February 11, 2019
What to Look for in a Cross Country Mover
Everything seems to be in place for a cross country move. You have spent time in your new home city finding the right neighborhood for your family, as well as enrolling your kids in school. Now comes the hard part: Deciding on a company to help you relocate your possessions.
Here’s what to look for in a cross country mover:
In-Home Estimates
When you shop around for a cross country moving company, you’re going to hear a lot of advice about getting the lowest rate. Although finding an inexpensive cross country mover is important, it is more important to find a company that offers superior products and services. You don’t want to sacrifice quality.
Some companies offer free in-home estimates. Take advantage of that.
Research, Research, Research
The Internet has made researching companies much easier than using old school methods such as letting your fingers do the walking through the Yellow Pages. Start by checking the Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating given to every company on your short list. An A+ rating from the BBB is the best award a cross country mover can receive. Then, read Yelp and Google reviews to determine the following attributes of a mover:
• Reliability
• Service
• Delivery on time
• Quality of products
• Safety
Online reviews can be helpful, but make sure you follow the time-tested adage of “the more, the merrier.” Companies that have received just a few customer reviews have not established a strong enough reputation for you to make an informed decision.
Word of Mouth
Nothing beats good old fashioned word of mouthing advertising, and we don’t mean digital word of mouth advertising. We mean face-to-face recommendations. Start by asking friends and family members for suggestions, and then branch out into the professional world. A great source of recommendations can come from a professional colleague that has recently relocated across the United States. Ask your employer to provide a referral, especially if the employer has handled similar situations for employees.
One more thing: Make sure to stay away from companies that hike fees considerably during the busy season between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Although demand increases to produce a short term spike in costs, reputable companies do not gouge customers during the busy summer season. Moreover, search for a company that offers discounts for bundled products and services.
