You are planning on renovating your house or relocating to another place but you don’t know how to move your furniture. You also have doubts that hiring a moving team may be expensive.
Then, you might need to plan on your budget and your expected renovation or relocation before you can hire a moving team.
Here are six important tips you need to know before hiring one:
Get References on Movers Near You
Researching is one way of knowing what moving company is good for you. You may ask friends, colleagues, or your family on what company is best based on their experience.
Online research is also a good option when looking for movers in your area or where you are relocating. Say you are from Wellington and you are moving to Auckland, you can type in “moving companies Auckland” on Google. And then search for your preferred mover’s online reviews, quotations, and company policy.
Comparing several movers will give you an idea of how they can serve your needs. It is better to do extensive research than relying on only one source of information.
In case your friends and family don’t give you any recommendations or they recommended but the company is far from you, you might get a list from associations like Moving.com’s directory of licensed movers
Make Sure to Look for Licensed Movers
It is easy to look for a licensed mover online, you can check Moving.com’s directory to get a list of licensed movers and their services offered.
Take note that a licensed mover must offer a baseline amount of insurance at $0.60 per pound as a replacement for damages. They also offer other insurance coverage plans for you to choose from depending on your needs.
A cheap moving company may have a bad reputation and you might not have claims in case your items get damaged during the moving process. It is better to invest in a high-cost moving company but make sure it is within your budget.
Choose at Least 3 Companies for an In-home Estimate
Once you have chosen several moving companies, you need to narrow it down at least three companies. This is for you to have an easier comparison among other moving companies.
In Auckland, there are several moving companies that are based within and outside New Zealand. You may consider AusMove, International Sea & Air Shipping, or PSS International Removals. You can also choose aside from those three if it is recommended b your family or friends.
A well-provided service often attributes to an expensive moving cost. In case you don’t matter on the service because you are tight with your budget, better to get a binding estimate from your selected moving company and compare among the other two.
The bottom line is that a moving company should give you a clear quotation or binding estimate, reviews from previous clients and detailed company policy for you to have a wise decision on picking a good moving company.
Compare Bids After the Estimations
Some binding quotations don’t give you a clear cost estimate. Others give you a much lower estimate, others give you higher but not detailed.
When you got a lower cost estimate, you may ask if there are other charges during the moving process. This is to avoid you on hidden or extra charges.
On the other hand, when you got a higher cost estimate, it is better to ask the details of charges and you might want to exclude charges based on your budget.
Beware of Hidden Charges/Extra Fees
Moving a three-bedroom apartment and a studio type apartment has different costs. You might want to have a bigger truck on moving a three-bedroom apartment.
Ask also for extra handling charges if you have items that are sensitive and fragile to move. Along the moving process, it will cost you more if you will move in a high-rise building.
Make sure to ask your chosen mover on any additional fees before signing the deal.
Ensure Moving Insurance and Valuation Protection
There are two insurance coverage plans that you can avail of. This is for your items to be insured before, during, and after the moving process:
Full (Replacement) Value Protection:
This insurance coverage is offered as protection of your goods from damages or losses during the moving process. It will either repair any damages, replace your lost items or repay any attributable costs on your items.
Make sure to declare your items for you to avail of such claims. Added, this insurance coverage plan is paid by the client based on his or her declared items
Alternative Level of Liability:
This insurance coverage offers only a portion of any declared items. For instance, the mover is only liable for no more than $0.60 per pound declared by the client. You don’t need to worry because this insurance coverage is offered for free.
For you to have a good moving experience, you need to be more extensive in researching your chosen company to avoid problems and issues during the relocation process. Once you chose your best company, it will give you a stress-free and hassle-free service and you would probably leave a five-star rating.