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Moving is no fun, whether it be a big move, a small move, out of a three story house or out of a studio apartment – it’s no fun. The question is - how do you know if it’s going to be so not fun that you’d be better off paying a moving company to do it for you?

Moving companies can be pretty expensive, especially if you’ve got a reasonable distance to travel but even with that expense it’s sometimes better to let movers do the work for you, even when it seems like it’s going to be a small move. Here are some factors that may help you decide to just deal with having no fun and completing the move yourself or whether to outsource the work and let the movers worry about it.

Do you have anyone to help?

This is a big factor; even a small move can fill up your vehicle several times. Unless you’ve got a couple able bodies, each with a vehicle to load up – you are going to be much better off hiring a moving company. Imagine how long it will take you to move just twenty miles up the road if the only one working is you and the only vehicle you’ve got is your Ford Escort – it would cost you more in time and gas than it would cost to hire the movers.

What type of Vehicle you have

This reason is almost related to the first, but it merits mentioning. If you have a small car and you have only one friend that is able to help – who also has a small car, it could take several trips to complete the move. The more trips that you have to make, the more time it’s going to take you to move – as was stated earlier, moving is no fun, don’t prolong it unnecessarily by making a thousand trips to complete it. If you don’t have access to a truck, or aren’t comfortable with operating a rented truck – hiring a moving company to complete the job in one trip is a very smart move.

What you have to move

Even a small move can have a few big and heavy things. Take a good long look at exactly what has to go with you – a marble coffee table, a six piece sectional couch, a sixty inch TV and the entertainment center that is holding that sixty inch TV are not things that you want to be moving when you’ve only got your sister as a helping hand. If you’re small move has a number of heavy things, it could certainly pay to hire movers to do the job for you.

This may come as a surprise to some, but if you’ve got a lot of breakables that are valuable than hiring a moving company might be a good idea as well. Most moving companies have insurance coverage available, if you can prove the worth of an item that is damaged by movers, you’ll likely be able to get reimbursed for the full amount. Some people like to be in charge of handling their own breakable items, but if you drop and smash that antique vase – then you will be the one paying for the replacement.

Ultimately, the decision to hire a moving company is entirely up to you – most moves, especially the smaller ones can be handled without hiring any outside help. Before you make your final decision though, consider the variables above as well as the fact that the move will very likely be completed in a fraction of the time, and with zero labor, when you hire a moving company.

Should you tip your movers? This is a question that many individuals ask because they’re simply not sure whether movers need to be tipped. It is something that is not frequently discussed. In all reality, it is not something that is really thought about for the simple fact that moving is a very stressful time. However, the movers work really hard and they really don’t get paid much more than any other labor job. That is why it is important to show them how much you appreciate everything they have done for you and your family. But the problem is how much they should be tipped. What is the general tipping policy with professional movers?

Tipping

Now that you know that it is proper etiquette to tip, you have to know how much. This isn’t like tipping a waiter or a waitress in a restaurant. This is something that is completely different. Now you can also keep in mind that tipping is completely optional. If you feel that your movers didn’t do a good job, you don’t have to tip them. It isn’t like in a restaurant where the waiter or waitress relies on tips to make up the rest of the money they are not making on the hour. Movers don’t have to rely on tips. Tips or more or less a bonus, but, as stated before, it is proper etiquette for a job well done. They risk their physical well-being by moving heavy objects, so it is only right to show appreciation.

With that said, there are times in which tipping movers is a must. However, make sure you keep some things in mind before you take that leap into paying a generous tip. Make sure you ask yourself these questions:

-    Do I feel like the movers did a great job moving my belongings?
-    Do I feel as if they moved my belongings in a timely fashion?
-    Were the movers polite to me?
-    Did they work with me without any fuss?
-    Did they go above and beyond to ensure the safety of my belongings, my home, and my family?

If you answered yes to all of these questions, then a tip is in order. There are two different types of tips that can be offered to the movers. Those tips are money and refreshments.

The two types of tips

Whatever you can afford to do for the movers, they are going to be appreciative either way. You can do something such as offering lunch on you. That is money they do not have to pay that day, so they are keeping cash in their pocket. You can offer them pizza or you can order out for Chinese. You can give them options and see what they want because it is very likely they eat a lot of pizza in their profession.

As for money, it is common for a mover to receive $20 for an entire day of work and $10 for half of a day. However, you can go over or under this amount. It just depends on how much you can afford to tip your movers. Not everyone can afford these amounts due to moving fees and such.

Just know that moving doesn’t have to be an absolute nightmare and it doesn’t have to break you financially either. There really isn’t an industry standard when it comes to tipping, but everyone seems to agree on what is appropriate or not. In all actuality, what is appropriate really depends on how much you can afford. No matter what you give them for their hard work, they will be very appreciative.

Finding long distance movers does not have to be a daunting task. However, it is important you don’t want to pick just anyone. This is because you don’t want to risk your possessions becoming damaged. If your possessions do become damaged, you want to know that you’re dealing with a long distance mover that will take care of things for you. You shouldn’t be left in the dark with a job that is not done well and belongings that are damaged.

Finding the Best Movers

There are some initial steps that you must take to find the perfect full-service long distance mover. Those steps include:

- Look around in your local area or look on the Internet to see what long distance movers service your area.

- Once you find the full-service long distance movers that service your area, it is time to look on the Internet for reviews on the services that they provide. Reviews are fantastic at helping people make informed decisions regarding the services that they need.

- Once you narrow it down based on Internet reviews, it is time to make the phone call. This means that you’re going to ask them questions such as what sort of insurance they have. You need to know what it is they cover and what they don’t cover so that you know you’re protected.

- Make sure you take a look at the state you are moving to, if it is a different state. The laws differ from state-to-state, which means things could change during the move. The mover should go over this with you when you are telling them where it is you are moving to.

- Get a written estimate for services from the moving company. Don’t trust a verbal estimate. You need to have on paper what your moving service includes and what it doesn’t include. From there you can compare with other companies you have received written estimates from.

- Don’t forget to compare costs. The idea is to find an affordable full-service long distance moving service. You don’t want a service that is going to charge you an arm and a leg for something that someone cheaper can do just as well.

Doing this takes a lot of the stress out of moving. You shouldn’t have to bite your nails down to the quick out of nervousness because you’re afraid valuables are going to get damaged. You should be able to have confidence in your full service long distance movers. You should be able to acquire a track record from them that shows they are very good at what they do.

Other Things to Consider

When choosing your full-service long distance movers, make sure you get a list of what they do and do not move. This can vary from company to company because of the trucks that they have. This could be something that determines who you choose to be your mover. Remember that your possessions are traveling a long way, so you have to ensure that everything is in good hands.

If you’re ever in doubt about any details of your contract, the ideal full-service long distance movers should have their contract details on their website. This is so you can refer back if you need to. Never let yourself be in doubt over anything. All doubt does is cause you to worry. These tips are in place to try to remove some of that worry. You have enough on your mind when it comes to moving to a new home, so you don’t need more than what you can handle.

Moving is a time of great emotional stress and upheaval.  You have to say good-bye to the place you’ve lived, sometimes for many years, and head off to a new destination.  Frequently, this change is accompanied by a new job, new home, and a new school for the kids, not to mention new friends, new town, and other changes.

Given all this change, it’s no surprise that the choice of hiring a moving company can be fraught with difficulty.  After all, this moving company will be handling all of your most valuable possessions. You want those possessions to be unharmed and in one piece as your relocate and set up house again.

But how can you make sure your moving company can be trusted? Are there any secrets for looking into their reputation? The key to protecting your possessions is doing lots of research. Read on to find out more!

Start with the Web

Most reliable moving companies will have a web site advertising their services.  This is a great place to start your research.  Use the web to come up with a list of potential companies, based on price, location, and services.  A good moving company website will also include contact information for the company.

Next, do a web search for each company on your list. Look for user reviews, both good and bad. Have other people used the company? How have they felt about the services?

Word of Mouth
Now that you have a list of movers in your area and a few ideas of other users’ experiences, try asking around locally. Most people have used a moving service at some point, and they will have either good or bad things to say about the company. Ask neighbors, co-workers, even your child’s teacher or the clerk at the grocery store.

Research, Research, and More Research
By now, you probably have a revised list of movers. You’ve scratched off any company that has bad online user reviews or received negative assessments from your local friends and family. Now it’s time to learn more about these companies.

The next step is to contact the Better Business Bureau. If there have been any grievances filed against the company you are considering, the Better Business Bureau will have a report. Most companies have a few unhappy customers, but if the grievances were resolved quickly and satisfactorily, the Better Business Bureau will have that information in their report as well.

Next, call the US Department of Transportation to ensure the company has registered properly. Your chosen moving company should have a Department of Transportation number.

Red Flags
Even after you have thoroughly researched a company, you may have a few lingering concerns. If you see any of these red flags, more on to the next company on your list:

-    There is no contact information on the company website, and there is no local address for this mover.
-    Rather than answering phone calls with the company name, the representative uses general terms to refer to the company. Worse, there isn’t a receptionist that answers, just a recorded message.
-    The moving company only accepts cash and requires large up-front fees or deposits.
-    The moving company claims that their insurance will cover all of your household goods.
-    Rather than agreeing to a pre-move inspection of your goods, the mover agrees to move your possessions without seeing them.
-    When the moving truck arrives, it is not marked with the company name.

Trust Your Instincts
The biggest factor in making a decision about a mover is your own gut reaction. If something just doesn’t feel right to you, go with that initial reaction and move on to another company.  There’s enough stress involved in moving without having to wonder if you made the right choice in moving companies.

Moving can be a very difficult task because it involves packing up everything you own and moving it to a completely different location. To make the process easier, the services of a moving company is usually needed. However, there is one common mistake that individuals make when employing the services of a moving company and that is underestimating the type and how much insurance coverage is needed in case anything becomes damaged. It is common to check and see that the company offers insurance and just assume that it covers all possible damages and then just go on. This can be quite problematic.

It is not enough to rely on the fact that most moves are trouble-free. However, damages do occur and it can be quite the headache. That is why you should invest in insurance coverage because the moving company is not going to be responsible for damage to your property. It is required by them to be as careful as possible, but accidents do happen. By making sure you have adequate moving insurance, you are able to have any broken items replaced or repaired when damaged during the moving process.

Tips to use

You can always check with your home insurance company and see if they have anything in your existing policies that covers you when you are moving. This is a step you want to take before anything else because you don’t want to pay the movers extra for insurance that you already have. If your home insurance company does, ask them if there are any exclusions. If by any chance there is not any coverage or it isn’t adequate, you can ask them for something that will cover the move.

Other things you can do are:

-    Talk to your movers before making any type of agreement with them. Ask for the details of their coverage such as exclusions, limits, and so on. Many times insurance is included in the quote, but you have to make sure it is adequate. Never move with a company that does not have insurance.

-    If they do offer insurance, check to see if their insurance covers damage to the premises. If so, you have to tell them as soon as the damage occurs in order for it to be covered. You may also find that they will have you make a list of extremely valuable items and that you’ll have to pay extra for these items being moved.

Policies to look out for

Look for policies that have you pay by weight. This usually works by pound. This policy usually only works according to depreciation value, so you may only receive back the current worth of an item. It is possible to pay extra to cover the value rather than the weight. You also have the option to pay for a full value policy. These types of policies usually give you market value in case damage occurs. However, it will result in the repair, replacement, or payment for the damaged item.

For many individuals, the basic insurance policy that is included in the mover’s price is enough. However, it is especially important for you to pay attention to the policy when you are making a long distance move. That will be an instance in which you’ll probably need more coverage, since the longer distance means a higher risk of damage to your belongings. So just make sure you always read the small print that comes with your moving contract Always look for exclusions and clauses so that you have an idea of what you need to do to protect your items.