explicit language.
Many moving companies book jobs before confirming they have enough movers available, causing them to lower their hiring standards to meet the demand. Beware of companies that hire out third-party workers and do not thoroughly train all of their workers in-house. Because moving is personal and varies greatly from home to home, it is important for a moving company to have excellent workers both in the office and on the field. You should want movers who can communicate well and have the integrity and experience to instill trust.
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