Choosing a moving company can be a hassle. There are dozens of Orlando moving companies, so how can you possibly decide which one will provide you with the best quality service for the best value?
Besides taking a couple of months to read everything you can about every company, there are some steps you can take to prevent a moving company nightmare. Comparing prices is only the beginning. It’s important to really research what each company provides (are they commercial movers, residential movers, or both?) and how that aligns with what you need from your movers.
Read on for more tips on choosing a moving a company.
How to Choose a Moving Company
First, consult our “How to Choose a Moving Company” graphic and save it for future reference.
Do Your Homework on Local Moving Companies
Research is crucial when you’re getting ready to move. There are plenty of local moving companies to choose from and they all do essentially the same tasks, but what you’re really looking for is which has the best level of service.
That’s why when starting your search, it’s best to read plenty of reviews first.
It’s like asking trusted friends and family for their advice when you don’t have any friends or family with moving company recommendations. There are plenty of moving company review sites out there, but our favorites are MovingCompanyReviews.com, MyMovingReviews.com, Yelp, Angie’s List, and Google Reviews. (Click on the links to see what Cento customers have to say about us!)
Once you’ve narrowed your selection down to 5-7 moving companies, double-check that they are all licensed, insured, and have a good rating with the Better Business Bureau.
Finally, do a deep dive on their websites to see exactly what services they provide, what their base pricing is, and if they can handle your moving job. After all, not all moving companies handle long distance moves or have added packing and storage services.
Don’t be shy about calling your top choices to get a feel for how their operation works and how responsive they are.
Understanding a Moving Estimate
Most people choose their moving company based on cost, and that’s understandable. That’s why the first step many moving companies ask you to complete is to request a moving estimate.
The best moving companies will ask you to be as specific as possible about your moving needs and while it may seem like a lot of listing, it’s for your benefit. The more accurate depiction you give them of your belongings, the more accurate the moving estimate they give you.
You’ll want to get a least three moving estimates from different companies, so you can really compare the service they’re offering you. Make sure each estimate includes an itemized list of the services to be provided as well as any possible day-of charges.
Many moves, local or long-distance, include a fuel charge for the truck, a minimum time commitment, and add-ons for certain materials like mattress padding or extra boxes and tape. You want to know all this beforehand so you know what moving materials you yourself need to buy.
The moving estimate should also tell you how payment is handled, the company’s cancellation policy, and items the movers are not allowed to move themselves, so there are no surprises on moving day.
Most moving companies work on a hourly rate, but you don’t want to just choose the cheapest one and call it a day. The cheapest moving company after all might be the slowest, costing you more in the long run.
Finally, remember that your moving estimate is not a binding contract; it’s an offer. Ask questions before making a final decision, and go with the company that gives you the clearest answers.
Reward Your Movers With a Good Review
One of the best tools in choosing a moving company is the reviews, so pay it forward once you’re settled in your new home.
A good review isn’t necessarily a positive one. The most important aspect is that your review is honest and thorough. here are some tips on writing a good moving company review:
- Be Studious. Make sure you have done your homework and have a good background of information (from your own experience as well as other reviews) before you write your review.
- Be Respectful. Don’t resort to name-calling/profanity or type in all caps. Be collected enough that others reading the review will take you seriously.
- Be Thorough. Go beyond a simple “Great company! Would hire again!” Take the time to explain what made the company so great (or not so great, as the case may be).
- Be Fair. Don’t blame the moving company for things that aren’t their fault. For example, if a bad storm hit the day you scheduled your move, don’t get angry that the company had to reschedule. Instead, discuss how the company handled the delay and what (if anything) they did to make things easier on you.
- Be Forgiving. If worse comes to worst, resist the urge to get into an online war with the company on a review site. If the company responds positively to your concerns and makes an effort to make things right, great. If they company ignores your concerns (or, worse yet, fights back), let their response be a reflection on them. Obviously, if the moving company was grossly negligent and refuses to provide the necessary compensation, you should obtain legal consultation and include the details of the matter in your online review.
Pick The Best Orlando Moving Company: Cento Family Moving & Storage
Picking a great moving company can make or break your move, so it’s important to take all the right steps when making your selection.
In the end, what’s most important is that you find a moving company that can do the job you need, and Cento Moving has done every moving job you can imagine. We’ve moved happy customers all over Orlando, Florida, and to every other state except Alaska, and we’ve handled plenty of commercial moves as well as residential. We offer packing services and storage in addition to moving, and we’re ready to make your moving day a breeze!
If you’re in the market for a moving company, give Cento Family Moving & Storage a call (or fill out our quote form for a free estimate). Or, you can start by reading some of our recent reviews. We love a happy customer!
Thanks for the tips. You did such a good job of organizing this information. Like you said, I’m going to make sure I get a lot of quotes. I also think I’ll make sure the estimate clearly states which services are included, like you suggested. Wish me luck!
Very informational tips. Thanks for sharing this information.
This article helped me a lot as these tips are very important and one should keep these helpful tips in mind for a scam free move.
Being fair can be a really tough tip to follow in the heat of the moment. When you see that something of yours is broken, your immediate reaction would be to blame the company who moved it. Keeping in mind storms and other things that could go wrong is a good way to calm down and understand that extenuating circumstances do happen. Thanks for this great list of tips and info!
My wife and I are moving for the first time and we both are pretty nervous about it. We aren’t sure what we are doing and need help finding services to give us a hand with it. This article has some great points that I think will be able to help us find what we are looking for.
These are some great tips, and I appreciate your advice to get estimates from at least three moving companies. My husband and I are going to be relocating with our family to a new area for a job opportunity, and we want to make that process as smooth as possible. We’ll be hiring a moving company, so we’ll definitely make sure to get several estimates so we know we’re getting the best deal for us. Thanks for the great post!
My husband and I are looking at moving in a couple months, and we want to make sure we hire the right company to help us. It is essential that we find someone that is experienced and reliable to help us in this process. As you said, it’s a good idea to get quotes from at least 3 different places and ask lots of questions to ensure that you are getting quality service at a fair price. Thanks for sharing!
These movers can take care of all details; major moving companies have excellent insurance coverage, so you don’t have to worry about losing your furniture or other stuff because of a road accident. I just like the caring information you provide to your articles. Thanks for such post and keep it up.
You said that we should get quotes from at least 3 different companies. When my wife and I were moving I didn’t know how much it would cost for us to move. I’ll need to ask someone that I know for assistance when I am trying to find a professional moving company that is near me.
Awesome article! I especially like that you talked about leaving a review. I’ve been working with some movers and keep stressing how important it is to make sure their employees are friendly and remind their clients to leave a good review. Thank you!
This is some really good information about choosing a good moving company. I hate moving because it always takes so long to move everything in and out of a home. So hiring a moving company would be something I would want to do. It does seem like a good idea to make sure that the company you hire is insured as well.
My wife and I think it would be so much less stressful during our move if we let a professional moving company handle a lot of our big furniture. It’s good to know that you suggest we get at least 3 quotes before deciding on a company to handle our move. Is this so that we can be ensured to get a competitive price for moving services?
Great Blog! And we very happy while reading your article. the articles is really very nice and very Informative for us.
It really helped when you mentioned how you should get estimates from at least 3 companies when looking for someone to help you move. I can see that taking the time to do this and to compare several moving companies can help you get your items safely to your new destination. Personally, I would want to take the time to read online reviews from the best companies I can find so I choose the one that can help me have a stress-free move.
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