Questions to Ask Your Movers

You are about to move. You probably are excited about moving to a new place. You are also about to go through one of the most stressful experiences in your life: actual moving process.

You are going to entrust people whom you have never met with all of your personal belongings. How crazy is it?! Although it may sound scary, hiring a moving company instead of moving yourself is a smart choice. If you find the right movers, they actually may be able to take most of the stress associated with moving away from your shoulders.

There are no stupid questions: I bet you heard this numerous times from your teachers or professors. And this is not the time to be shy: these are the questions you have to ask the moving company you are planning on contracting to move you:

• Are your movers licensed?
• Are they insured?
• Does your moving company charge by the piece, by hour, or give flat rates? (Hourly rate is the most common pricing structure for local moves; make sure they are real professionals and will work 60 minutes an hour with no unnecessary breaks. Flat rates, where allowed by state laws, work better for small moves. Make sure you provide a complete item list if you want a flat moving rate)
• Do they have a minimum of hours? (Most of the movers will have a minimum which will range between 2 to 4 hours)
• How do they charge after minimum hours: in 10, 15, 30 minute increments? In full-hour blocks? (15 minute increments is what you should be looking for)
• Are there extra charges for large item moving, such as piano, TV sets, pools, spas? (It is pretty common to charge extra for unusual items)
• When does the time start: when your mover leaves their facility, or just when they arrive at your location? (Look for a mover who charges from the time they start working at your place)
• What additional charges there are? Do they charge for packing supplies? Gas? Arrival/destination charge?
• Are moving rates higher on weekends and early/late in the day?
• Is there a deposit required to secure a moving date and time?
• What payment types does your moving company accept? (Credit cards, cash, money orders, checks, cashier's checks?)
• Do they have their own movers, or hire day labor? (Avoid moving companies that use day labor!)
• What training do they undergo?
• Are your items insured during the move? What is the insurance coverage?
• What is the cancellation and rescheduling policy? (You should always be able to reschedule or cancel within 72 hours, preferably 48 or 24. There should be no cancellation or rescheduling fees of any sort)
• Who will be your contact person on the day of the move?
• Does your mover have any moving advice to make the whole process easier and smoother?
• Can they provide moving references?

All these questions should help you get familiar with moving companies' policies and give you an idea of what to expect on the move day. Also, it should help to eliminate shady movers from your potential mover list and contribute to your moving success.

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