Choosing The Best Moving Service When Moving Into Your New Home

Moving into a new home is simultaneously one of the most exciting and stressful times in one's life. Coping with this major life change is hard enough without worrying about moving your goods into your new home.

If you want to streamline your moving process, one of the best things you can do is rely on professional movers to get the job done. After all, experienced moving professionals have the skills to perform a variety of moving tasks with ease and efficiency. But how do you choose the right one with so many options available?

There are a number of factors and considerations that go into choosing the right moving company for your home move. Trusting strangers with your important goods and expensive items is a stressful factor when you're already strained from other aspects of the moving process. Consider these tips and tricks when you want to choose the best moving service when you're moving your family into your new home.

Read online reviews and references

Online reviews are the best representation of a company's quality, but don't trust the reviews on their site. After all, most companies want to showcase their top reviews from reliable sources. If you can, search for potential moving company reviews on external sites, including Google, Yelp, local blogs, and more. This will give you a reliable, often unbiased view of the company as a whole. If there are many similar reviews, you can expect to experience the same service -- for better or for worse.

If you're not able to find online reviews, don't hesitate to reach out to the community! There are plenty of online forums where locals can posit questions regarding the companies in your area. Real estate is one of the largest markets in the United States and there are plenty of resources to help you make informed decisions.

Check for their license

You never know when a legitimate-looking business is actually a scheme. Ensure you only choose a moving company with a valid state license and plenty of experience in the field. Whether you rely on a full-service packing company or moving van provider, make to sure validate the company's name through the State Department of Transportation or similar services.

Emphasize experience

Even if your mover isn't setting you up for a scheme, there are plenty of moving companies that can put your goods at risk, even those who have valid license. While you might be able to find a better deal with a newer company, this is a risky move for homeowners with particularly valuable items.

Moving companies should emphasize their experience and attention to detail. A new company won't have the inherent skill to move your valuable or fragile items with care; one false move and your television might go crashing onto the sidewalk.

However, you should also consider the value of your items. When choosing a moving service, look for companies with experience in moving specific items. For example, if you are a musician, you should look for a company with experience in piano moving. As good as your local mover may be, a specialty moving company will ensure your specialty items get to you new home in one piece.

Experienced movers will rely on the best tools of the trade and use their best judgment to ensure the quality of your valuables is protected.

Call around

Even if the first moving company you contact seems like a great deal, don't hesitate to compare estimates between a number of companies. Keep in mind that if a moving company won't offer you an on-site estimate, this should be a huge red flag. You should always know your price points before you put down a deposit on a great moving company.

Watch for red flags

There are a number of red flags to keep an eye on when you're looking for a good moving company. Even though some of these flags might require a little detective work on your part, ensuring none of these flags appear is well worth the effort.

Here are some of the primary flags that should send you packing… at least with a different company.

• Extra fees or hidden costs
• A particularly large deposit
• Packing costs (unless it's a full-service company)
• A recent name switch for the company
• Lack of a physical address on their website
• The company doesn't provide a written estimate
• The company doesn't have any reviews online

Avoid these red flags by engaging in as much research as you can muster. Any one of these red flags could cost you in the end.

Trust your gut

At the end of the day, you're gut is your best friend. Even if a moving company looks great on paper and doesn't have any of the red flags, avoid working with companies that make you feel uncomfortable. No one should have to subject themselves to a potentially bad situation. If your gut tells you to back out of a deal, don't hesitate to follow its wisened advice.

Choosing the best moving service relies on a number of different factors, especially when you're moving into your first home. Rely on these tips and tricks to choose a great moving service within your price range before you pick up and move out.