Moving to a new can be demanding, stressful, and exciting all at the same time. However, when not approached right, preparations for the big moving day can get the better of you. As with anything, the trick is to never underestimate the amount of time you need for the relocation. A smooth relocation will require a lot of focus, planning, and punctuality. Because of this, many people hire professional moving assistance so as not to leave anything to chance. However, it can be challenging to determine which moving company has the best benefit-cost ratio. For this reason, we are going to talk about five traits of reliable professional movers.
1. Your movers should be a registered company with a valid license
As obvious as this may sound, sometimes it happens that people hire a moving crew that is actually working illegally. The first step to assessing the reliability of a moving company is to check for their permits and licenses. The most convenient way to find out if the moving company is reliable is to check with the Illinois Movers’ and Warehousemen’s Association.
If the company is reluctant to provide it and keeps stalling, this might be a sign they are not registered. Another good indicator that the given company is not doing their work transparently could be pricing that is noticeably lower in comparison to their competitors.
Of course, not having an official license does not necessarily mean that the company is unreliable. However, you may have some trouble covering the damages if something unexpected happens. For instance, if a furniture piece disappears or gets damaged during the loading or unloading of the vehicle. The same goes for hidden fees and other undisclosed expenses these companies might charge after the move without duly informing you before signing the contract.
2. Reliable professional movers have a solid reputation and great reviews
Be sure to ask around or read client reviews and testimonials to see how the moving company does business. Client testimonials should tell you all you need to know about the company’s reliability. So, read about other people’s experiences with the company, but read them critically. In other words, try to be thorough when you start reading the reviews. Do the number of positive experiences far outweighs the negative? If so, there is no reason to doubt the moving company’s reputation. Sometimes it happens that people may misrepresent the situation or write an unnecessarily harsh testimonial.
However, remember that customer testimonials might be cherry-picked to represent the company in the best possible light. It makes sense to check out the reviews on websites that are unaffiliated with the company itself, in addition to reading customer testimonials on the company website. In some cases, even reviews on Google might be enough of an investigation. Reading unbiased comments can give you a loose idea of the company’s range of services, quality of operation, and functionality of the customer care center.
3. A reliable moving company has experience
The date when the company was established can also tell you a lot about its reliability. If the company has been around for more than five years, it probably means they are running a highly functional business. Hence, it is more likely they have fine-tuned their management, supply of packing materials, and the range of vehicles over the years.
Furthermore, experienced moving companies also improve their operations by seeking advice from traditional and digital marketing agencies such as Movers Development. Business acumen sufficient enough to develop a reliable professional moving company can only come with years of experience dealing with residential or commercial relocations. So, put your faith in a long-standing professional moving company rather than a fairly new, inexperienced one.
4. A good moving crew has trained professionals
One of the reasons people hire a moving crew in the first place is to ensure the safety of their belongings. In fact, most people do not want to deal with heavy lifting on their own. Hence, the moving company ought to have only employees who can carry heavy loads without getting injured. In addition, a reliable moving company will provide the necessary equipment and safety gear.
Furthermore, moving crews have to be not only strong but also patient and careful. Disassembling and packing up your furniture, breakables, and other items so that they do not get damaged is also something moving companies specialize in. Many DIY relocations go wrong precisely because of overfilled or inadequately stacked boxes. So, a reliable moving company necessarily has an adequately trained and capable moving crew.
5. The moving company is respectful
This is something that you might only be able to assess once you contact the moving company directly. Respecting your time, money, and schedule is imperative in this line of business. Reliable professional movers will be more than happy to accommodate all of your requests, even timely postponements. Another clue pointing to an unreliable and shady company is its transparency regarding the cost estimate. If they cannot settle on an approximate price, you should steer clear of that company. Many unreliable moving companies try to drag out the relocation when they charge by the hour. So, be sure not to sign any contracts if they cannot provide information on how long the relocation will take.
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