5 Tips When Hiring A Moving Company When You Relocate

Moving to a new home can be an exciting time, but relocating all your items can be a huge hassle. Luckily, professional moving companies make hauling your items across town or across the country easy. If you are moving and you plan to hire a moving company, check out these five tips to ensure the process is smooth and easy for everyone involved.

Determine if You're Moving Long Distance or Local

Start by determining if your move is local or long distance, because you'll need to hire a local or long-distance moving company. Local moves are anywhere within 100 miles, but if you are moving to another state, it may be considered long distance, even if it's less than 100 miles away. If your move is local, you're in luck because local movers only charge about $25 per hour, per mover. Therefore, if you live in a studio apartment, you may only need two movers, and since the apartment is small, it may only take two to four hours to move everything. As a result, you may only pay $100 to $200. However, if you need long-distance movers, expect to pay significantly more. A small, one-bedroom apartment may cost up to $5,000 to move across the country.

Consider if You Need Additional Services

In some cases, you may need or want additional services. Some services are likely included in the price. For example, the cost to load, transport, and unload the items is likely included in the base price. However, depending on the company, they may charge more if there are stairs or other obstacles. In some cases, for more money, you can also have the movers pack and unpack all your items.

Ask About Prohibited Items

There are some items you should not pack for the movers. In many cases, they are illegal for the moving company to move. These typically include hazardous or potentially hazardous items. Common prohibited items include gasoline, bleach, fertilizer, nail polish, etc. Different moving companies may refuse to move certain items to reduce their risk. For example, they may refuse to move perishable foods. While it isn't dangerous for them to transport perishable foods, there is a chance the food will go bad, making you and your family sick if you eat it. For this reason, perishable foods may simply be prohibited to reduce the risk of an insurance claim or lawsuit.

Sort and Label Items Clearly

If you choose to pack your own items, make sure to sort items properly. Start by separating what you don't want the movers to take. This may include some items the movers refuse to relocate, such as plants, but it may also include private items, such as passports, birth certificates, etc. Keep the items in a different room or far away from everything else, or write, "do not take" on the boxes. Keep the items you do want the movers to take in groups based on the rooms they belong in. This makes it easier to keep all items together so the movers can unload each room at a time.

Reduce the Risk of Potential Accidents

When you have movers coming in and out of your home, hauling big items, it can get hectic fast, which increases the risk of accidents. Reduce the risk of accidents to your loved ones by keeping children and pets out of the way, in another room or at a neighbor's house. To keep the movers safe while working on your property, remove any tripping hazards, such as rugs. Try to keep all the boxes together, so they are easy to spot while carrying large, heavy items.

If you are moving in the near future, hiring a moving company can make the entire process much simpler. Whether you are moving local or long distance, movers do the heavy lifting for you, so you can focus on getting to your new home safety. For more information regarding moving companies, contact one in your area today.