How to Find Reliable Local Movers

Local movers are likely to be more affordable than corporations with fixed fees and hidden charges for every fifteen minutes or so that a move goes over its planned estimation. You’ll usually get the best deal when you opt for local moving companies.

Word of Mouth

The best way to find a moving company that has proven its metal in the past is to ask people that you trust. If a company has proven itself by providing quality service at a reasonable rate to a friend, they’re likely to give you the same deal. When approaching a moving company upon recommendation, make sure to mention who recommended you when you call. Approaching a company with praise and a good attitude lets the company know that you expect great things from it. An agent who feels appreciated is more likely to go the extra mile to make sure that your satisfaction continues.

Professional Recommendations

Ask for help from other moving services that you’ve used when looking for a local mover. This can include your real estate agent or former apartment manager. Ask for associates that have been proven. You’ll likely get a professional recommendation, or you’ll suddenly have people seeking local movers for you. This can help speed up the time you have to waste looking from scratch.

Detective Mode

Look in the yellow pages for moving companies. Then go to the address listed to check them out. If it’s the front of someone’s house, chances are it’s a very small service, if it can even be called a company.

Online

It’s possible to find reliable local movers. If you type your city into a city engine along with the phrase “local movers,” you are sure to get a lot of hits. You may also want to check Craigslist. However, you should never go off an ad or website by itself. Do your due diligence in investigating any company. Never give out personal information, your name, address or any payment or bank information (this includes your credit card) online through a company that you haven’t thoroughly investigated. It’s best to do transactions in person. One should never meet a mover or agent anywhere but in a public location.

Questions to Ask a Mover

Call the mover numbers while at the location to get initial answers to your moving questions.

You’ll want to ask:

• Can you provide customer references?
• How long has your company been handling moves?
• Do you offer a flat fee for a move or an hourly fee? What is the charge per hour if the move goes over the planned estimation?
• Are there any additional fees to the stated moving fee?
• Is there a charge per mile?
• Do you insure your work?

You’ll then want to check any potential local mover by the Better Business Bureau. The Better Business Bureau keeps track of any complaints on a business, and it also records what the business did in response to the consumer complaint. That’s one of the best ways to make sure that the moving company you’ve hired is reliable.