A Little Preparation Goes a Long Way When Choosing a Moving Company

The average American will move a dozen times in his or her lifetime, so chances are you will be moving several times in your lifetime. Moving is never easy, but it doesn’t have to be a huge hardship. There are some things you can do to help ensure your moving experience is not a bad one, whether you are moving across the street or across the country.

One of the most important things you can do to help your move go smoothly is to find the right moving services. At a minimum, you should get at least two estimates from moving companies, although three or more is better. You shouldn’t look only at price but also at the level of moving services being offered and the level of customization you can get. For example, if you don’t need a full-service move, you don’t want to pay for one if you don’t have to. If you only need certain services, then you want to find a moving company that will allow you to pick and choose only the services you need.
Also important when searching for moving services is to do your research. Check out companies either before getting estimates or before making your final choice. Check online complaint sites and social media to look for praise or criticism of companies. It’s also a good idea to get recommendations from friends, family and coworkers.

You need to prepare for your move, even if you are getting a full-service move. For example, if you have pets or small children, you will want to make arrangements for them to stay somewhere else while the movers are at your house. You also should make arrangements for any valuables you want to move yourself and make contingency plans in case anything goes wrong. For example, if you are moving cross country, which about one in seven people will do at least four times in their life, you want to make sure you have clothing and personal items with you in case the moving truck gets delayed.

No matter what level of moving help you are getting, it’s important to stay heavily involved with your move to help it go as smoothly as possible. For example, labeling boxes not only with their contents but also where those contents go in your new home will help your movers work more efficiently and also will leave less work for you after they leave.

Moving can be a stressful time, but doing some prep work and planning can help it to be a lot less stressful. Following these and other tips will make your move go more smoothly.