What to Look for in a Moving Company.

Moving sucks! Just ask anyone who has ever done it, which would probably be most of us. Moving can be one of the most stressful things any of us ever do – there are so many things to keep track of and so many balls to keep in the air at once, that it can be overwhelming to even the most patient of us.

There are ways to reduce the amount of stress, however, and selecting the right moving company can go a long way towards that goal. The following are the basics of what you should look for when selecting the people to whom you will entrust almost everything you own.

Start Early! Giving you adequate time to choose the right company is very important. If you do not allow yourself time to do a little research, you could miss something that could result in a bad outcome. Two months before your planned move, compile a list of potential moving companies from all sources available. Don’t forget to ask for word-of-mouth references – if someone else had a positive experience with a particular company, then there is a good chance that you will too.

Analyze your needs. Are you moving locally or long distance? There are movers who specialize in moving people across town, and there are long distance movers, who specialize in taking your household goods a much further distance. International moves require specialists who know the requirements for overseas relocations.

Do you want to pack your own belongings, or would you prefer to have the moving company pack them for you? While it can be a nice perk to have this chore taken off your hands, consider how comfortable you will be having someone else touch almost everything you own. For some, this route is simply too uncomfortable, and they will choose to pack themselves. Keep in mind, as well, that having the moving company pack for you is an added expense.

Once you know what you need, start checking with the companies that specialize in the moving services you wish to purchase.  A simple spreadsheet can help you to keep track of what each company provides, and their rates for each service.  Create columns for the name, address and phone number of the company and the name of the person you spoke with, and then add columns to record information on whether or not the company offers certain services, how much they charge for them, and whether or not they can even complete your move during the time frame you have in mind.  Leave the last column for notes and comments.  Once complete, you will have an at-a-glance reference that should allow you to more easily select the company with which you wish to work.

A little advance planning and organization can go a long way to keeping your move as stress-free as possible, particularly when choosing a moving company.