Moving Companies

What's less fun than moving? How about a root canal, or perhaps having your fingernails slowing removed by hamsters? Those aren't enjoyable. But you know what … moving is worse. In all fairness, it's a semi-tolerable process with the big things. Having the tables, chairs, and pianos and what not organized isn't all that hard. What's hard is packing up the kitchen, or all those knick-knacks in the office/guest bedroom that you never wanted to organize and now need to find a place to put them. It's a royal pain, but your best friend in this process is a moving company.

Moving companies should do all the hard work for you duringmoving time. Yes, you will still need to clean out your study, but some moving companies will even help place dishes and kitchen items safely in boxes with bubble wrap. This is super tedious work, and the key to making the whole process as stress-free as possible is choosing a good company. The first thing to do is to get referrals from friends, family, or co-workers. If a moving company worked well with them, odds are they'll work well with you. Second, the rule of three. This is simple way of saying, get three estimates before settling on a provider. With three estimates, you'll be able to compare similar services and see any big swings or variations.

Third, keep an eye out for red flags. Most companies are not going to ask for cash deposits before you move. If a company seems overly eager to get your money, it's likely a shady business you should steer clear of. Fourth, make sure the mover is licensed and insured. Stateside, the Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration issues what is known as a DOT number. This DOT number is critical because if anything happens, the DOT will lead you back to the owner of the firm.

Fifth, check online with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). We hear a lot about the BBB, but you'd be surprised how few people tap into them. The BBB is a fantastic resource and will tell you immediately if there are any outstanding issues with a provider in your area. And lastly, reputable moving companies will have a professional accreditation. A recognizable one is the American Moving and Storage Association's ProMover accreditation. There are also others available on their website – Moving.org.

American Van Lines is a moving company with the best upfront pricing. Getting quotes is fast and efficient, and you don't need to do a lot of back and forth in terms of haggling. They have flat-rate pricing as well as price-matching. The only cons with American Van Lines is pricing estimations cannot be accomplished online. Rather, in-person or over the phone are their preferred ways of working.

In terms of customer experience, Allied Van Lines is a consistent leader. The feedback (which really is glowing) is responsive customer agents, pricing transparency, and excellent service in terms of appliance disconnection and reconnection. This last point is a real value-added. There's nothing better than a service that understands how to disconnect and reconnect a washer.

Lastly, a company that is widely recognized for its ability to best customize your move is North American Van Lines. These folks count on a vast network of local moving agents, are great with GPS shipment tracking, and will customize the move to your exact budgetary specifications. There are few companies as flexible, and we all enjoy flexibility!

Some excellent advice here, folks! We know you'll move at some point, it's a hard thing to put off. But these companies and these simple steps have you covered.