First Move: What Questions Should You Ask?

By Relocation.com

If you’re moving for the first time, you may find that it’s harder than you thought. For one thing, it’s much different than moving out of your parent’s home and into your first apartment. In this scenario, you probably had one room which you packed up and brought to your first place, and you just bought new things to fill up your home. But, when you have your own place and you have to transplant to another, you realize you have so much stuff and that moving is not as simple as it was. Hiring a moving company can be the easiest thing to do, but dealing with movers can be intimidating, but make sure you ask these all-important questions.

How Much Will It Cost?
Cost is probably one of the most important considerations when moving. When you call a company, they probably can’t give you an exact number until they consult with you and see your home. So, ask them to come to your house so they can have a look around. They’ll be able to determine how many boxes and how many trucks you’ll need. Of course, it goes without saying that you should get a written estimate before they leave and stick with this estimate when you sign a contract.

Are You Insured?
Before you do business with any movers, make sure you check them out first. Do your research to see if anyone has complaints about them. However, do ask them about their insurance, and what are they insured for. How much will their insurance cover if any of your items are damaged or loss? What is the claim process like? Also, are their workers insured and have worker’s compensation if they are injured anywhere near your home? The answers to these questions are important to know, so that you can determine if you want to work with a moving company.

What Security and Safety Measures Do You Have?
Remember, you’ll be handing over most of your possessions to a moving company. You’ll want to know how they plan to keep your things safe from getting lost or stolen. Ask them how they keep their trucks secure – do they have locks on all of the trucks? Do they keep track of them via GPS and are they in communication with the drivers at all times? If they are storing your items for a few days, ask how they protect their warehouses, and if they employ things like 24-hour security cameras and roving guards.

What are the Extra Fees?
Don’t get caught unaware of fees added on by your moving service. If a company seems to be bidding much lower that their competitors, you should be suspicious and ask about other fees. They may ask you later on to pay things like fuel surcharges, driver’s fees (tips), tolls, and other miscellaneous fees. Ask them what fees you need to pay and get it in writing. If they try to tack on more fees, refuse to pay, and you’ll have legal standing in case things go bad because it doesn’t state it in the contract.

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A Moving Company's Moving Story
June, 2012

Relocation.com's survey was recently featured on the front page of USA Today. The headline entitled "Moving in Hard Times" highlighted our results that moving and relocating behaviors were only moderately influenced by the economy.

Our lifestyle survey found that Americans are seeking smaller homes and a suburban lifestyle. These riveting results were recently featured on USAToday.com in an article entitled "American dream shrinks as smaller homes gain favor."

"This user-friendly site includes a blog and a subscription-only newsletter, too"

"Relocation.com provides you with all the tools you need to get quotes quickly from movers in your area."

First Move: What Questions Should You Ask?

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