Long distance moves are generally more costly and more nerve-wracking than local ones, which means that comparing long distance movers is more important than ever. You not only want to get the best price, but you also want a moving company that will do a good job, be pleasant to work with, show up on time, and respect your needs as a customer. Here are 5 things you can do to get when comparing long distance movers (apart from all the things you need to do in order to prepare for a long distance move):
Get personal recommendations
Reading customer reviews online is great (as you’ll see in #2), but it’s no match for getting personal recommendations from people you know and trust. So the first thing to do when looking for long distance movers is to get the names of 3-5 companies from people who have used them and have been satisfied. If you don’t know anyone who has moved long distance, move on to #2.
Read reviews
Most moving companies these days can be found on Yelp, Google Business, or other websites, and these listings usually allow – and encourage – customer reviews. So in your search for reviews, your first step will be to Google movers in your neighborhood that specialize in long distance, and your second step will be to read customer reviews methodically.
(If you find that a company has mostly good reviews except for 1-2 bad ones, ask the company outright what happened. If their answers satisfy you, you can rely on the majority of good reviews.)
Get several quotes
Once you narrow your choices down to 2-3 companies, it’s time to compare long distance moving quotes. You can get quotes online through Unpakt, which offers better prices than booking over the phone plus guaranteed quotes. If one company is outrageously more expensive than another, you don’t need to necessarily write it off. Rather, it’s time to move to the next step.
Ask the right questions
In the example above, you might find that one moving company gives you a much higher quote than others. In this case, contact the company directly to find out why. Perhaps insurance is included in the quote while other companies don’t include insurance?
If the company simply charges more than others, it’s up to you to decide whether it’s for you or not. But there are other questions to ask that can help you determine which are the best long distance movers:
- Are you properly licensed?
- What kind of liability coverage do you offer?
- How would your company handle emergencies that may come up during the move?
- How long will the move take?
- Are there any restrictions on what I cannot pack?
- Does the quote include packing or just moving?
- Are there any hidden charges that I should know about?
Write it all down
If you’re taking the time to ask around, read reviews, compare price quotes, and contact long distance movers, you owe it to yourself to write down what you find out. An Excel or Google Spreadsheet are great ways to keep track of all the info you find out, including price quotes and all the answers to your well-thought-out questions. If you’re not a lists person, this may be difficult, but it can be worth it to have all the information about different moving companies on one page.
Making Your Decision
Once you’ve done your due diligence and compared interstate moving companies in a thorough manner, it’s time to make your decision. While your handy list might highlight one particular long distance moving company as the winner, if your gut tells you otherwise, listen to it. Sometimes a moving company can look great on paper but you don’t get a good feeling after speaking with the movers. Trust yourself, trust your research, and use both together to help you choose the best long distance moving company.
