Moving Frequently Asked Questions

Many people hear the terms “Local Movers” and “Long-Distance Movers” and assume that these have to do purely with how far the move is. Local moves are ones that take place within the borders of a state while long-distance moves are ones where you cross the border.

There’s significant importance for this distinction because there are laws and regulations in place for moving across state lines, and these vary from state to state. Be sure to ask your movers whether they can take you across state lines if necessary. The best way to be sure is to search for a moving company that is an agent of a national van line.

This will depend on what you want. Any established, full-service moving company will offer both packing and unpacking services. While this will cost a little more money, you will save time while resting assured that your items are taken care of as they are packed by experts with all the right packing supplies.

Be sure to ask if your moving company’s packing services are tailorable. It is good to have the option of having just some of your belongings packed, such as larger or more difficult to pack items. A reputable moving company works with you to help make your relocation stress-free.

There’s a lot of packing supplies needed to optimize your moving timeline, from belts to bubble wrap to dollies, moving blankets, moving boxes, totes, and more! Be sure to start getting these items together early on if you are packing yourself.

First, check to see if your friends and family have any supplies left over from a recent move. After this, check in with your movers. Typically, moving companies will sell all the packing supplies you could need at a great price.

There are three levels of valuation. The basic plan is typically called “Release Rate Liability” and will pay you a certain amount of money per pound or a fraction of what your item’s value is.

You can also get “Full-Value Coverage” which means that, if your belongings are lost or damaged, will be repaired, replaced with items, or get a cash settlement.

Lastly, you will be able to mark your items on a “High-Value Inventory” list. All items that come in at over $100 per pound must be on this list. This can be anything from jewelry to art to antiques and more.

While some moving companies use the terms interchangeably, 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.

No! Technology has allowed moving & storage companies a chance to offer virtual options. Any top moving company will allow remote options for your quote survey.

When looking for virtual options, remember how important it is to have a good, thorough walk-through. There are some moving companies who will offer “instant quotes” or quotes over the phone which should be avoided at all costs. Instead, look for an option over video chat where the moving representative can see your house and the items needed to be moved.

With how big the moving industry is, it can be pretty difficult to determine what is the best moving company for you. Here are some of the key things to look for when researching a moving company:

• Badges: Look to see if they have any certifications or if they are accredited by the BBB. These will also show you if they have won any recent “excellent-service” awards.
• Experience: It’s wise to avoid movers that are relatively new. Experience is key to a stress-free move. If you go on the company “about us” page, you will find their company history and other important facts about their moving processes.
• Reviews: Online reviews have become a top source for researching moving companies. Check specifically for customer feedback and company responses because you can get a good determination of how a moving company runs their business based on these review interactions. Avoid moving companies that have a 4-star or less average rating on their Google Reviews, there is most likely a reason why those ratings are not higher than other reputable moving companies.
• Family-Owned and Operated: This is always a big indicator to how you will be treated during your relocation. Not only will this help you avoid shady moving companies, but it will also help you avoid ones that are too big to truly care about your move.

The only way to know is to do expansive research. As you narrow down your list, look more and more into these aspects of the company to find the best one for you.

Yes! Off-site storage is commonly used in the moving process. Some people rent out a self-storage unit and have the movers take your items there. The easier way is to find a moving company that offers its own warehouse storage.