As exciting as moving to a new home can be, it’s also one of the most time-consuming parts of the
entire move. Not to mention one of the most stressful.
Whether you’re moving a few doors down, or relocating to a new state in a different time zone, one
of the best things you can do to make your move as easy and stress-free as possible, is hire a
professional moving company.
Pro movers are there to help make your move run more smoothly. They’ll get your possessions from
A to B intact and in one piece. The problem is not all local movers are reliable or trustworthy.
Sometimes you may find that it’s the movers themselves that make your move so stressful, especially
if you hire the wrong company.
To help ensure your move goes to plan, here are 6 mistakes to avoid when hiring a moving company.

Failing to Research the Company
One of the most common mistakes that people make when hiring a local moving company is failing
to carry out any research into the movers.
While you don’t need to conduct an intensive investigation and dig up the company’s past, it’s always
worth finding out a little more about the company you’re thinking of hiring.
Once you have your eyes on a moving company, read reviews left on Google, social media, and any
other relevant pages. Reading reviews will help you to get a better understanding of the movers and
find out just how good they are. If you find a company with very mixed reviews, there’s likely a
reason for this, so find out why people were so unhappy.

Prioritizing the Lowest Price
We all know that times are tough financially, and the economy is anything but stable, but even so,
price should not be the only determining factor when hiring movers.
We see far too many people contact multiple moving companies before they move, only to choose
the company that offers the cheapest price, even if that means ignoring multiple red flags. Of course,
we’re not saying that you should always ignore the cheapest quotes and go with the most expensive
ones instead, but look at other factors as well.
If a company is decidedly cheaper than the other movers you’ve contacted, you have to ask yourself
why that is. It could be that they cut corners, don’t possess the necessary insurance, and are not all
that reliable or professional.
Basically, when hiring movers, don’t just go with the cheapest option but it could wind up costing you
even more in the event of damage, breakages, or lost items. Not to mention the added stress on top
of the move.

Ignoring Liability and Insurance Coverage
Without a doubt, one of the worst mistakes you can make when looking to hire a moving company, is
ignoring liability and insurance coverage.
An honest, reliable, professional movers should have all the necessary insurance and liability
coverage in place. This covers both your and their backs in the unlikely event of something going
wrong. Without the right coverage in place, if any of your items or belongings were damaged during
the move, you could be left to foot the bill.
Always choose movers with the necessary liability and insurance coverage in place.

Failing to Ask About Extra Fees and Charges
When hiring a local moving company for your move, another common mistake to avoid is failing to
ask them about extra fees and charges.
When you speak to the movers you’re considering for your move, on top of the price for the actual
move itself, ask them if they have any extra charges or fees.
Some movers for example, may charge extra if the new home is located a long way from the truck, or
in an apartment complex with flights of stairs. Others may charge for packing materials, heavier bulk
items, fuel surcharges or rearrangements.
One tell-tale sign of a professional and trustworthy moving company is one which offers complete
transparency when it comes to any extra fees and charges, rather than hitting you with hidden fees
when invoicing you.

Relying on Verbal Quotes
When you speak to a moving company and get an estimate or quote for how much the move is going
to cost you, make sure you get it in writing.
Far too many people will receive a verbal quote, either in person or over the phone, only to find that
the actual bill they receive is way off and much higher than originally quoted. If you relied on a verbal
quote and wish to dispute the bill, it basically comes down to your word against theirs.
When you receive a quote or estimate from a local movers, make sure you get it in writing. This can
either be via email, or good old-fashioned pen and paper. Just make sure you get a signature to go
with it.

Not Having the Movers Visit Your Home Beforehand
Finally, before you hire a moving company, you should always ensure that they visit your home in
person beforehand.
There are several reasons for this.
To begin with, they need to check that the inventory you’ve taken and submitted matches up in
person. They also need to ensure they have good road access for the truck, and see your property in
general to ensure there are no potential obstacles or obstructions. This will also help them with
creating an accurate estimate as well.