When you need movers, what questions should you ask? This is the most important thing you should know. I believe everyone deserves peace of mind when hiring a moving company, so here are the top questions you can ask:
How do you charge?
Ask about their rates and how much they charge. This is a straightforward question to help you understand whether the moving company charges a flat rate for local and long-distance moves, or if they charge an hourly fee. Ensure you understand all the charges you might incur.
Do you charge for packing supplies?
Many moving companies charge for packing supplies, but some do not. It’s crucial to do your research. Call various moving companies and ask if they charge for packing supplies. Some customers prefer companies that do not charge for supplies, but in most cases, there will be charges for mattress covers, tape, shrink wrap, and boxes. Make sure you won’t be surprised by additional charges for these items at the end of your move.
Do you charge for travel time?
This is an important question because the location of the moving company plays a significant role. Let me explain: when the moving company travels to your location, they spend gas and pay for the labor for the movers to come to you and then return. You will be charged a travel time fee, which may increase the rate. It’s best to choose a company close to you to minimize travel time charges.
Are there any hidden fees?
A lot of customers, when we speak on the phone because we are a moving company, answer all of those questions regularly. “Are there any hidden fees?” Hidden fees mean some of the fees that you’re not aware of before starting the job. Fees that we have include fees for packing supplies and the travel time fee. The travel time fee will vary depending on the location. Most cases were working within our radius from our parking lot, so we will come to pick up your stuff, accounting for travel time to get to you and then to get back to the parking lot. Some new companies or some shady companies charge a variety of hidden fees starting from a shuttle fee, lawn care fee, or a fee to move you from a third- or fourth-floor walk-up to another fourth-floor walk-up. Some of the companies charge a staircase fee. Most of the movers charge for a removal fee or if you need to get rid of all appliances or move your new appliances to your house.
Extra heavy fee
Some of the moving companies do not charge an extra heavy fee, but most of them do charge for extra heavy items. An extra heavy fee applies to items such as a fridge, a stove, a washer, a grand piano, or a pool table. If you have these items, movers will definitely charge you an extra fee for those items because the weight of them is enormous and you need at least 3 to 4 people to move them. That’s why most of the moving companies will be charging you an extra fee for these items. Please be aware when you are on the phone; just tell them upfront that you need to move one of these items above.
What’s included in the hourly rate?
This is the most obvious question, and most of the movers will include the travel time and the labor time. Cases vary from moving company to moving company, but in most cases, movers will include the travel time fee and labor time fee. Packing such as furniture packing will be included, and disassembly and assembly should be included in your hourly rate.
Are you licensed and insured?
The most important question to ask is if the company is licensed and insured. You don’t want to hire people from the street, such as amateurs who don’t know what to do and how to move your furniture or might break your floors or end up creating a nightmare moving situation. Don’t sign up with a moving company that does not have a license from the state and a US DOT number and MC number if you’re moving out of state. You might end up in trouble. The truck can get pulled over, and the police can tow it until they verify the license. Please think twice when you get a cheaper rate from a moving company. This is the number one question that you should ask.
Are there moving brokers?
Yes, moving brokers still exist in the United States. What they do is book a job at a cheap rate for local or long distance, then sell it to the moving company that offers the most money for this lead. After that, they get the money and don’t care how the job will go or who will be doing the job. All they do is book the job and sell it to somebody else. Ask this question regularly, especially when you’re moving out of state, because moving brokers often book jobs for interstate moving companies.
What would be the start time for my job?
When you book a moving company, you need to determine what the start time will be. It could be in the morning, afternoon, or late evening, depending on availability. Make sure to find out the start time and ask the movers to call ahead to let you know where they are, so you can be prepared. This is important for time management because if you care about your time, you should schedule your job in the morning, as start times in the morning are generally more reliable.
Where are you located?
This is a popular question because it relates to the travel time fee. The travel time fee will be charged based on where the company is located. Sometimes the office and the parking lot are located in different places, so make sure to ask where both the office and the parking lot are located.
How will you protect my furniture?
Movers typically protect the furniture with moving blankets and shrink wrap. They will wrap items such as couches, dressers, and TVs to ensure they are protected during the move.
Can you take the TV off the wall?
Most movers will take the TV off the wall if they have the necessary tools. All movers should have tools when they come to the job. Confirm with the moving company before you select them that they can handle this task. If you don’t have a TV mounted to the wall, you can skip this question.
Do you do packing?
If you need to pack your kitchen or the entire apartment, ask if the movers can bring packing supplies in advance so you can either pack up on your own or let the movers do the job. Ask them if packing is included because furniture packaging should already be covered in the hourly and labor rate that the moving company charges.
Can you disassemble my furniture and reassemble it?
As previously mentioned, most movers will bring the necessary tools, and your chosen moving company should be equipped to handle disassembly and reassembly. However, it’s a good idea to have your own tools ready just in case. Large moving companies should always have tools on-site to handle both disassembly and reassembly effectively.
