Moving is undoubtedly one of the most stressful and dare we say “annoying” things we do as humans. Of course, moving into a new house, a new city, or just across the street can be exciting considering the possibilities of a new life in a new home, but the aspect of moving is often a source of great frustration to many homeowners. Unless you have plenty of hands or lots of time to move, then you’ll likely be enlisting the services of a moving company.
Unfortunately, choosing a moving company is often just as painful as moving itself. You want a company that will be careful with your belongings, trustworthy, and prompt with their service. How you go about finding the right moving company can be stressful, so we’ve put together a de-stressor to help you out!
Reviews and Interviews
Start your search for a moving company by finding reviews and testimonials from others who have used the company. Naturally, moving companies that protect their reputation, provide quality service, and take care of their customers will have better reviews, but take all of those five-star reviews with a grain of salt. If you can, contact some moving companies or enlist the help of your real estate agent to find actual customers you can talk to about their first-hand experiences.
Next, narrow down your list of moving companies and start interviewing them. After all, despite what the perception may be, a moving company works for you, and you should treat hiring a moving company very much in the same way you would hire an employee. Remember, moving companies often only get jobs from customers occasionally–after all, you aren’t moving every year, are you? That said, they’ve got one shot at making a great impression and doing great work.
Evaluating Your Move
During the interviews, you should be actively evaluating the move at hand. Are you moving across town? What about out-of-state? Maybe you’re a member of the armed forces moving from abroad back to the States. There are a lot of factors that movers should factor into how they are going to execute your move and when. For big out-of-state moves, you may consider using a national moving company with more resources across the country.
Another factor for evaluating your move will be when. Moving during peak parts of the real estate closing cycle–near the beginning or at the end of months–could significantly alter your plans if movers are booked up weeks or months in advance. If you can control when you move, then try to do so during off-peak times such as “in-school” months, and in the middle of months as opposed to the beginning or end.
Finalizing Your Selection
Finalizing your selection for your mover will come down to a number of factors with price, availability, reviews and references, and customer service king among them. Initial response time will likely be a deciding factor for moving forward as well. In the end, you’ll most likely get what you pay for. Premium moving companies with excellent reputation management will most likely be the best companies to hire, but that doesn’t always hold true. Use your best judgment when making your decision.
Finally, if you need help with your move consider reaching out to your real estate agent or even members of your local community or HOA. If you need help on the financial side of a move whether financing your new home or finding a way to pay for a big move, then get in touch with Tidewater Mortgage Services, Inc. today to discuss your options!
