Moving Companies

Choosing a Moving Company

Working with a local moving company gives you more control over your move and can save you a lot of money. For those reasons, many companies and families prefer to work with a hometown company when making a local move. But no matter if you're looking for a local Boston mover or a great Los Angeles moving company, there are guidelines to keep in mind when choosing your vendor.

1. Check Local Business Directories: Most large cities have business directories online that feature reviews of local businesses. You can also check with your local Chamber of Commerce to find, for example, whether your potential Los Angeles movers have had complaints filed against them and how those were resolved.

2. Who's Reputable, Reasonable and Responsible? Plenty of people will tell you their moving horror stories, but you're looking for a happy ending. Ask your friends which local moving companies they've worked with are reputable, reasonably priced and responsible with their clients' belongings.

3. Ask Questions! Armed with referrals from friends and business directories, it's time to start asking questions. Find out if their start and delivery times are firm or dependent on other moves that day. Ask whether any packing supplies are included in the price. Find out who is responsible for securing parking space for the moving truck. Asking questions like these does away with false assumptions and saves you from unpleasant surprises on moving day.

4. Protect Yourself: Your cousin Jim may have highly recommended an inexpensive local mover, but are they adequately insured? Are they bonded in case the move doesn't happen according to your contract?

Protect yourself by verifying bonding and insurance ahead of time. Reputable local moving companies should have a printed proof of insurance document for you to review. If your potential moving company waffles when asked to prove their insurance and bonding, it's time for you to move out the door!

5. Watch Out for Hidden Fees: The most common complaints filed against moving companies are over hidden fees not mentioned in the initial interview. A good moving company is happy to spell out, in writing, exactly how much you'll pay for your move. Be leery of contracts with vague wording or fees that can change based on moving day variables.

After reading this vendor selection checklist, it may seem like a lot of work just to choose a moving company. Here's something to consider, however, before you pick the first local moving company in the phone book: you're going to be trusting this company to safely deliver your family's personal belongings, or your company's physical assets, to a new location. Isn't that a good reason to take a little time when choosing a mover?

Moving a home or office can be stressful, but having the right local moving company can make all the difference. Follow this practical checklist to select a moving company equipped to deliver a safe, sane and affordable move.

Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web