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Questions to ask movers before long distance relocation

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Moving from one place to another can be a challenge. And finding the right company to help you relocate can be scary. You are probably moving your whole house, childhood toys, clothes, or memorabilia you would definitely want to keep safe while transporting across the country. In order to avoid problems with your move, it is crucial that long-distance movers are properly vetted. Moving a long-distance can be confusing if you haven’t done it before or don’t know what to ask. For this exact reason, Best Movers NY has prepared some questions to ask movers before long distance relocation. These questions will help you evaluate your decision and prepare for the move day as much as possible.

What is a long distance move anyway?

As its name suggests, long distance moving involves traveling long distances from one house to another and transferring your belongings. This sort of move is usually over 400 miles and is sometimes referred to as cross county or interstate move. Around 25% of Americans move interstate. Since New York is one of the top 10 countries people move to, picking one of the best long distance moving companies NYC can be the right choice for you as well. You need a company that has the experience and the knowledge to complete a cross-country move.

Highway intersection — Moving long distances can go smoothly if you remember to ask all the important questions beforehand

Questions to ask movers before long distance relocation

As moving long-distance is more complicated than a local move, it’s best to be safe than sorry, and get all the facts about your relocation. Before your move, you need to be well informed and prepared. This way, there won’t be any surprises along the way. There are around 7.000 different companies to choose from just in the US, so don’t be afraid to pick 3 or 4 and ask them all the questions that might interest you.

Tell me more about your company?

The first thing you should do before choosing a long-distance mover is to research them. If you cannot find information on the web, as the company directly. How long has your business been around? Do you have the proper license? Can you provide us with referrals from your previous clients? Any company that is a member of the American Mover and Storage Association (AMSA) or Better Business Bureau can be considered reliable and worth it. However, many companies can be vetted, but you need to find one that has experience with long-distance relocations.

A moving company can be in business for years but only conduct local moves- so you need to perform a background check and ask for referrals. If you check out their service and how they handle customer issues, such as damaged or missing items, you will have a better idea of how they operate. You should stay away from companies that have no reviews. Despite their bad service history and negative reviews, some disreputable companies change their name to start fresh and appear legitimate. Be wary of scams.

Do you offer insurance or liability coverage?

Accidents happen. Whatever the experience and professionalism of the moving company, it’s crucial that you verify that the moving company you choose is insured. You also need to sign up for adequate coverage. In most moving contracts, there is standard liability protection of 10 or 60 cents per pound per item. Of course, it depends on the service level. If you want to transfer your most valuable and expensive items, you should pick a high level of insurance.

Insurance is one of the questions to ask movers before long distance relocation — It’s important to get insurance when you are relocating across the state

We know that this might sound like an extra spend. The average cost of a long-distance move is around $4000. But just think about how much more will you spend if you need to cover the expenses yourself. To conclude, if you are moving to or from New York, discuss the differences in the types of insurance that your potential Manhattan movers offer. Ask them to explain the difference in detail. If you are unclear about something, don’t be afraid to ask for clarification.

Is it possible to obtain a binding written estimate on-site?

Before you sign a contract with a moving company, you should ask them to provide an onsite estimate. The quotes you receive over the phone or email are not as reliable. They won’t be able to see the extent of your move or what belongings will you move. Upon delivery, you may find that your bill is high, with additional charges added on. You need to point out any difficulties you anticipate during their visit or a video survey. This may include tight stairwells and awkward-to-carry items. Your movers should also be aware of the weight of all the items, so they know what equipment to use. Call your mover ahead of time if you need to add items to your move. Here is what every estimate should contain:

name, phone number, and address of the moving company
moving cost and payment method, as one of the most important questions to ask movers before long distance relocation
moving dates and date of signing the contract

What equipment will you use for handling my belongings?

Let’s say you are moving out of NYC, and you want to hire some of the most reliable long distance movers Brooklyn offers, but you also have large items such as a piano. The moving company should have the right equipment to handle such moves. Especially if you are moving a big house packed with heavy items such as large sculptures, awkward furniture, or even paintings. You will need to continue your search if they are unable to do it.

Truck loading moving boxes — The use of correct equipment is one of the most important questions to ask movers before long distance relocation

How will you handle the delivery?

Long-distance moves may see your belongings exchange hands multiple times during their journey. Ask whether the company handling your pick up will be taking care of the delivery as well or whether it will be outsourced. You can ask the companies handling your move for their subcontractors’ names and research their track records. This is especially important if you are told there will be different teams involved. If you are moving your company, with one of the commercial moving companies NYC offers, ask them the same question. You want professionals to unload your most important document and equipment.

What types of boxes can be used and what restrictions apply to packing?

When a company picks up the boxes, they may not accept them in poor condition. Professional and experienced movers like long distance movers Staten Island know the importance of sealed and safely packed moving boxes. Actually, packing makes 7,5% of the total revenue for the moving company. Due to repeated use of boxes, your belongings may be damaged if they lose their integrity. To ensure the safety or value of the shipment, the contents of a box may need to be inspected and verified before being tapped. Moving companies that specialize in long-distance moving may provide packing supplies at a cost, or the cost may be included if you choose a more expensive package.

Does your moving company offer other services?

There are many sorts of services that movers offer, and that you can choose from. Packing and storage services are also available from some long-distance movers. You might not be able to pack all your belongings, so these services may come in handy. Also, if you won’t be at your new location at the time of the delivery, you can opt to store your items. So on the day of signing your contract, remember to ask what type of storage a company offers, and what is the additional cost. You can also ask them about the security of the location, and if they will label your boxes.

Storage units with orange doors — You should ask if a moving company can provide additional services like storage

When will my move take place?

Moving long distances naturally takes longer than moving locally. It is important to know the pick-up and delivery dates when working with any moving company. Longer move times are caused by the distance they must travel. Especially if your belongings are being shared among a few trucks. To have a clear understanding of when your new home needs to be delivered, it is crucial to know the delivery date before booking a mover.

Weather delays or other logistical issues may delay delivery, so you should know what essential items to keep with you. It’s difficult to guarantee delivery for long-distance movers, but if your movers can’t provide rough dates of when your shipment will arrive or provide updates along the way, it’s time to move on to the next company. Luckily, we can match you with long distance movers Queens offers that are reliable so you won’t have to worry about a thing.

Damages and complaints: how do you handle them?

Whenever you sign a long-distance moving agreement, you hope and assume your items will arrive in the same condition as they left. You also assume that you won’t have any complaints. In the event that there are issues or complaints, it’s wise to find out how they will be handled. A company you choose should be able to explain the process to you and have a clear policy in place.

damaged box — Always ask how the company handles damaged goods

If they have any examples of claims that have been successfully resolved, they might be able to provide them to you. Unless they can explain how damage claims or complaints are handled, you should start looking for another company to handle your move.

Can I pay with my credit card?

If a moving company accepts only cash payments, this should raise a red flag. The business should accept multiple payment methods, including credit cards. Before booking with Manhattan long distance movers, for example, find out how much is the deposit and when you need to pay it. Additionally, if you pay with a credit card, you will have one more proof of payment. This will save you a lot of trouble.

Will you use another company for the transfer?

Many long-distance moving companies are using subcontractors to handle the delivery. If your moving company uses subcontractors, they may be able to give you their contact so you can check their reviews as well. If your items are to be transferred onto a new truck at any time, they should be able to let you know that as well.

As your belongings move through the shipping network as part of a less-than-truckload move, they are likely to change trucks and subcontractors several times to save on costs. Various shipments from different shippers can be consolidated or split up as needed. Multiple shipments make sense to be delivered together. Trust that our long distance movers in Bronx will only cooperate with the best companies to keep your belongings safe throughout the whole trip.