What to Look for in Professional Moving Service Companies
If you are looking for moving professionals, you want a company experienced in safely prepping, handling, loading, and unloading items so that your belongings and home are not damaged. You will also want trained employees who are timely and use their skills to move your items safely to the new destination. Camelot Moving & Storage has tips for finding expert movers for your Moving Day.
6 Things to Look for in a Professional Moving Service
Licensed and Insured
All professional moving services companies are required to carry either an intrastate license, interstate license, or both depending on the type of moving services they provide. To receive this license, a moving company must carry proper insurance for their trucks, cargo (your belongings), and property.
The first step to hiring the right moving company is hiring a licensed moving company. Licensed companies will not hesitate to provide you their license number and show their certifications and inform you of their local, state, multi-state, or international credentials.
Trained Employees (Not Contractors)
Professional moving service companies take pride in their craft. They take time to train their employees in this craft properly, protecting both the employee and the items s/he handles. By working with a moving company that hires and employs their crew (as opposed to paying day laborers), you are ensuring the skilled and expert handling of your belongings as well as that your crew’s basic labor rights and worker’s comp requirements are being met.
Skilled and experienced moving experts will successfully meet the unique demands of each move, whether it’s an heirloom item that requires the right touch, the tight stairwell and small door frame in the 150-year-old home, or the windy mountain road and long driveway. They’ve seen it all! And they will bring that experience to your move to ensure a smooth and stress-free relocation for your family.
3. Quality Equipment, Tools, and Supplies
Moving requires quality products to ensure everything moves from start to finish without damage. From boxes to tape to dollies to trucks, you want to ensure your moving company has the best materials and equipment.
Moving service companies will use professional moving supplies like industry-specific boxes of various sizes for a variety of items and rooms as well as packing paper, bubble wrap, and moving tape. Additionally, a professional moving crew utilizes quality moving equipment such as moving pads, dollies, and heavy-duty straps, to ensure the safe handling and transport of their clients’ belongings.
The largest piece of equipment a moving crew will utilize is the moving truck itself. A professional moving company will own (and therefore insure) its own fleet of trucks to ensure they are sturdy, safe, and maintained.
4. Asking the Right Questions
Professional moving services ask the right questions to help their dispatch team schedule the right crew for you, ensuring a smooth transition. Be wary of a moving company that does not ask enough questions. This could be a sign that they are not concerned about overbooking (see point number 5). Some questions they will ask are:
Where do you live and where are you moving items?
What size home do you have? How many rooms of belongings do you have?
Do you have items in your garage or shed, and how much?
How can the team access your home? Are there any stairs, elevators, etc.?
When do you plan to move?
Will you need additional services, such as packing and unpacking?
5. No Overbooking
Unlike airlines, moving professionals will not overbook their calendar. Unscrupulous and unlicensed moving companies purposely underbid on potential jobs in advance to overbook their calendar. Then they only show up to the highest paying customers, leaving many of their customers waiting for a moving crew that will never show up! Sadly, we often receive calls from families desperate to get out of their home that same day because they were left high and dry by such a company operating illegally.
How can you avoid this? A professional moving company will demonstrate that they are taking your move seriously and setting aside the crew, equipment, and time for your move by asking the right questions and following up as Moving Day draws near. Some moving companies require a deposit to reserve your spot in the calendar, which likewise demonstrates their commitment to you.
6. Responsible
You want a responsible moving company that shows up on time with the proper equipment. However, another aspect of responsibility is taking accountability for damages. Everyone makes mistakes. Sometimes, unfortunate accidents happen, and something breaks during a move. Take time to research how the company handles damage claims to ensure they will honor and respect a situation if one arises.
How to Find Good Movers
Finding good movers takes some time and research. The best way to secure a reputable professional moving service is through referrals from family and friends. You can also ask people in the industry, such as real estate agents, apartment managers, and storage facility staff, who they would recommend. Working near and around a variety of moving companies, these individuals have the opportunity to see how a company behaves even when it’s not putting its best foot forward for a potential new client.
Camelot's Moving Professionals
Moving is a big event. At Camelot, we know that moving comes with many different tasks and emotions. Hiring a company can be very helpful for this life-changing day. Our services include packing, loading, transporting, unloading, and unpacking. Training and skill building are important to our team members so that you can have a successful, easy move. Contact us to schedule your professional moving services today.