How to Choose San Diego Long-Distance Movers
Moving can be a stressful event — in fact, 45% of Americans think that moving is even more stressful than a breakup or divorce!
Fortunately, there are ways to lessen that stress. Hiring movers, for example, can take some of the burdens off you and leave you to think about other things while professionals handle some of the logistics.
But not all movers are created equal, so you need to choose carefully.
If you’re moving out of California, here’s how to choose the best San Diego long-distance movers.
Ask for References
The first thing you can do is ask for references. Over 40 million Americans move every year so, chances are, you know someone who’s recently used San Diego movers themselves.
Asking friends or family, or posting on the local Facebook group, is a good way to get some company names and start your research. You should always these as a jumping point and do your own research, though, as one person’s experience may not be everyone else’s.
Read Reviews
When you have a good start for your research, it’s time to read reviews.
A long-distance moving company may have customer testimonials available on their site but even if they don’t, it’s easy enough to find accounts of people who’ve used them before. Google, Yelp, and Facebook all hold a whole host of third-party neutral reviews for companies where you can scroll through and find out how San Diego movers did.
You should look for a good overall rating but, if you have the time, it’s an even better idea to dive into the high and low reviews and actually read them. You can see what the movers in San Diego did well and what they didn’t, giving you a clearer picture of each company.
Make Sure They’re Licensed and Insured
Before going any further with a company, make sure they’re licensed and insured. Licenses are a requirement in California for this industry, and insurance can be just as important.
Not only does it protect your belongings, but it ensures that if the movers get injured, they have the money to pay for the medical costs and you won’t end up in a legal battle.
If you ask for a license number and the company seems hesitant to give it to you, then it’s a huge red flag and you should do business elsewhere.
Look for Experience
Find out how long the company has been around. While a new moving company that started up a month ago may be amazing at what they do, there’s nothing quite like experience — and it’s never fun, as a consumer, to be part of a learning curve.
Ask how long they’ve been in business and if they’ve operated under any other names. A company that frequently changes its name may be trying to get around bad reviews or avoid bad press, so do your research thoroughly on this one.
You should also make sure they have experience specifically with moving long-distance, as this can be a whole other ball game.
Ask for Availability
If you’ve done your research well in advance to find a company, then you shouldn’t have much issue ensuring they’re available when you need them. However, before you lock everything in, you should ask for their availability.
There’s no point getting into talks with a company only to find out they’re fully booked for the entire duration that you need to move.
Consider Their Customer Service
As you talk to the moving company, you should be evaluating their customer service the whole time. From the initial inquiry, you want to ask yourself the following questions:
- Do they get back to you within a reasonable timeframe?
- Are they asking questions and engaging with you?
- Are they transparently answering your questions?
- Are they pleasant, helpful, and reliable?
If you can answer yes to all of these questions, then they’re likely a good company to go with. If they seem short or impatient with your questions, then it’s a good sign they’re not the movers for you, as they likely won’t be very helpful throughout the rest of the process.
Consider the Quote
One of the last (but one of the most important) things you need to consider is the quote. It’s a good idea to get quotes from different moving companies, just so you can compare them and get an idea of what a reasonable price for your move is.
While it’s important to go with a company that’s within your budget, it’s also important not to pick the cheapest company without considering all of the other factors.
Cheap San Diego movers with no insurance and bad reviews may end up costing you more in the long run when they don’t know how to safely and successfully get your possessions from one place to another. Think about the price you’re being given, but remember to weigh it up alongside all of the other factors to come to a final consensus.
Do Your Research When Choosing San Diego Long-Distance Movers
When choosing San Diego long-distance movers, it’s essential to do your research to make sure you choose the right company for you.
Check their license and insurance, read reviews, consider their customer service, and the quote, and you should be on the right path to finding someone that will take the stress out of your out-of-state move.
Wondering where to start in finding reliable movers? Contact us today and let’s see what we can do for you. We have lots of reviews, and customers love Move Central.