No matter where you move, just the moving process alone can be a job all of its own. However, getting online moving quotes from some of the top moving companies has gotten easier than ever before. That’s right. With just a few clicks of a mouse, you can save yourself days of research and aggravation by allowing us to put you in touch with some of the best moving companies out today.
Many things influence pricing when it comes to getting online moving quotes from different moving companies. For instance, the month of your move, the day of your move, the type of move, the moving insurance you choose, and the amount of your belongings are just some of the factors that make up a moving quote. It is important to know these details because it can help you plan your move strategically, and save you money in the process.
Most people want to know when the best time to get online moving quotes is. The best time really, is as soon as you know you are moving. With just that basic information, you can start planning your move and can start budgeting for your move. By getting quotes weeks or even months in advance, you are allowing yourself enough time to compare the many online moving quotes and pick the mover that is right for you.
Before getting online moving quotes, most people have their minds already made up that they will not be using any extra services that movers provide. If you are one of those people, keep an open mind when getting your quotes from movers. Sure, many of the extra services such as packing and unpacking will cost you extra, but are well worth the price if you consider the time and distress you will save yourself by leaving the task to the professionals. Besides, if you need to take a day or longer off work to pack and unpack your valuables, it will be easier and may be cost effective just to have the movers do it for you.
Other services such as storage and insurance are other things you will need to look for when getting online moving quotes. If you have an idea that you will need the movers to put your things in storage when getting quotes, make sure to inquire about pricing for the use of storage facilities. As far as insurance, make sure to go over your options and only choose moving companies that will provide you with enough insurance to cover your belongings in the event that they are lost or damaged in transit. Accidents are always a possibility whether you are moving yourself or using a professional moving company. Make sure you get the proper insurance coverage—just in case.
As you can see, many factors are taken into account when getting online moving quotes. When you are planning a move, the last thing you want to do is deal with getting individual online moving quotes from several moving companies. Then you have the fun job of doing your research and weeding out the good from the bad. That could take you weeks! You have enough on your plate. Let us get you multiple quotes from some of the top moving companies by filling out a short form right here on our site. We have done the legwork already, only work with the best moving companies around, and will get you competitive online moving quotes for your next move.
As soon as you know that a move is imminent in your near future, you need to start working on a moving checklist. Not only is having a moving checklist a good idea, it will also make your move go a lot smoother.
First things first—hire a mover!
As soon as you have an idea on when you will be moving—start getting quotes from moving companies. Go over your moving options and budget and decide if you will need to take advantage of some of the services a professional mover can help you with. This includes supplying you with moving supplies, packing, unpacking, and more. After you get some quotes and get an idea of what services you can afford, you can map out the rest of your moving checklist.
Get organized.
Keep a file of everything that relates to your move. This includes your moving checklist, paperwork and receipts from your chosen mover, a thorough checklist of everything that is going to be moved, names and numbers to utility companies for your current home and your new home, and anything else you feel is related to your move.
Sort through your belongings—take what you need and leave what you don’t.
We all somehow seem to accumulate more things in our homes over time. When deciding to move, it is a good idea to take some time out and go through all of those things. Keep what you want or need, and then get rid of everything else. Give your unwanted items to family members or neighbors who need them. Donate it to charity if you want to. Why pay money to transport things to your new place that you are never going to use anyway? This task is one that you do not want to stray from on your moving checklist. Not only will you save money by paying to move fewer things, you will also get a chance to organize your belongings so that what you do want to keep can be found easily.
Start packing.
Next agenda on your moving checklist is to start packing. Make sure as you are sorting through your things, that you keep extremely valuable items off to the side. You may want to consider transporting highly valuable family heirlooms with you during your move. While moving companies are required by law to carry insurance, some things just can’t be replaced—family heirlooms are one of them. Accidents can happen, and you will feel more comfortable knowing these items are with you if they do. When packing your belongings, make sure every box is labeled. Not only does it make it easier for you to find things in your new home, it helps the movers know what is fragile and what it not.
Keep in touch with your movers.
As moving day gets closer, it is always a good idea to touch base with your moving company to make sure everything is still going as planned. Things happen that are beyond anyone’s control—staff can get sick, a moving truck can start to have mechanical issues, and inclement weather can delay your move. Make it a priority on your moving checklist to keep in touch with your movers.
Make sure to notify the USPS of your move.
Fill out a change of address form on the USPS website or by going into your local branch. This way your mail is forwarded to your new location. This is a must-do on your moving checklist.
Contact anyone else you feel may need to know about your move.
If you have kids in school, you will obviously need to advise the school of your move. You will also need to notify your bank, utility companies, and anybody else you feel needs to be notified of your move.
As moving day approaches, you will start to think of additional things to add or go over on your moving checklist. As long as you have a moving checklist to reference, you will do just fine with your move.
Whether you are moving across town or across the country, you may find services that professional movers offer to be invaluable. This is because moving takes time, and in some cases, a lot of patience. Depending on how you plan your move, and what moving services you use, your move can go as smoothly as possible, or it can turn out to be a nightmare move you hear stories about. Knowing what type of movers are available and what type of services are currently being offered, can save you time, patience, and possibly even some money too.
Full Service Movers
If you are person who likes to be offered a turnkey solution, then full-service movers may be the solution for your moving needs. Full service moving companies offer almost every service that is related to your move, including safely packing all your belongings, loading your belongings and furniture into the moving truck, transporting your belongings to your new destination, unpacking, and setting up your furniture in your new home.
You can get full-service movers handle your whole move—so you don’t have to. You may want to keep in mind that you will need to pay more for full-service movers, but if you weigh your options, you may come out ahead as far as saving time, money, and your sanity.
Self-Service Movers
If you are the type of person that would like to be involved in your move, but you do not want to handle it all, consider using self-service movers. This moving service will allow you to do your own packing, load the truck yourself, and unpack your furniture and belongings yourself. Basically, the movers will transport your items from Point A to Point B—you handle everything else. Using the service of self-service movers will not relieve the stress of a move, since you technically will be doing everything on your own except transporting your furniture and belongings. However, the services of a self service moving company is a step up from doing it all 100% yourself, but a two steps down from using the service of full service movers.
If you ever seen the self-storage containers or crates in your neighbors yards, these would fall into the category of self-service movers. Basically, a self-service moving company drops off a storage crate in front of your home, where you will then fill it with your contents. When you are done, the company will pick up the storage crate and transport it to your new home or their storage facility.
Do-It-Yourself Movers
Yes, this type of moving depends on you, and you only to get everything done—you are the mover. You will need to get your own moving truck, pack your belongings, load them in the truck, drive your belongings to your new home, and return the rental truck. Does this sound like fun? Not exactly. Nevertheless, many people move themselves every single day. You can enlist the help of your family, friends, and neighbors to help you with your move. They will be your movers so to speak; and who better and cheaper to help you, than the ones you know and trust the most?
Most people want to get the best deal there is to have. Using discount moving products and services is no different. In fact, moving can not only be stressful, but also it can be costly if you do not shop around and get multiple quotes. However, keep in mind that cheaper does not always mean better and using lower quality products and services without researching them, can sometimes end up costing you more money in the long-run.
Here are a few good tips to get your discount moving experience in full swing:
Establish a moving budget.
First things first: decide how much you can afford to spend on your move. It is difficult to get accurate discount moving quotes before you know what your budget is, and what services you need. Once these are established, it is time to start making some decisions.
Decide on a moving date.
If your moving dates are flexible, consider moving during off-season months such as October through April. As you may know already, summer is not only a hot time of year to move weather wise, but it is the time of year when more families are on the roads—relocating to their new homes as well. One other tip: try to move during a weekday rather than a weekend. Moving rates are known to be cheaper Monday-Thursday.
Start getting quotes from moving companies.
Get quotes from moving companies for a basic move. Inquire about costs of a move only from several discount moving companies.
Do more of the work yourself.
Who doesn’t want a mover to pack all their things nicely and securely, load them into a truck, and unpack them? Those are just some of the benefits full-service movers offer.Keep in mind though, that additional services, may cost more. Besides, packing and unpacking your things yourself cannot only help you save on your moving budget; you will also be able to do a little inventory on items you may have forgotten about. You may also get a chance to go through your belongings and sort out what you do not want and what you do want to take with you to your next place.
Leave what you do not want and do not need behind.
Moving quotes are often based on the amount of items to be moved, so the more things you have to move, the more expensive your move is likely to be. If you want to take advantage of discount moving rates, consider getting rid of items you no longer have use for or do not want anymore. Donate these items to charity or give them to friends or family members, you will be happy you did.
Locate cheap moving supplies.
Buy your own moving boxes and supplies in bulk from discount stores if you need to. You may also find discount moving boxes for sale at your local moving and storage facility.
Enlist the help of your family and friends.
Not only can you save money on your moving expenses by doing things yourself, but you can also save time by getting help from your family and friends. They can help you pack your belongings and help you unpack them as well. This not helps you save money on your moving costs; their services are free. Free moving help is always better than getting discount moving help.
Ready to get started? Get your free professional moving quotes now!
As you may have noticed, there are many moving and storage companies to choose from. So how do you pick the one that is right for you? By doing your research and comparing prices and services, you can easily find the moving company that will fit your needs. When it comes time to start getting your moving and storage quotes, do not be afraid to ask as many questions as you need.
Listed below are just a few of the common, but important questions you should ask any potential moving company before making your selection.
What services does the moving company offer?
Moving and storage companies today provide many different services. Some of the services offered include packing, unpacking, specialty packing (wines, collectibles), furniture set-up, short-term and long-term storage, and these are just some of the services provided. Some companies offer auto transport services as well. While there may be an extra fee incurred to take advantage of some of these additional services, sometimes the fees are well worth the time and money saved. It is important to ask any potential moving and storage company what services they provide, and get prices for the services to see if any would fit into your moving budget.
Can the moving company handle large and delicate items for me such as my china cabinet and piano?
Delicate items such as a china cabinet, piano, or a grandfather clock should be packed and moved with extreme care. These items may not only be fragile, they may be very valuable and can damage easily if not handled properly. Picking only experienced and reputable moving and storage companies that specialize in handling such items will ease the worry of getting these delicate items moved to your new home safely.
What items cannot be moved or stored?
No professional moving and storage companies can transport anything that is combustible, flammable, or explosive. To give you an idea of some the items that cannot be transported, here is a short list:
-Fire Extinguishers
-Household disinfectant cleaners
-Oil, gasoline, or antifreeze
-Propane cans or tanks
-Perishable foods
-Pool chemicals
-Charcoal
Again, this is just a short list, but it is listed here to give you a general idea of what moving and storage companies will not transport with your household belongings. If you are uncertain if something can be shipped or not, ask your mover and they will tell you. Most moving companies will also provide you with a list of what not to include with your shipment.
Does the company use the services of subcontractors to handle their moves?
Many moving and storage companies use the services of their own employees. However, some companies utilize the services of sub-contractors to help them with their moves. Whether it is company employees or subcontractors, you want to be aware of who is transporting your household belongings. Ask any potential moving and storage companies whom they use.
Can the moving company store my items for me until I settle into my new home?
Several of the larger moving and storage companies offer storage services at nominal fees. Just as there are different types of moving options, there are also different types of storage options available to you for your move. For instance, if you only need your belongings stored short-term, you should inquire about short-term storage services. If you plan to leave your belongings in storage for a longer period, discuss long-term storage options and pricing with all potential moving and storage companies.
If you know that you are moving soon, you have probably already started the process of looking for a cheap moving company. Moving can be stressful, but getting involved with cheap movers can be a headache—especially if you are not careful with your selection. Sure, we are all looking for a good deal, but when it comes to moving companies…cheaper is not always better.
Cheap moving companies are around everywhere. You can find them online, in the papers, and you can even find signs posted in your area for cheap moving services. With so many movers in business today, how do you know who is good and who is not? First off, get quotes from reputable, well known companies, as well as recommendations from family, friends, neighbors, even your Realtor if you have one. Consider checking the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Chances are you will find tons of reviews, both good and bad, on many of the top moving companies that are out today.
When shopping around for a cheap moving company, there is no doubt you will run into many moving horror stories; you may have even heard horror stories from people you know. It is good that you have been exposed to these stories simply because it will help you learn from others’ mistakes when it comes to moving. As you have probably read or heard already, most of these horror stories are because people used cheap moving services and shady moving companies. Do not let your next move become one of those moving horror stories that you read about, do it right from the start. You have already gotten the right idea by doing your research before you choose your movers.
Start by getting quotes from reputable moving companies that you have read good reviews on or have gotten good recommendations about. Try the bigger moving companies first, before you consider looking for cheap moving companies. When getting quotes from several of the larger moving companies, it is important to know what you need before you start getting your estimates:
-Will you be moving locally or is your move long distance?
-Will you be packing your own belongings, or do you want the movers to pack for you?
-Do you have heavy items such as a piano or over-sized China Cabinet?
-Do you have a car that you need transported to your new home?
-Will you need the movers to provide storage for you until you are settled in your new place?
These are just a few of the questions you need to ask yourself before you begin getting quotes from different movers—even the cheap moving companies. Once you know what you need, you will be able to pick your new moving company with ease. If you find some companies are offering cheap moving services that are priced a lot lower than most…that may be a warning sign. Prices in the moving industry are very competitive, but always remember: you get what you pay for.
If you do not do your research and compare prices and services, you could end up telling your own cheap moving horror story such as the ones you read about. Aside from potential damage of your personal belongings, furniture, family heirlooms, and more, you might possibly pay for a move that may never happen., or hiring cheap movers can sometimes result in a total loss of all your belongings—before they get to your new destination. Do your research and you just might find that even the most reputable and biggest moving companies will offer cheap moving services—maybe even cheaper than what you originally planned for.