Whether you’re moving one town over or all the way across the country, the process of packing and transporting all your precious belongings can be incredibly stressful – not to mention time-consuming and physically strenuous.
How to Choose a Great Residential Mover
This is why many people choose to use a moving company, as it ensures that their belongings are managed with care as they attend to the other components of the move, such as transferring their utilities and saying goodbye to their loved ones.
While a moving company can make the experience much easier, they can also add to your misery through reckless behavior and outright theft. The Better Business Bureau received over 15,000 complaints regarding moving companies in 2022, many of which involved paying a deposit and then never hearing from the company again. Others reported moving companies treating their belongings with disrespect, performing a “bait and switch” by quoting one price and demanding another, or holding their items hostage by requiring a higher delivery fee upon arrival.
As a parent, you should be worrying about caring for your kids while moving, not fussing over your belongings, which is why it’s essential that you find a great moving company to set up your new Georgia home. Here are some things to look for in a Johns Creek mover that will ensure your moving experience is a breeze.
Get recommendations from your new neighbors
While we all know to check review sites like Angie’s List, Yelp, and the Better Business Bureau, there’s another way to find a good company – and build a new community at the same time. Many municipalities have community groups on social media sites such as Facebook or Reddit; consider joining them and then asking members directly if they have recommendations for a good moving company. This is a great way to virtually introduce yourself to your neighbors while also getting helpful, first-hand information about Johns Creek residential movers from those in the know.
Check that they are registered, licensed, and insured
Once you’ve got a few recommendations, it’s time to check that each company on your shortlist is legally allowed to move your belongings.
Every moving company, regardless of whether they are residential or commercial, needs to be registered with the Department of Transportation; you can check their registration at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration website. The FMCSA website will allow you to see if there have been any complaints registered against the company in the past four years, and it will also let you check for their license and insurance by clicking through to the “License and Insurance Public” area. Many companies will list their DOT number on their website, but if they don’t, you can also search for them by name.
Get several estimates and investigate the most reasonable one
For this step, you will need to do a bit of homework: most companies will want you to give them a rough idea of how much you have to move. This is usually done by telling them the square footage of your current residence, or at least how many rooms it has, which will help them understand how long it will take them to move everything and what size of truck they will need. Gather estimates from several different moving companies, being sure to give them all the exact same information; you should look most closely at those estimates that are in the midrange, not too expensive but not too cheap either. Remember that you get what you pay for if you choose to use a mover that has a drastically below-market price, this likely means that they are cutting corners and will not provide you with the best service.
Don’t hesitate to ask as many questions as you need
Many of us balk at asking too many questions of those we work with, as we want to assume the best of people we meet; however, a true professional in any industry welcomes questions about their work and is more than happy to share their experience in the field, as well as any special qualifications they have. Be sure to ask for clarification about anything you’re unsure of, paying close attention to how the mover responds to your queries. If they seem uncomfortable with your curiosity, or if they dance around subjects, this likely means that they have something to hide.
Read contracts carefully
If you’ve found a great mover and you’re ready to go, there’s just one last step: signing the contract and providing the down payment, with the rest to be paid once you’re settled in your new home. Before you sign anything, take your time with the contract, and again don’t hesitate to ask any questions if anything is unclear. Check that there are no strange conditions or unclear language hidden in the contract that could cause problems for you down the line. If anything feels off, don’t hesitate to ask for a second opinion.
Final thoughts
Moving is stressful, but it doesn’t have to be quite so hard: highly qualified movers all throughout Georgia are ready and willing to help you get to your new Johns Creek residence with half the hassle. By looking carefully at the qualifications and experience of your candidate moving companies, you can have a peachy-keen experience in getting to your beautiful home in this charming Southern town. Never hesitate to ask questions throughout the process; remember, you’re the customer, and you deserve to be perfectly satisfied with how you and your belongings are treated!
