Well, the day has finally arrived! You’ve found your new dream home, given notice to your landlord, forwarded your mail, packed your things, and even promised your old sofa to your best friend. Now… Who’s going to help you move?
Finding a moving company can be daunting in a market that has so many of them. We’ve compiled a list to help you find the best cheap movers in your area, which means you can even be sure you save some cash for that brand new sofa set you have your eye on for your new place!
Start Early
Starting your search early is a great way to take pressure off of the move, of course, but it’s also a great way to keep your price point down. By planning ahead and giving yourself adequate time to search for movers, compare rates, and plan your moving day around off-peak times, you’re more likely to find a cheap mover who is available.
Know What you Need
It’s great if you have an idea of what you’ll need to move when the day comes. How much large furniture are you taking with you? Do you have bulky or hard to move items that may require extra equipment or support? Will you need help packing, or are you planning to take care of that yourself?
By knowing how much you have and what help you’ll need, you’ll get a more accurate estimate from the movers you contact.
Understand the Average Costs
Now that you know what you’re moving and to where, you can get an idea of what the average rates are for your move. Getting a general idea of what to expect will help you make an informed decision on hiring the best cheap mover for you.
Of course, quotes that are way too high are relatively easy to put in the “no” pile, but don’t forget to also take a deeper look if you get one that is too good to be true. If the mover gives you an unbelievably low rate, be sure to check their reviews, their website, and their credentials to get the full picture.
To help you with this step, we wrote a handy blog on How to Calculate Moving Costs, and listed a little information on average costs of local moves.
Ask Around
Before you start dialing down that list of Google Maps search results, or phoning numbers displayed on an ad on the public bus, try asking local friends if they have any recommendations. Word of mouth is a reliable way to get good tips, because your friends will share based on their own (positive) personal experience.
Ask friends and colleagues if they used a cheap moving company that they found reliable and trustworthy, and then make contact to get an idea of their rates.
If that doesn’t work…
Read Online Reviews
If you weren’t able to collect moving company recommendations (or want to compare their rates with another option or two) do a search online for moving companies in your area. Once the results have returned, you’ll be able to read publicly-posted reviews and see what others’ experiences were during their moving process. Keep an eye out for common themes, including negative experiences.
Online reviews are the next-best-thing to a personal recommendation, because you get an idea of what it’s like to work with the mover from someone who has moved with them. These genuine customer reviews give you an insight into what it’s like to work with that mover, helping you to make the right decision for you.
Understand Your Quotes
Once you receive quotes from movers in your area, make sure you ask questions so you understand what’s included. This gives you an opportunity to communicate with your movers and get a feel for what it’s like to work with them, as well as to ensure your quote is complete and accurate. Asking questions about what’s included will ensure you don’t have any surprise charges at the end.
Look at the Big Picture
Ultimately, you’re looking for that intersection between low cost, reliable, trustworthy, available, and prepared… and it’s not impossible to tick all of those boxes!
When you’re looking for a cheap mover in your area to help you with your relocation, don’t simply go for the lowest price. Keep in mind that you’re also looking for someone you can trust with moving your things from one place to the next, and that they’re reliable.
Unpakt can help you find verified movers near you, and easily collect quotes so that you can compare and book with a trustworthy moving company for your big day.