There are hundreds of moving companies and it may seem impossible to find the best Austin, Texas moving companies. With a little common sense and by following these four simple tips, it should help you breathe a little easier when you begin to search for that move you’ve been dreading.
Have Reasonable Expectations and Beware of Scams
It’s awfully tempting to look for the cheapest quote. There are many unethical companies out there offering tempting freebies, but oftentimes you’ll run into a scam from an unethical moving company. Be sure to keep your budget at a realistic level and then conduct a search with that in mind. If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.
Ask for Recommendations
Do you know people who have recently moved? Ask them about their moving experiences and for their recommendations for the best Austin, Texas moving companies. Don’t forget to ask your social media network as well. Facebook has a handy ‘recommendations’ button to push for just these moments. Asking real estate agents is also a good idea. Make sure that you seek recommendations for similar situations to yours.
Get In-home Estimates from Multiple Movers
Always have movers come to do an in-home estimate. This is particularly important for a long distance move or a move from a large home. People often aren’t sure how many boxes they’ll need, the weight of the items to be moved, and the distance of the move. Be sure to ask for binding estimates, or better yet, a binding-not-to-exceed estimate. If you’re moving cross-country, keep in mind that moving costs will normally be higher than the cost of a local move. A great place to start is by looking at websites who have taken some of the dirty work out of this for you by consolidating list of movers that they have already pre-screened. Olympia Moving & Storage is one site that does this service and includes options for storage, insurance, and numerous tips on how to make a move go more smoothly.
Ask the Right Questions
To be able to get good cheap movers for your relocation you need to be able to ask the right questions – the way they handle moves and the fees they charge – along with the expected information you need such as the name, address, website, legal name, DOT (Department of Transportation) number. Ask about their liability coverage and what services the move includes. What are some of their extra services and what are the costs? Be sure to ask them about what happens for damaged items or if items go missing as well. It’s also a great idea to ask if they can guarantee pick-up dates and times as well as the delivery date. Once you have answers to these questions, compare the answers and select a winner.
Once you have selected a winner, dig even deeper. Check with the Better Business Bureau. Also, be sure to verify the company’s licensing and insurance information by visiting the website of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
View our Twitter profile.
