If you’re relocating and trying to find reliable but cheap movers near me, but you don’t know where to start, you’re not alone. Moving can be expensive. From buying packing supplies to paying shut-off/start-up costs for utilities to travel costs to get to your new home, the costs can add up quickly. One expense you have some control over is the cost of moving. While cheaper, do-it-yourself moves are always an option, not everyone has the time or back strength to go this route. We’ve all heard negative stories about moving experiences at some point, so deciding who you’ll be putting in charge of your personal belongings takes time and research.
Moving can be an exciting time in a person’s life. But it can also be one of the most challenging times in a person’s life. And perhaps the biggest challenge is finding budget movers to do the heavy lifting. Unfortunately, scams and unethical business practices do exist. Each year, the Better Business Bureau receives thousands of complaints about local movers in the United States. The majority are due to alleged losses or material damage, but there are also many for breach of schedule or to charge more than estimated.
If you’re not careful, your money and belongings could be in jeopardy. Knowing what to look for in local movers will help you better prepare for your move and minimize the stress and hassle. Finding reliable movers San Diego requires good research, otherwise, you will have more headaches or you will end up paying more than expected. By knowing what to look for and which questions to ask, you’ll save money and avoid surprises during your move. And, if you follow these simple tips, you’ll be more likely to find local movers you can trust with your moving and packing needs.
Start the hunt ASAP
As soon as you have your move-out and move-in dates confirmed, start looking for professional local movers. Why should you start so soon? Word spreads quickly about high-quality, low-cost budget movers and this translates into regular bookings. To be one of the lucky ones try and start your local movers searches at least three months before your move critical move date. Plus, you could even get a discount on early booking. To find affordable local movers San Diego you need to start your search on time and contact moving companies at least 4-6 weeks in advance.
Get reviews
Another way to find good local movers to read reviews online. Select sources such as MyMovingReviews, Yelp, HomeStars.com, and Better Business Bureau provide an overall performance rating along with written reviews, which are usually quite descriptive. The rating and personal reviews by previous customers can help you determine if the moving company really does live up to its claims. Now, you can compile a list of the top three professional movers you want to contact. Make sure you are not getting ripped off with more affordable local movers. Look online to see what people had to say about a company, and check to see if there are any reported incidents of theft. Remember your valuables are special, don’t let your move be a reason for the theft.
Ask for recommendations
While most professional budget movers claim to be the best or the cheapest, it’s a statement that’s hard to prove. One way to find out if it’s true is to ask friends, neighbors, and co-workers. See which cheap movers near me they would recommend and ask why. Almost everyone has moved at least once or twice in their lifetime, so start by asking around for recommendations. Family and friends who’ve recently moved are obviously the best places to start, but you can also ask your real estate agent, workplace colleagues, or even post the question to your social channels, such as your Facebook page or a trusted group. Ask them to describe their most recent moving experience and ask specific questions like:
- How was the customer service?
- Was the cost reasonable?
- Were there any hidden fees?
- Were they prompt and professional?
- Did they do everything they said they would do?
Personal recommendations are usually the best when it comes to finding reliable and affordable budget movers. Why? People won’t recommend a company that they had a bad experience with. Whether they recommend local movers they loved working with, or warn you about a poor experience they had, all information is valuable.
Ask your local movers for a detailed cost estimate
Moving cost is made by many factors. For example, when it comes to long-distance moves, the cost depends on the weight of the belongings and the distance between your two locations. But, when you are making a local move, the cost includes the number of hours and the number of men required to complete the move. Of course, when you are planning to move, you should also think about additional services such as packing, storage, crating, etc. Professional and affordable movers budget movers will provide you with a written estimate with all costs included. Get at least three in-home estimates and compare the bids. Request the cheap movers near me for either a binding estimate or a binding not-to-exceed estimate. Both types put a guaranteed cap on what you will pay.
Be wary of an unusually low estimate as it could reflect a lower quality service or they could try charging you more after the move. Reputable local movers will not give you an estimate over the phone or online. Face-to-face meetings are always best. Filling out online forms and even an over-the-phone conversation rarely yields the correct moving quote. But if you’re moving on a budget, this may be your only option. That’s because local movers that compete on price don’t have the time or the resources to provide precise in-home budgets.
For that reason, it’s best to be as accurate as possible when getting an online or over-the-phone quote. If you have heavy items, such as a large record or book collection, make sure to tell the professional budget movers. Neglect this information and you may be surprised by a higher-than-anticipated moving bill. At the end of the day, you’re looking for professional local movers that are both professional and reliable in addition to being affordable and the right fit for you.
Understand pricing and how professional local movers charge
While pricing for local moves is usually pretty straightforward, you still need to understand the breakdown of your charges. Many full-service local movers base their price on the size of the truck you’ll need, several people (laborers), time/hours required, and materials. However, there is still a tendency for local movers to avoid providing an estimate of the total time required. Be sure that you understand the costs associated with going over the time specified in your quote in case of delays during the loading/unloading process, traffic breaks for people providing the labor, etc. Reputable budget movers won’t ask for large, upfront deposits or cash payments. If they do, move on.
Payment should be made upon delivery with a credit card to protect against fraudulent activity. If you pay in advance, you have no control over when you will see your stuff again. With our professional local movers, you can do the packing and unpacking yourself (unless you choose to hire our budget movers for the packing process too), and your price will depend on the type of service you choose. Hiring our local movers only for the moving process is cheaper of course. But if you hire us for the packing process too, you will be stress-free during the whole relocation.
Ask local movers about liability coverage
When you want to hire budget movers in San Diego you also need to think about the property damage during the move. Ask the cheap movers near me about the insurance they have. Usually, local movers have insurance coverage for their vehicles and storage facilities. But, you want to be sure your items are covered in case of loss or damage. Also, ask your budget movers about the details on what type of coverage is available. Most homeowner policies do not cover move-related damage. So, make sure to buy full replacement protection coverage from the furniture movers San Diego. Ask about the cost and make sure the cost is written in your estimate.
Speak to a human at each moving company you are considering
Once you have a shortlist of possible professional local movers based on recommendations from friends and your online research, reach out to every local movers by phone or visit their physical location in person to talk to one of their team members. There are many logistics involved with a move, and every situation is different. Speaking with a representative at each company will allow you to get all the detailed information you need, and it will give you a sense of the customer service you can expect from them.
Every reliable movers San Diego should make it easy to get in contact with a live person during regular office hours, so if you have trouble reaching a person, that could be a red flag. Keep in mind that trustworthy and reliable budget movers will ask you several questions as well. They should be moving experts so they should be asking you for information that you might not have thought to provide. After a conversation with the local movers’ representatives, you should feel completely comfortable that they understand your needs and will be able to follow through on their promises.
Make sure they have friendly service
Look first and foremost for friendly service. Moving as we mentioned, is a daunting task, and you don’t want to have to deal with the hassle of unfriendly people. Notice if local movers are taking the time to answer your questions and give you the benefit of the doubt when you need help with something. Maybe it doesn’t seem like that, but this is a very important criterium when choosing budget movers.
Choose local movers you can feel good about
Now that you know what to look for in local movers, you can hire the right team for your move. Finding reputable budget movers requires doing a little research. But if it’s done the right way, you’ll save yourself time and money, much like when it comes to selling your home.
When you need to entrust everything you have to stranger, you must be sure you are dealing with reliable movers. But, at the same time, you don’t want to spend more money than necessary. In moving there are a lot of costs involved. You have to think about the deposit on your new home, costs for new utilities, and on top of that, you have to think about paying movers for the relocation. When you need to get your stuff from one place to another you want to do it on a budget. That’s why we gave you the best tips for finding budget movers. Remember that the cheapest price is not the best value. So, you need to be very careful when searching for local movers.
Make sure they can provide you with reliable local movers for a decent price. So, are you looking for budget movers San Diego? That’s why we are here, we understand what you are looking for. We want to help you find your reliable and budget movers. If you are leaving your friends, loved ones, or family, these factors can also pose an emotional aspect to moving, as you want to spend your last few days in a place with these people. Don’t let the moving blues get the best of you, there are affordable cheap movers near me that are ready at your leisure. One of them is San Diego Moving Services. Hire San Diego Moving Services and we are sure you will be more than happy with our local movers! Get your free moving quote today!