When planning a house move, you’ll be looking for useful moving tips, appropriate packing materials, and reliable movers:
- You can find plenty of practical information and good advice on moving websites that offer expert relocation tips, detailed moving guides, and efficient moving checklists;
- You can purchase quality packing supplies from local moving companies, home improvement stores, mail service stores, office supply outlets, etc.;
- You can get free moving boxes from family, friends, neighbors, or coworkers who have recently moved, local retail stores, specialized websites like Craigslist and Freecycle, etc.
Finding good movers, however, isn’t that easy – it requires thorough research and careful consideration:
- You need to be sure that your chosen moving partners are skilled, experienced, and trustworthy professionals who can take proper care of your items and ensure your successful relocation experience;
- You need to pick a licensed, reliable, and affordable moving company to work with, so you don’t fall victim to moving scams and don’t break the bank with your move;
- You need to know how much your relocation will cost you, so you can plan your finances and make an efficient moving budget.
The fastest and easiest way to achieve all this is to get multiple moving quotes before choosing a company to hire.
In fact, there are many good reasons to get free moving quotes for your forthcoming relocation:
You will find out the average cost of your move
Getting multiple moving quotes will help you find out what’s fair in the industry and get an idea of your moving costs – most price estimates you receive will be similar, so you will know the average price for your type of move (moving costs depend on the size of the move, the relocation distance, and the required extra services).
If you get price estimates that are much lower or much higher than the average, you need to investigate further to find out why:
- A higher price may mean better quality (better trained and more experienced movers, more advanced moving equipment, etc.), included extra services, or some other perks;
- A lower price may mean a new company that is trying to attract more business, a less-than-reputable company that is trying to lure customers, etc.
Knowing the average moving cost and seeing what prices different moving companies offer will give you a starting point for comparing movers and finding the right relocation partners for you.
You will get in touch with several companies that suit your moving needs
Unless you have reliable recommendations from a trusted person, you’ll need to search for a good mover yourself – a licensed and insured company that serves your moving route, meets your specific relocation needs and requirements, and fits within your budget.
The easiest way to find such companies is to fill out a moving quote form – you’ll be asked to provide some basic information about your move (move size, origin and destination locations, desired moving date); that information will be sent to several renowned moving companies in your area that perform moves to your destination city; the movers who are available at your preferred moving date and wish to take the job will contact you and give you free, no obligation moving quotes.
Getting free moving quotes online is a simple and convenient way to get in touch with reputable movers near you and see what they have to offer.
You will be able to compare moving companies
Once you have multiple moving quotes, you can analyze the offers and compare the estimates not only in terms of price, but also with regard to the included services and applicable special conditions. Look at the companies’ tariff costs, service fees, additional charges, offered discounts, etc.
When you narrow down your choice to three or four companies that seem to offer the best deals for your particular moving circumstances, be sure to find out some more information about these movers – visit their websites, check their USDOT numbers, find out how long they have been in business and what level of experience they have, read online reviews left by previous customers, check the companies’ ratings with the BBB, etc.
In essence, getting online quotes in the beginning of your moving preparations will allow you to “test the waters” before choosing a moving company and committing to a contract.
See also: How to compare moving companies
You will be able to avoid moving scams
As already detailed above, getting multiple moving quotes will give you an idea of what you should expect to pay for your relocation and will help you compare moving companies. This will help you avoid moving scams as well.
When you know the average price of your move, you will be able to easily notice lowball estimates – a price that is “too good to be true” is a red flag of moving fraud. Rogue movers try to lure customers with unrealistically low quotes and then add up extra charges and fees for alleged accessorial services, so that the final cost rises drastically and the clients need to pay much more than initially estimated. Some scam artists may even disappear with your belongings or hold them hostage until you pay an exorbitant price to get them back.
What’s more, getting quotes from several different companies will let you to see how reputable movers behave, so you will become suspicious of unusual practices – asking for large deposits, requesting upfront payment, not providing in-home estimates, using generic terms, etc. Such warning signs of potential moving scams should prompt you to steer away from the companies in question.
You will be able to set up a realistic moving budget
To be able to plan your finances and provide for all moving-related expenses, you’re going to need a moving budget. And to be able to make a moving budget, you need to know the cost of your move – in other words, you need to get a moving quote.
Comparing prices from various moving companies will let you know how much your relocation will cost you, so you can set up your moving budget accordingly. Just make sure you budget not only for the moving company fees, but also for packing supplies, additional insurance, traveling expenses, post-relocation expenses, and emergency costs.
Related: Commonly forgotten moving expenses
Bonus tip: After you get a free moving quote online, request an on-site estimate
It’s quick and easy (and very, very useful) to get a moving quote online, but that’s just the first step to hiring a good mover for your relocation – estimates given online or over the phone can never be accurate as the movers need to see how many and what type of items you have for moving, asses any possible obstacles at your home and your destination location, and discuss your specific moving requirements with you in order to make a realistic estimate and tell you the actual cost of your move.
So, after you’ve received several moving quotes, analyzed the offers, and found three or four trustworthy movers who suit your moving needs and your available budget, you should ask them to perform a visual survey of your home and provide you with written in-home estimates of your moving costs.
Keep in mind that there are two types of moving estimates – binding and non-binding – and the final price of your move will be guaranteed only by a binding-not-to-exceed estimate.
See also: How to get an accurate moving estimate
Good to know: Requesting a professional estimate can help you reduce moving costs by up to 35%. Best of luck with your move!
