It’s challenging to plan a move, probably because of the ever-existing list of tasks that have to be accomplished. Packing, loading, unloading, and unpacking home belongings can be stressful, particularly for individuals who find it challenging to provide time for such. Because of this, many homeowners decide to hire a moving company to help them pack and move house possessions.
Hiring a moving company has many benefits. For example, it allows a more secure, affordable, and convenient way of moving belongings. If you’re planning to move to a not-so-distant location, then know that finding a local mover is somewhat more accessible in this digital era.
However, there are vital points to consider to ensure that you find a reliable one. Knowing how to find a reliable local mover can prevent you from having more worries during the moving process. Also, it helps to avoid wasting time and effort that could be spent on other matters related to the move.
Overall, here are the ways to find a reliable local mover:
Examine If It Has Good Credentials
If the moving provider you’re thinking of hiring is licensed to provide moves within a local state, it should be registered with the Department of Transportation (DOT). The moving service must give the DOT number on its website and advertisements, allowing you to easily see their safety record.
Likewise, you can also check how long the moving service has been in the industry through their listing. Note also that the regulations regarding local movers differ from state to state. 33 local states require DOT licensing while the rest do not. Overall, examine the local laws within your state to note what you should be checking.
After that, check the American Moving & Storage Association (AMSA). Their ProMover program necessitates local movers to follow their standards as an association, along with undergoing background checks. Noticing that your local mover is an AMSA member clearly indicates their dedication to quality service.
Altogether, if you live in San Francisco Bay area or other places and are moving locally, consider hiring movers in Bay Area or others online.
Ask For Recommendations From Your Close Circles
Many people know that word-of-mouth is the most fruitful approach to learning the needed details about a service. For that reason, ask your closest friends and family members for their thoughts on the various local moving companies. They might show you all the best locations where they’ve asked for the help of local movers in the past and those moving companies who left them with negative opinions because of inferior services.
However, don’t just go with the first local movers you heard. Have the necessary list of local movers that your friends and family think are ideal, then contact each of those movers to get more details about their prices and services.
After obtaining all the details about these moving providers, you’ll have less difficulty finding the most reliable one. Likewise, note that requesting help from your friends and family members with this process isn’t a shortcut. Instead, it’s a necessary approach to avoid wasting resources on hiring an unreliable local mover.
Overall, when it’s the time for your social circles to move somewhere else, don’t forget to help them.
Check If The Local Mover Offers Other Services Besides Moving
Professional local movers are adept in their field. They have attentive customer service representatives who will set out the foundation needed for a successful moving process. Also, they have skillful movers who will take attentive care in handling your belongings.
However, there are other services that you may require as you set out for the moving day. As such, it’s worth noting that a reliable local mover will be a comprehensive service for your moving process. To eliminate stress and make life less complex, find out if your local mover can assist with the following tasks:
- Packing
It’s not exciting to gather all your possessions and unravel how to securely box them. Every piece of bedding and clothing must be folded and packed correctly. And every coffee mug and plate must be wrapped cautiously to avoid breakage. And what should you do with all the clothes and coats hanging in the closet? For such reasons, several local movers provide a packing service to ease this task for various homeowners, including you.
- Storage
It’s an ordinary thing for consumers to require storing their materials offsite. At times, it’s just for a whole evening or two. However, there are times that they should hold the materials for many weeks or months. Therefore, look for a moving company that provides onsite storage at their location. Being aware that your belongings are stored securely with a reliable local mover can offer the necessary assurance.
Know About Valuation Protection
All local movers must be accountable for the value of the belongings that they move. On the other hand, there are two different levels of accountability. You need to know the charges that apply and the extended amount of protection each level offers.
- Full (Replacement) Value Protection
This is the most thorough plan that exists for the safeguarding of your valuables. Unless you choose the other level of liability stated below, your shipment will be moved under your local mover’s total (replacement) value protection level of liability. With this plan, whenever an item is destroyed, damaged, or lost while in the hands of your mover, the local mover has the choice to either:
- Replace the goods
- Repair the goods
- Alternative Level Of Liability
This is the most cost-effective approach available. However, it offers the minimal assurance of protection. Under this level of liability, the mover becomes liable for no more than 60 cents per pound per article.
Loss or damage claims are addressed based on the pound weight of the article multiplied by 60 cents. For instance, if 10-pound sound equipment valued at USD$1,000 were destroyed or damaged, there would only be USD$6 (10 pounds x 60 cents) liability on the mover’s part.
Take Away
It can be a challenge to move from one place to another. There are lots of responsibilities that you must complete before concluding that the moving process has ended. As such, many homeowners decided to hire a moving company.
A moving company can help in making the moving process less complicated. Instead of moving your belongings by yourself, a moving service can do the work for you. Overall, if you’re in the process of locally moving to another area, take note of the information above to find a reliable local mover.
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