Moving should be exciting, but many people find it stressful. There are many decisions that need to be made, including “who can I trust to take all of my precious belongings to my new home safely?” That’s a big ask. Most of the people we would trust with all our things tend not to have the means to transport it. We need to call on the services of strangers, and that can be scary.
However, many moving companies are honest and reliable, and it is not even very tricky to find them. Here’s your guide to hiring the right service for a stress-free move.
Why use a moving company?
The biggest benefit is of course that they have the right equipment. Not only will a specialist moving company have ample transport to get your belongings to your destination, but they also have the tools to move heavy and fragile items without damaging them.
Many moving companies even offer a professional packing service to make things easier for you. Residential moving companies in Melbourne, for example, offer both packing and unpacking services. You can have them pack everything or just some difficult items.
Really, the only reason not to hire some movers is because doing it yourself is cheaper. However, unless you’re leaving the most minimalist house ever, chances are you have a lot more stuff than you think. Doing it yourself could mean endless hours of packing and unpacking, as well as making multiple trips.
How to Find a Good Moving Company Near You
There will doubtless be many options available. These are the ways to slim them down.
- Referrals: A recommendation from someone you trust is the best way to find a good mover. Online reviews are also useful. Look for companies with a good average over lots of reviews, and remember that some reviewers will be unreasonably positive or negative.
- Good communication: A good moving company should be easily reachable via phone or email. This is something you can easily check yourself. 1-2 days is a reasonable response time, any longer is a red flag.
- No third-party movers: Some movers are really just organisers who contract out the actual work to third parties. This is not necessarily bad, but third parties have less of an incentive to take pride in their work and uphold the reputation of your moving firm.
- Have them visit to get an estimate: The best moving companies will send someone to visit your home or arrange a video call to make an accurate estimate. Blind estimates, or those based on a self-compiled list of your belongings, are often subject to large changes.
- Make sure they follow up with all the details: Once you give them the go-ahead, you should get a much more thorough estimate with all the details, including any fees and cancellation policies etc.
There are lots of things you need to do before you move into a new home, but moving your things is probably the most stressful. Movers might cost more to hire, but the right service can reduce a lot of stress and hard work, and now you know how to find them.