Embarking on a moving journey? As you plan and prepare for your upcoming relocation, you may find that you want a moving company to help you simplify the process. But how can you ensure you choose the right movers for your needs? Although many moving companies exist, not all of them offer the same caliber of high-quality solutions.

To find the right movers for your relocation, it’s crucial to know what you should consider as you complete your search. Learn how you can find your ideal moving company in seven simple steps in this guide.

• Thoroughly Research Your Options

The most effective way to find the right moving company is to thoroughly research your options. Once you’ve found a few options to choose from for your relocation services, the next step is to uncover more information about these professionals. Your research should go beyond the company’s website, diving into other sources to verify their credentials and read candid feedback. Ensure any movers you consider can offer the full selection of services you’re looking for, such as packing and storage solutions in addition to your moving needs.

• Verify the Company’s Licensing and Certifications

Any trusted moving company worth considering for your relocation will have the necessary licenses and certifications readily available for customers to verify. These movers will have a federally mandated United States Department of Transportation license number to be allowed to facilitate interstate relocations, as well as a license number from the state Department of Transportation. Drivers also need to have a commercial driver’s license to legally operate a moving truck for these companies.

• Check Standing with Better Business Bureau

In addition to licenses and other credentials, it’s crucial to verify that any moving company you work with is in good standing with the Better Business Bureau. If movers have multiple unresolved complaints with the BBB or have a poor rating, this is a sure sign that you should look elsewhere for your moving solutions. On the other hand, if a company is a Better Business Bureau accredited business, this adds an extra layer of assurance that these movers will provide top-tier services for your move.

• Read Customer Reviews

Customer reviews can be one of the most effective ways to gauge the quality of a company’s relocation solutions. Candid customer feedback provides an unfiltered way to learn about a person’s experience with a company’s services and gain insight into both the positive and negative aspects of their experience. You can find reviews on Google and Yelp, among other review platforms, allowing you to easily ascertain the general public opinion of a company. You can also ask friends and family who they have relied on for their moving needs in the past and learn about their experiences—another effective way to gain insight from first-hand experiences.

• Request Estimates from Several Companies

When seeking moving solutions, you should always request estimates from at least three moving companies to ensure you find the fairest price for your desired services. Keep in mind that a moving company should never provide an estimate sight unseen; in-home estimates are the industry standard and are necessary to properly assess the scope of your move. Although you should obviously steer clear of movers that overprice your services, it’s also important to be wary of those who provide a suspiciously low estimate, as this can be a sign of poor services or additional fees to come. 

• Ask Questions During Your Assessment

During your in-home estimate, be sure to ask any questions that may arise so you can properly understand the scope of their services. Some of the questions you might want to ask will cover topics such as liability coverage, what’s included in the total price of the services, the expected timeframe, opportunities for savings or discounts, and more. You should also ask whether the company provides binding estimates, which means your price would not increase on moving day.

• Steer Clear of Any Red Flags

Ultimately, as you search for movers, you should always vigilantly look for red flags and stay away from any movers who seem suspicious. Some of the most common red flags include:

• No physical location
• Large deposit requirements
• Providing estimate sight unseen
• Incomplete or blank contract
• Unmarked moving trucks

Be mindful of these warning signs and more to ensure you are working with a trustworthy moving company for your relocation.

 

Ready to Pick Your Moving Company?

With these steps, you can successfully find a moving company worth investing in. Looking for movers in South Florida? Work with Coral Springs Moving & Storage for your upcoming relocation.

Since 1974, Coral Springs has provided top-rated moving, packing, and storage solutions to families and businesses in South Florida and beyond. Our team of moving experts will work with you to provide dependable services as you embark on your move. Request a free quote online or call us today!

Preparing for a relocation can be a tedious, stressful process, and knowing the best way to approach the task is crucial for a smooth move.

Wondering how to avoid blunders that could make your move more difficult? We’ve compiled a list of the 10 most common moving mistakes to avoid. By being aware of these top pitfalls, you can successfully steer clear of them and approach your move like an expert.

Find out which mistakes you should avoid in our list below!

 

• Skipping the Decluttering Process

Before any move, people typically recommend decluttering your home to ensure you don’t spend unnecessary time and energy packing belongings you no longer want or need. Although this can feel like it isn’t a need if you’re in a rush to pack for your move, skipping the decluttering process is always a mistake. By investing time in a declutter before you start packing, you will find that you spend less time packing and ultimately drag extra clutter with you to your new home. Instead, take the extra time to get rid of the items you no longer want, and create a clean slate for your new home.

• Procrastinating Preparation

Unfortunately, no matter how you spin it, preparing for a move is a time-consuming task. There are many ways to streamline the process and improve your efficiency, but for the most part, you can’t cut corners. Many people make the mistake of procrastinating ahead of their move, pushing off the preparation needed to facilitate a stress-free relocation. This generally results in rushing, disorganization, and a much more stressful process. Always take as much time as you can to get ready for your move, instead of delaying.

• Packing Without Protection

As you relocate to a new home, keeping your fragile items safe is crucial to avoid damage and financial losses. This means taking the time to get the necessary packing materials and utilizing the proper packing techniques to sufficiently protect your items, whether it’s electronics, glassware, antiques, or any other sensitive item. Never skip this part of the process, as it will only result in damaged items—and ultimately a headache to deal with when you arrive at your destination.

• Insufficient Labeling

When packing your boxes, consistently labeling is key to remaining organized. Ultimately, being organized during your move allows for a less stressful, smoother relocation process, and it can save a huge amount of time when you unpack. Many people make the mistake of getting lazy about their labeling, either writing labels without much detail or forgoing the step entirely. This is a major mistake, as it will only slow down the unpacking process.

• Skipping on Moving Insurance

Moving companies provide moving insurance with their services as mandated by federal law, but this provided option is only released-value protection, the basic carrier liability. Released-value protection only covers up to 60 cents per pound, and for valuable items, this is nowhere near the full value of the item. When you want to make sure your most valuable belongings are insured, it’s crucial to invest in full-value protection. This offers peace of mind and financial protection in the event of loss or damage in transit.

• Forgetting to Forward Your Mail

As your move approaches, you should notify important parties about your new address. This includes employers, insurance companies, banks, and other parties you would receive important correspondence from. However, to ensure nothing slips through the cracks, setting up mail forwarding with the postal service is crucial. This will make sure you receive all your mail to your old address for up to a year following your relocation.

• Belatedly Booking Movers

If you’re looking to hire movers for your relocation, booking in advance is of the utmost importance. Especially during the busy season from May to September, movers will have limited availability, as companies’ schedules quickly fill up due to the volume of relocations. To ensure you receive the dates you need for your move, avoid procrastinating and book with your desired movers as early as possible. As an added bonus, booking in advance can sometimes result in discounts—so be sure to handle this step as early as you can!

• Underestimating Necessary Supplies

Moving to a new home requires a large amount of packing supplies, including boxes, bubble wrap, moving blankets, packing tape, and more. When you get your supplies, try to assess your needs as accurately as possible so you don’t run out of these crucial materials in the middle of packing. You may even want to overestimate to avoid any delays that could be caused by running out of supplies early.

• Overpacking (or Underpacking) Your Boxes

When it comes to packing your boxes, keep Goldilocks in mind—you want your boxes to be filled not too much, not too little, but just enough. While overpacking can result in crushed items or broken boxes, underpacking can result in lots of jostling in transit and damage to your belongings. Instead, be mindful about filling your boxes with just enough weight and space taken up. If you have extra space in a box that shouldn’t be loaded with more weight, filling with soft materials or bubble wrap can allow you to prevent movement in transit.

• Haphazardly Packing

Last but not least on our list of moving faux pas is haphazardly throwing items into boxes, instead of packing your items carefully. By rushing to pack your belongings and simply shoving them in boxes without any real organization, you end up increasing the chances of damage in transit and ultimately make unpacking more difficult. Take the extra time to organize your boxes and set yourself up for success when you unpack in your new home.

 

Move Like an Expert by Avoiding These Mistakes

By avoiding these moving mistakes, you can successfully relocate to your new home like an expert. Looking for a trusted moving company to help you get there? Trust Coral Springs Moving & Storage, South Florida’s reliable movers since 1974. We offer highly-rated moving, packing, and storage services for local and long distance moves, allowing customers to enjoy streamlined relocation solutions.

Request a free quote online or call us today, and learn more about our top-rated services at affordable rates!