The Dos And Dont's Of Hiring A Moving Company For Your Across-Town Move

If you're only planning to move across town, you may be prone to underestimating the amount of time, effort, and planning this move will take. Even though you're not trekking across the country, you still have to get everything out of your current house and into the new one. Hiring a moving company will definitely simplify the process but only if you go about it in the right way. Adhere to these dos and don'ts, and your across-town move will be a dream rather than a nightmare.

Do: Get several quotes.

Moving across town is not nearly as expensive as moving long-distance, but you may be surprised at how drastic a difference there can be between moving companies' prices. A good approach is to get three estimates and compare them. If you're not sure whether the estimates you're getting are fair, use an online moving cost calculator to get a ballpark idea of the quotes you should expect.

Don't: Just go with the lowest estimate.

Take a good look at what each estimate contains before you just go for the lowest number. For instance, one estimate may contain packing, while another one does not. One estimate may be for up to three hours of work with additional charges applied if it takes the movers longer. Another estimate may cover the whole job no matter how long it takes.

In general, it's usually better to pick a company whose estimate includes all of the services you need. This way, you'll know exactly what you're paying and there will be no surprises. If a company gives you a quote that does not include everything, you can always request a second, more encompassing quote. If they want your business, they will usually oblige -- even if this is not their usual policy. Then, you'll have several estimates that you can truly compare side by side.

Do: Ask for references from family and friends.

Since you're moving locally, you can take advantage of word-of-mouth to find a good moving company. This is usually a better strategy than relying on online reviews, which may be biased towards angry customers or even posted by paid advertisers. Some moving companies even offer discounts or rewards for direct referrals.

Don't: Underestimate the services you need.

Most moving companies will let you customize your services to meet your needs. For instance, you can have them pack everything, or you can do it yourself. You can have them disassemble your furniture, or you can do it yourself. When you're moving locally, there's a tendency to assume you can do everything yourself. But if your move involves adapting to a new job, transitioning your kids to a new school, or remodeling a new home, it's easy to get overwhelmed. It's probably best to have your movers do more rather than less. It will cost you a bit more, but you'll be less overwhelmed and have more time left to focus on the things your movers can't do for you. 

Do: Start planning well in advance of the move.

When you're moving across state lines or a longer distance, you can typically hire a moving company either from your new town or the old one. But when you're moving locally, you only have access to the movers in that one town. If they're all booked by the time you start planning your move, you'll be forced to reschedule. So make sure you plan ahead. It's a good idea to get estimates a month before your move, if not 2 months.

With good planning and the right approach, your across-town move really can be a simple endeavor.


Share