Questions to ask your movers

Questions to ask your movers

So, you’ve decided to move. Moving is a complex operation for sure, with a lot of things to take care of. You need to organize, to deal with paperwork, to avoid moving day theft… there are a lot of things to look out for! So, clearly, you need a good, trustworthy moving company to help you on your journey. You need to think of the right questions to ask your movers, in order to separate the pros from the cons – literally! Plus, even if the moving company isn’t conning you, they just might not be able to offer what you’re looking for. So having a good, honest discussion with your movers is the way to go! There’s no way around it, and good professionals will be accommodating and understanding.

So, what are some of the most important questions to ask your movers? Your questions should cover a wide variety of topics – and in this industry, there are no stupid questions. Your questions should help you find a reliable and affordable moving company – but you should still do your homework. Double check just in case. A moving company that isn’t willing to work with you on answering your questions probably isn’t the best one to hire. You might be thinking to yourself, oh man, I don’t want to ask stupid questions! But, just think about it. You are hiring these people, and giving them a large sum of money, to handle all of your belongings. There really aren’t any stupid questions about moving, because moving is very serious!

Questions to ask your movers about the company

Are they licensed? Of course, you can check with the FMCSA, but a professional, well-run moving company should always be licensed and insured. Of course, it depends on the scale of the company – a local moving company need only be licensed by the state. Asking your company how long they’ve been in business is also a great move to weed out untrustworthy companies from the cream of the crop. Plus, you might want to ask them about their workers!

Are they hiring people from temp agencies? Are their worker’s part-timers? All of those don’t mean the moving company is bad, of course, but it is something to keep in mind. You might want to ask your movers to provide references. You can also look them up on an independent review site like yelp! So, you can definitely cut down on some questions to ask your movers if the reviews are specific.

What is their customer service like?

You need to know this in case of complaints. Are they efficient? Are they approachable? You don’t want to wait for months for your complaint to get processed! This is where reading independent reviews help. You want only the best movers, no matter if you’re moving to Burlington or if you’re looking for movers Markham! This is why knowing exactly what you’re getting out of the move is important. Plus, you need to ask them about payment. What kind of payment do they accept? Cash, credit, debit? Speaking of payment, how do they calculate it? How do they charge? By weight? By hours? Or by a number of crew involved? Maybe by distance?

You don’t want to hire a mover who has a bad track record when it comes to refunds. Hopefully, you won’t have to make use of their customer service, but you want to be certain. What is the policy if something is damaged? Can they guarantee punctuality? Punctuality and damages are one of the most important questions to ask your movers – it sets the tone for the entire move.

Are they familiar with your type of move?

You should always go with the moving company that has done your kind of move before. Of course, every move is unique, and professionals will help you craft special moving plans for your move, however, it can be reassuring to know they have a special experience. Movers should be prepared for your kind of move! Are you moving to a high apartment building? It’s reassuring to know your movers know how to navigate cramped hallways and no elevator. It can help you calculate your moving costs.

What kind of moving quotes are you getting?

When you’re looking for moving quotes Toronto, it’s very important to decide what kind of moving quote you want. There is a difference between binding and non-binding moving quotes. Not to mention you need everything in writing! Plus, you shouldn’t sign anything until they do an in-house estimate. Estimates over the phone can be a good baseline

• One of the most important questions to ask your mover is: Does the quote include extra charges and are there any hidden fees?
• Is there insurance?
• What kind of insurance is it – and can you purchase more? Should you?
• Do they provide packing services?
• What about unpacking services?
• Are they registered?
• Do their trucks have air-conditioning? Some things, like oil paintings, can melt in intense heat.
• Where do they move to? How long will the move last?
• Is there a fee for not having an elevator?
• Can they move your specialty items, like a piano or a pool table or a grandfather clock?
• Can they disassemble your furniture for you?
• Do they have a cancellation policy?
• What’s their cancellation policy like?
• Are there any restrictions on packing? Movers legally aren’t allowed to move some things, like perishables, explosives, flammable things, plants… but it can be helpful to know if there’s anything else you need to keep an eye out on.
• Do they subcontract?
• Do they provide storage solutions?
• What about climate controlled storage solutions?