There aren’t many things in life that can bring on a panic attack like an impending move. Even if you just finished building your dream home and you’re finally leaving your parents’ house, the move can cause plenty of stress. Professional, experienced moving companies can help reduce problems and help things go smoothly.

There are major differences in moving companies , and depending on your particular needs will depend on what type of companies you should start contacting. Even though costs might be a factor in your decision, don’t let a cheap price be your deciding factor. A large well known company can still cause problems and disappointments.

The best way to start to eliminate possible issues is to only deal with companies that are willing to send out a representative to give you an estimate. No one can give you a good estimate if they don’t see your home. It’s impossible to tell someone “3 bedrooms, living room, and 2 baths will cost you…”. There’s a huge difference between bedrooms that are 10′ x 12′ and ones that are 20′ x 25′. Someone needs to do a walk through before they decide what you have and what you don’t.

Also make sure you know how many people you will be paying for. Many companies send out two workers only. Unless you live in a one bedroom apartment, two men can only move a few boxes or one piece of furniture at a time. If their truck isn’t literally at your front door, just loading the truck could take all day.

Ask for a copy of their contract to review. Don’t sign anything during the visit/estimate process. Contracts differ. Look for clauses that explain their insurance limits and responsibilities, and what they do about lost or damaged items.

While the moving companies are there doing the walk through and formulating the estimate, make sure you ask them questions about how would handle specific issues. Don’t take anything for granted! Anyone with a few muscles can call themselves “moving companies”, but if they don’t have common sense, it’s a problem waiting to happen. Ask how they handle rain storms as they are bringing your expensive furniture in and out. What do they do with large expensive pieces of art? Are they experienced with high end electronics and plasma TVs? If they can’t explain in detail how they handle each of the above, find another company.

Be careful of a company that demands cash only as payment. They probably aren’t licensed, and you won’t have any recourse if problems arise. Stick with companies that take credit cards, and only use credit cards. At least your card company will help you if a dispute arises.

Want to find out more about cross country movers, then visit Harold Jacobs’s site on how to choose the best piano movers for your needs.

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