10 Tips For Preparing For A Long-Distance Move
Finding long-distance moving companies that are willing to accommodate your needs and are credible businesses can be a challenge. Which is why we have provided 9 tips that could take away some of the pressure that goes along with hiring a long-distance moving company:
- Consider all services offered.
- Identify the company mission statement.
- Check online for positive or negative reviews.
- Contact a customer service representative.
- Look for free estimates.
- Talk to multiple companies to receive numerous quotes.
- Understand the company moving process.
- Decluttering and Organization
- Take the Essentials With You
- Check Licensing and make sure companies have insurance
If you follow these tips, you will be on your way to a successful long-distance moving experience.
1. Review Services Offered
There is no “one-size-fits-all” approach when it comes to finding reliable long-distance moving companies, unfortunately, not all long-distance movers are created equal. It’s essential to look at all services available to decide if the company can handle your move. Most long-distance moving companies offer: Packing supplies, packing services, loading services, and even portable storage containers if you’re looking to move yourself.
Your needs may not require every service provided by the company, so be sure you are firm in your stance. Some companies may pressure you to accept unnecessary services, leading to inflated moving costs at the end of the process.
2. Read The Mission Statement
In many instances, you can get a feel for how a long-distance moving company will treat you as a customer based on their philosophy and core values. It’s helpful to find companies that align with your personal beliefs, such as integrity, positivity, compassion, communication, etc.
3. Check Online Reviews
Customer opinion has never been more valued. Internet reviews are now one of the most widely used resources for individuals and families looking for long-distance movers. Comments and company feedback provide a scope as to how the company handles their business.
The most significant benefit of using online reviews to drive your decision-making is how easy it is to compare and contrast companies. Most review sites have the option to filter by the number of reviews, the average rating, and how recent the reviews were left. You generally want to find the most recent posts because that is representative of how the company has recently performed.
4. Reach Out To Customer Service
Customer service representatives are there to ease any concern you may have regarding your long-distance move. Consider being prepared with a list of questions that are specific to your needs, such as your budget, type of move, number of rooms being moved.
5. Estimates and Quotes
Luckily, companies within the moving industry have recently begun making free estimates and quotes readily available. There is a big difference between a quote and estimate. An estimate is simply a contractor’s best guess as to how much the price will be. On the other hand, a quote is binding. Unless there was a variation to your contract, a quote is set in stone.
Some companies go the extra mile, so be sure to look for companies who offer in-home quotes with a personal visit or online virtual consultation. Having a representative of the company go through every room in your home can drastically improve the accuracy of your quote.
6. Connect With Multiple Companies
Understand that each company may offer similar services, but sometimes the decision comes down to the bottom line. For example, moving costs can grow exponentially depending on how many belongings you have, the distance to your new home, and whether you want to pack yourself. Reaching out and receiving multiple quotes ensures the chance of finding a long-distance mover that works for your needs.
7. Learn About The Process
At times, the logistics of a cross-country move or long-distance move can be overwhelming. When reaching out to find movers that work for you, don’t be afraid to ask how the process will move forward. The best way to understand the company’s moving process is by speaking with the customer service representative, who has firsthand knowledge of how the move gets scheduled, the number of trucks needed to move all belongings, how many days to complete the journey.
8. Decluttering and Organizing
A great way to set yourself up for an efficient long-distance move is by taking the time to declutter and organize your belongings. When you remove unnecessary items, it will go a long way to lowering moving costs.
People decluttering their home commonly utilize various social media marketplaces, resale sites like ebay, and even donate to local charities and Salvation Army. When deciding what to do with an item, you can go through each option to determine what is best. It can seem like a lot of work, but once you get through the starting the process, you will be able to expedite your long-distance move and reduce the amount of stress you will feel.
9. Take The Essentials Yourself
Getting your whole life to fit in moving boxes can be a challenge, especially if there is little organization of belongings done prior to packing. In that case, you may have accidently packed away some important documents and now they’re stuck on the moving truck.
Security experts suggest when moving long-distance, it’s important to separate essential documents and other valuable items. Documents you might want to move yourself include:
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- Driver’s License
- Social Security Card
- Passport
- Birth Certificate
- Recent Bank Statements
- Tax Returns
- Pay Stubs
-
-
-
-
-
-
The documents above may be important for you when you get to your new home. There’s a great chance you’ll probably need these personal documents when you’re looking for or starting a job. You’ll obviously need to also prioritize clothes, sleeping materials, hygiene products, and a few other things to keep yourself sane while you wait for the moving truck to arrive.
10. Licensed Movers
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is responsible for regulating and providing safety oversight of commercial vehicles across the United States. Their goal is to minimize the amount of commercial vehicles involved traffic accidents, thus improving the safety of everyone on the road. Long-distance movers must be licensed to travel over state lines.
Find out if the moving companies you are considering are licensed, follow this link to access the Mover Registration Search.
The Final Word
Using these 10 tips will help improve your confidence when preparing for a long-distance move. It’s crucial to find a company that serves your needs while making you feel comfortable that your belongings will be transported safely and on time.
