Questions to ask your local movers

Questions to ask your local movers

Even though you have spent so many joyful years and made plenty of beautiful memories in your current home, the time has finally come for you to upgrade and move on to the new and exciting stage of your life. Moving is one of the greatest and yet one of the most difficult and the most stressful events in the life of a person. There are so many mixed emotions, joy and sorrow are taking their turns while you are thinking about all the great things that are awaiting you and all the dear ones that you are saying “goodbye” to. And not just that…

While you struggle with making peace with the fact that this step is inevitable and everything that is coming is even better than all the things that are gone, you have one more worry on your plate. The process of packing everything you have and moving to another street, neighborhood, or town is everything but easy and simple to deal with. As time passes by, the to-do list is getting longer and you are getting more and more nervous. Finding the right local movers will help you share all the stress and responsibilities with someone. 

But, before we come up with the list of questions for your professional movers, there is one that you should ask yourself. The first question you should ask yourself when you start planning your move is whether you want to move by yourself or want to hire local movers to help you. This step is crucial for deciding every next step along the way. Even though some people might think that the process of moving is not as complicated and troublesome, as local movers, we have encountered many situations that proved different.

That is why we always advise you to try to find local movers who are suitable for your budget and who can provide you with all the help that you might need when it comes to packing and relocating your belongings. Along the way, there are many things that you will have to handle by yourself, but it will be much easier to do it when you know that your belongings and moving day are handled by professional movers who will handle everything with the utmost care and effort. 

Move. Cardboard boxes and cleaning things for moving into a new home, local movers

However, choosing the right local movers is not simple as it sounds. You have to invest some time and energy into finding furniture movers who are also experienced and trustworthy. There are many movers Los Angeles out there who claim to be professional movers and who will promise you everything you want to hear, but not all of them are capable and knowledgeable enough to provide you with the kind of service that you expect. That is why you should look for recommendations from friends and neighbors and take advice from all the people that you know because first-hand experience is always the best to rely on.

However, Google can also provide you with plenty of good-quality local movers, as long as you take enough time to research, read reviews and get a detailed understanding of the process of moving itself as well as the local movers you would like to hire. Never rely only on one moving company, but rather find a few of them that you like and get in touch to find out everything there is to know about them.

To prepare you for that moment, we have made a list of questions to ask your local movers. After you ask your questions, you will be sure that certain professional movers are or are not the right local movers for you. 

Are you a licensed and insured company?

When you plan to hire certain local movers, the first and the most important thing you should find out is whether they are a completely legal and professional moving company that they represent themselves to be. You can ask your local movers whether they are members of the American Moving and Storage Association (AMSA), which is one of the proves that they are local movers who can be trusted. Also, it would not be bad if you also checked whether they are Better Business Bureau (BBB), which can also be a good representative of their level of credibility and professionalism. While you are talking about their license, ask about the insurance company they work with and make sure that they are legit as well. 

How do you determine your cost for my move?

Usually, when you negotiate with local movers, one of the first things that they will offer to provide you with is the moving quote. Don’t hesitate to find out the way they determine the cost of your move. A lot of local movers out there charge the rate by the hour based on how many local movers are needed to handle the moving. The number of trips you have and the distance of your move might also play important roles in deciding the price that you are going to pay. However, try to find out some other information that can be omitted, such as whether they get stair carries, long carries, packing services and/or materials, furniture assembly/disassembly as factors when determining the cost of your move. 

Move. Cardboard boxes and cleaning things for moving into a new home

What kind of insurance do you offer?

As we already mentioned, making sure that your local movers provide you with some kind of insurance is one of the most significant things when you are making the decision on which local movers you are going to hire. Your professional movers should at least offer you basic insurance coverage, which in most cases is enough to cover any potential damage or loss of your belongings. Of course, when you find local movers who are experienced, trustworthy and reliable residential movers, the chances for any accidents to happen are minimal, but you should feel at ease knowing that in case something unpredictable happens, you will not suffer any financial losses. Your local movers will do anything in their power to pack and transfer your belongings safely, but they should have the solution for the accidents as well.

What kind of services can you provide me with?

Male local movers carrying shelving unit into new house, apartment moving

Many local movers offer a wide range of services to their customers. By talking to your local movers and explaining the situation to them, as well as getting the moving quote and having your local movers do a walk-through of your home, you will find out whether they are able to provide you with the services that you need. There are a lot of things that your local movers can help you with and you can get quite surprised with how easy and efficient the process of moving can be. However, you should know right from the start whether your residential movers offer the services of packing, storing, labor-only, or any other kind of help that you might need and not risk any surprises on a moving day.  

Are there any additional fees that I should be aware of?

Even though we covered this one in our previous questions, it is always a good idea to ask specifically about all the additional fees that you should be aware of. Of course, these fees are called hidden for a reason and your local movers might find a way to avoid the straight answer, but if you are specific with the things you want to know they will have to give you an answer. Ask about the things that we mentioned, such as stair carries, long carries, packing services and/or materials, furniture assembly/disassembly.

Checking reviews of their previous clients is also a good way to find if their words are true. Your furniture movers should always be transparent with you. And even though local movers have all the rights to come up with any charges and fees they want, you should be aware of them before booking your move. That is why you should always read any document you get from your local movers – from a moving agreement, a confirmation email, and similar. These documents should contain everything that you need to know about your upcoming relocation. 

Do you background check your local movers?

Since your local movers come into your home and get to handle everything you have, it is very important for you to know if these people are trustworthy and reliable. Every serious local moving company will do a background check on their employees, as well as regular health checks, drug tests, etc. You should be at peace knowing that the local movers who you let into your home are not fired from some other moving company due to theft or damages and they don’t have any charges against them. 

How do you handle loss, time, and damage claims?

Even though you are sure that your local movers are licensed and insured, you should ask about the process of claiming the loss and damage. Different professional movers handle these situations in different manners and you want to make sure that your local movers will not hesitate to help you and try to avoid your claims. That is why it is best to have all the information in advance and you can put your mind at ease knowing that even if the worst-case scenario happens, you know your way of handling it. When it comes to this question, going through reviews of previous clients might be useful as well.

Cropped View of Woman Working on Laptop in Cafe

What is your cancelation policy in case I have to postpone or cancel my move?

There are countless reasons and things that can happen and you have to cancel your move. From not getting the job offer that you expected to face death in a family, many things can happen that can prevent you from moving on a date that you planned or moving at all. That is why you should always ask your local movers about their cancellation policy. Some of the local movers out there might not charge you anything as long as you cancel your relocation in a timely manner. However, many of them might keep the part or the whole deposit or even charge additional fees if it comes to this, so make sure that you are aware of the details and able to handle them if anything unexpected happens.

How and when should I pay for your services?

Even though hiring local movers is the best decision you can make when it comes to your relocation, the fact is that local movers are quite expensive. That is why you should ask about the payment methods as well as whether they ask for a deposit and when you are supposed to pay for their services. Some of the local movers might offer a discount if you pay in cash, which is also a great option to consider since these discounts can be rather meaningful for your budget. 

Do you have some references or reviews to share with me?

We mentioned a few times that you should look up online for any reviews or comments regarding the local movers you are planning to hire. However, it is a good idea to ask for some official references from your local mover’s sales representative. This way you can see how serious and professional their attitude is, and you can also make sure that they know that you are attentive and committed to your relocation and there is no chance for anything to go unnoticed.

With these questions in mind, we are sure that you will be able to seal the best deal with your local movers. LA Movers have been in the moving business for years and know how important the relationship between the local movers and the clients is, which is why we always take the questions and thoughts of our clients seriously. We invite you to get in touch with us and find out everything there is to know about your future relocation.

Your local movers should have one goal – to make your moving as quick, easy, and efficient as possible. By getting to know them better and learning about their policy and ways of doing things, you will easily realize which local movers are the perfect fit for you. Give us a call, get your free moving quote, and let’s make sure you have a move from your dreams. 

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