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Moving Company ReviewsMoving is often quoted as being one of the most "stressful experiences we ever go through in our lives". Choosing a good moving company is difficult. Nowadays, moving companies can offer you a wide range of services on top of their basic removal competencies. These can include packing, the sale or hire of packing materials, unpacking and storage facilities. Some companies will even pack your possessions, transport them, clean your new home, unpack your possessions and arrange them at the other end according to your instructions. These additional services will obviously cost you more money. As a guideline you should have chosen your moving company at least 4-8 weeks before your moving day. The best way to find a reliable moving company is by recommendation or reputation. If someone you know has had a good experience then copy it. Get 2-3 quotes since prices can vary greatly. We did a test with a cross country move and got 3 estimates (they were $7000 apart for the same services). Make sure to ask them how long they have been in business and if they have customer referrals. Ask about their insurance coverage and claims protection and how far it extends. Read all the fine print in any contract since that is where all the fees will be hidden.
Moving Company Costs:The big variable here is "how far will you be moving?". Moving company prices often vary depending on distance moved, time of year, how much lead time you give them, and who will be doing the packing and unpacking. There are plenty of moving company scams that have been reported over the years. People get one quote and then another number pops up once the stuff is delivered leaving the homeowner with little choice but to pay the extra fees. I've seen 20/20 specials on this type of thing so I know it's still fairly rampant out there. Try getting multiple moving company quotes so you can at least have a general idea of cost. Some cost estimates based on surveys. When moving a standard 2 bedroom apartment (roughly 900 square feet) in a local move, expect to spend from $300 to $500 and have it take 4 to 6 hours. A 3 bedroom house may cost more like $600 to $900 and take all day. I moved a few years ago from a rental home to our current home and it was roughly $400 and it took roughly 6 hours from start to finish. We had packed all the packable stuff and then we unpacked except for the heavier furniture. Packing services will add about $30 an hour if you want them to do that too (that is per person). Looking for a long distance moving company? The costs will go up substantially on these types of moves. Say you are going from Boston to LA and need to transport your belonging from a 2 bedroom apartment - the fee will range between $3500 and $5500. The more stuff and weight of your gear will ultimately increase the price. Moving company costs on a 3 bedroom house with over 10,000 pounds of furniture, appliances, etc. will cost you $10,000 or more. The more things you move it becomes important to buy moving insurance which is roughly $7 per $1000 of value.
Best Moving Companies:The top moving companies are Allied, Van Lines, Mayflower, North American, and UnitedVanLines. They all offer long distance moves across the country. They all have online websites where you can get started with estimated your move time, the cost, etc. ALL offer free quotes on moving and websites like Moving.com will help you locate a mover based on your needs. Again, most companies have some complaints as moving is a tough business and it's not easy to move things 1000's of miles without the potential for damage. Moverreviews.com is a decent site with reviews on dozens of moving companies that are available all over the United States. Make sure you read the contract, get multiple quotes and try to find a company that someone in your family, company, or neighborhood has used and had good success with. Reputation in this business is golden so the good moving companies try very hard to keep their name in good standing. The others don't do well with customer service and eventually burn their own bridges. I say it's best to get quotes from one big name player, a middle range company, and then more of a local mover to price compare.
Moving Tips:Use the move as a clear out opportunity for all your unused stuff. Have a garage sale to unload the unneeded weight. Think about how you want to arrange the furniture in your new home. This will save time when the unloading process begins. Buy lots of packing tape. If you are moving yourself, make sure you have a dolly for the heavy and awkward items. Don't wait until the last minute to pack, what seems easy can turn into hours of laborious work with fine china and other breakables that need extra care. In fact, we recommend moving things like computers or fine glassware in your own vehicle so that you won't have to worry so much about valuables getting broken.
How do I Move Pets?:Moving companies cannot move living creatures so you will have to take responsibility for moving any pets yourself. Unless you're traveling very long distances it's better to physically move your pet(s) yourself in your car or the vehicle you're traveling in. For longer distances, you may need to hire a company that can handle the well being of your over several days.
Should I move Myself?Nowadays an increasing number of us are opting to move ourselves rather than hiring a moving company. As you can imagine this has certain advantages and disadvantages. You'll almost certainly save money, but your move may take more time and effort. If you're moving from a small home then this can be a cost-effective, quick and simple solution. You don't need to worry about choosing a reputable mover and you can keep control of the moving process. Gather together as many strong friends that you have and perhaps rent a moving truck for the day (if it's a local move). It always takes longer than you think to move anywhere, but with enough organization and help, you can move yourself without paying all the big moving bills associated with larger companies.
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