Everything You Need to Know About Hiring Movers

May 10, 2016 / Posted in Before the Move
Anastasia Hill

Apart from being the next fashion icon, Anastasia is also a freelance writer and expert on moving (and packing clothes).

Packing up everything you own and moving to a new home is no easy task. It requires so much effort and dedication. And even so, if you don’t have the necessary experience, the entire relocation process can still easily get out of hand. Thus, hiring movers is an idea worth considering. With experts in charge, your precious belongings will be in safe hands, and in turn, you alone will be at peace.

two professional movers sitting on boxes
Renting a truck might ease one part of the relocation process, but having professionals by your side makes the whole thing smooth sailing

Nonetheless, before you actually go down this road, you’d like to know more about how to make the right choice. Many questions are troubling you, such as How much does it cost to hire a mover? Is it cheaper to hire movers or rent a truck? How much do you pay a mover per hour? Will they provide enough packing paper for the belongings? Will they know how to pack my computer for transport? This is understandable, especially if you’ve never moved before. The good news is that we bring the answers to all your questions to help you handle the entire process properly. So, let’s begin.

Is It Better to Hire Movers or Rent a Moving Truck?

When choosing between these two options, many people jump to the conclusion that renting a moving truck and relocating by yourself is cheaper. Yes, we understand if it seems like that at first glance, but let’s look at this issue more closely, because there are many things to consider when moving to a new state, and many things to handle. Namely, having someone else deal with all the hard work and heavy lifting is always an easier and more convenient thing to do. And if that someone is an expert in the field, you’re golden. In the long run, it pays off to hire professionals for the job.

A BETTER WAY FOR MOVING! GET A QUOTE

Pros and Cons of Hiring Movers

One of the main pros of having a reliable relocation company in charge of your relocation is that you alone don’t have to lift a finger. This means that you get much more free time to spend the last days in your old home with the people you love. More importantly, you avoid even the slightest risk of getting hurt when lifting all those boxes and heavy furniture.

Furthermore, with professional long-distance movers, you can rest assured that the entire process will be handled much more efficiently. Professional crew members are trained for this job and they know the fastest way to finish it. Plus, you are paying them to be efficient, while your friends, on the other hand, are more likely to take it slow. You just focus on saying bye to friends before you move and hire pros to handle the relocation for you. It’s even more convenient if you’re relocating to a new city alone, and you’ll have no one to help you on the other end.

If you hire a professional moving team, that also means that your chosen crew will bring all the necessary supplies and equipment. And if you thought that maneuvering the moving truck is easy, you’re quite mistaken. These are rather challenging to drive, but that won’t be a problem for experts.

One of the downsides of having professionals take care of your relocation is that there will be less room for flexibility. You will have to respect a certain schedule when you determine pick-up and delivery time. However, remember that this schedule will also help you complete the process more quickly, so perhaps it’s not that bad after all.

Misconceptions Associated with Hiring Experts

People tend to believe that hiring professional help for relocation is too expensive. But before you jump to that conclusion, be honest with yourself and calculate what the real costs of relocating on your own would be. Then add the higher risks of causing irreparable damage to your stuff. And don’t forget about how much effort you’ll have to put in. Relying on experts doesn’t seem that pricey now, right? Professionals know how to pack a bicycle, they know how to move electronics and everything else you might own. And they can see that every step of the process goes according to plan. You can’t put a price on that.

Another common misconception is that all companies are the same. Just because a friend of yours had a bad experience, it doesn’t mean that the same thing will happen to you. To avoid any inconvenience, make sure you pick the right crew, and then you’re good to go.

movers carrying boxes
Picking the best crew possible is an essential step of every relocation

Most Important Steps When Hiring Movers

Speaking of making the right choice, let us guide you through the process and point to some of the most important steps to add to your relocating-to-another-state checklist.

Step 1 – Check the crew you’re considering – before you make your final decision, check the reviews left by previous customers to see how satisfied they were with the company you’re considering. This is why reviewing a company is important – you can learn a lot from other people’s experience and based on their reviews, determine whether a certain crew is reliable enough.

Step 2– Schedule an in-person inspection or a video survey – after you pick the crew, you’ll want to get a price estimate. But before they give you an estimate, the crew should visit your home or at least do a video survey to provide as precise a quote as possible. They won’t be able to do so without actually seeing everything you’re planning to take with you to the new address.

Step 3– Get the price estimate – when asking for an estimate, know the difference between binding and non-binding estimates. The former means that the company is giving you a guaranteed price, so you shouldn’t pay a penny over the estimated cost. If, however, you go for the latter, the company may not require more than 10% over the estimated price.

Step 4 – Make sure there are no additional charges – if you don’t choose the binding estimate, check whether you should be prepared for some additional charges. When you find a reliable, professional, and trustworthy crew, they’ll let you know about any additional costs right from the start, so you’ll know that there won’t be any unpleasant surprises.

Step 5 – Choose the services – once you’ve settled everything, it’s time to decide which services you’ll need from the crew. Hire them to take care of the packing process, storage, or even for the auto transport and car shipping service if you’re planning to ship your vehicle, too. In case you have a brand new car that you need fully protected, you can ask for enclosed auto transport and not worry about your four-wheeler getting a single scratch.

How to Tip Movers

When the crew is done, it’s time to tip each member. So, that brings the question of how to tip movers. It would be best to tip each crew member individually so that they all feel appreciated. How much you’re going to tip them depends on how satisfied you are with the job. If everything was alright, the expected tip would be around $40 per mover.

mover carrying boxes
Choose your crew carefully, step by step, to be sure you’ve done everything right

Different Categories of Relocation Companies

There are different types of companies depending on the distance between your current address and your future place.

  • Local relocation companies– if you’re staying somewhere close to your current area, just changing the neighborhood, for instance, you’ll be looking for local relocation companies. A local relocation is somewhat simpler in a way that it takes less time to finish it. Thus, the price you’ll pay will be lower than when relocating long distances. You should expect to pay between $25 and $50 per mover for a local move.
  • Long-distance relocation companies– if, however, you’re going somewhere further away, local relocation crew won’t be able to help you – you’ll need a long-distance relocation crew. Keep in mind that relocation from one part of the country to the other is rather demanding, so you’ll have to budget some money in advance, probably between $800 and $4,000, depending on the distance and how complex your move is.
moving truck on a road
Long distance and local companies cover different distances

How to Avoid the Wrong Crew?

Whether you’re moving from a small town to a big city somewhere far away or you’re staying somewhere close, your relocation will be a hectic period. The best thing you can do to make it easier is to rely on someone professional. These people are supposed to be there for you every step of the way and provide you with all the necessary help, so it is essential to choose wisely and avoid wrong calls. You can avoid the wrong team if you are careful enough.

Do Thorough Research

The most crucial thing to avoid mistakes is to do thorough research. You should do that when looking for a job before you move, a new home, the right neighborhood, etc. The same goes for finding assistance for the actual relocation. Rash decisions can only lead you to wrong choices, so take your time to research several moving companies, check their reviews and establish their level of professionalism by checking their USDOT number. Narrow your choice down to two or three and compare them to see which one meets your requirements.

Get an Estimate to Figure out the Costs, but Don’t Judge Only Based on the Price

While it is important to know the approximate price beforehand, this should not be the only criterion based on which you’re going to choose professional help. Some companies might be more expensive than others, but before you rule them out, stop to think about why their services are somewhat pricier. It must be because of the quality. This is the factor that you should focus on to be sure everything will go according to plan. Hire one of the best to be sure real experts are handling your precious possessions.

women working on a laptop
Research the long distance moving company before hiring it

How to Ease Moves

Relocation is a hectic period, but there are things that you can do to make it more manageable. Moves are only troublesome if not handled properly, so take the time to plan everything carefully.

Let the Experts Pack You and Bring Moving Boxes

When it comes to packing, the chances are you’ll feel quite overwhelmed. You’re wondering what is the best way to pack books? What about packing kitchen items? You would like to know what is the best and easiest way to pack for a move overall? The answer is easy – let experts handle it for you. Hire them to deal with the entire process, as well as to bring all the necessary boxes and other packing material needed to protect all your goods.

bubble wrap, tape and paper
With proper moving supplies, the packing process is a job halfway done

Hiring Long Distance Movers Will Make the Relocation Smooth and Stress-free

Hopefully, you are now ready to pick your perfect relocation crew and schedule the relocation date. There’s no need to look at your move as a stressful experience when you have a team of experts by your side. The professionals will provide you with top-notch long-distance moving services. So, keep in mind what we’ve mentioned here about hiring long-distance movers to be sure of your choice and then relaxed during the entire process.

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