Hiring a Moving Company

"Moving in" by Patrick Stahl is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

There’s a lot to think about if you’re planning a move -- from packing, to apartment searching, to creating a budget. In a long-distance move, a huge part of that budget is hiring a moving company. Here are some tips from Apartment Guide to keep in mind when researching a moving company to both find reputable movers and to save money.

Don’t Get Scammed

Learning how to save money on moving isn’t without its lumps. If you hire a company based on low pricing, and they turn out to be scam artists, you could lose money and your property. While staying within your budget is always important, take the following steps to hire reliable professional movers and avoid scammers:

• Make sure the company is licensed and insured.
• If a mover is quoting you a price that is too good to be true, it probably is.
• Have the mover do an in-home estimate to get a feel for their professionalism and to get a better idea of what they will charge. Most professional won’t guarantee an accurate quote without one.
• Ask for referrals from friends and family, and look for online reviews. You’re less likely to be scammed by a business that has provided satisfactory service to others.

Compare Companies

Now that you have a list of professional movers that won’t scam you, it’s time to take a look at their quotes. The price variations probably have a lot to do with the extra services they offer. Ask for an itemized quote and take note of services you don’t think you’ll need. See if any companies are willing to lower their prices if you drop any extras.

Downsize

Some companies charge a flat moving fee, while others charge by the time and materials it will take to move your possessions. You may be able get a better deal on moving services if you can reduce the amount of items that need to be moved. Donate things that you don’t absolutely need to charity or move smaller items such as clothing, bedding and dishes with you in your personal vehicle.

Be Aware of Extra Costs

Movers often charge more for moving large or specialty items. It may make sense to have a couple of friends come over to move your jet ski instead of paying extra for the movers to do it for you.

Movers may also charge extra for packing and moving appliances. If your new apartment already has appliances, and you will just be putting your old ones in storage, it may be a good idea to sell your extra appliances before the move. This will prevent your from paying extra moving costs and give you more cash to use on your relocation.

Pack it Yourself

Avoid a packing fee by doing all the packing yourself, which can drastically reduce your moving company’s fee. Packing yourself also ensures peace of mind in knowing everything has been packed safely.

Negotiate

Remember, it never hurts to negotiate. Movers know they are competing with other companies to get your business, so they may be willing to lower their quote to match or beat their competition. This is a good tactic if you like a moving company more than its competitors, but its fees aren’t as affordable.

Book It Early

Some movers will charge last-minute booking fees, so you can save money by scheduling well ahead of your moving day. Call your moving company to see when the best time to book would be. Some movers may also lower their quoted prices if you’re flexible on what days and times they can move your items.

It’s also important to make sure that your items can be moved into your apartment right away when the movers arrive. If a company has to wait, you may be charged for the trouble. Double-check with your landlord about when you can move in to avoid any hold ups on moving day.