Top 10 Questions to Ask Local Movers!

If there’s one thing everyone can agree on, it’s that moving is stressful, no matter the circumstances. Fortunately, there are ways to ease the burden. Hiring local movers helps, whether to simply haul boxes from point A to point B, or to pack every single fork and dish. But before relinquishing control of every prized possession, take the time to choose your local movers carefully. Depending on the length of the move, your belongings may be in movers’ Los Angeles care for days, if not weeks. It’s important to ask key questions before signing contracts or letting strangers pick up everything you own and drive away with it. Choosing the right LA movers often ends up being the difference between a smooth, trouble-free move and a difficult and painful house moving experience where problems just seem to come one after the other.

Interviewing movers Los Angeles is a process that should not be taken lightly. There are many types of moving companies to choose from and not every LA movers are created equally. Ask the right questions and you can avoid unnecessary charges, damages, and scams. Here, we will list the top 10 questions you need to ask local movers when choosing which moving company to hire.

1. How long has the moving company been in business?

One of the very first questions to ask local movers is just how many years they have been in the moving industry. As a rule of thumb, hiring a moving company that’s been around for many years is a sign that they must have been doing something right – otherwise, they would not have stayed competitive for so long, and most likely would have gone out of business if they’d offered low-quality services. If the company only has a few years of experience, you may want to check the business’s background more thoroughly. A moving company that’s been in business for a while proves that they provide quality service — and that they operate lawfully. A new moving company will not have a paper trail, so it will be difficult to find reviews, legal action, or other open complaints against them.

On the other side, a moving company’s long history cannot guarantee excellent moving services like the ones you’re looking for, but their longevity will be a strong indication that the relocation experience they have gained through the years will be beneficial for you. Be extra cautious if you choose to hire LA movers that are relatively new in the business as they have not had enough time to prove their worth.

2. Is the moving company licensed and insured?

Another question you must ask your moving company is whether they are properly licensed to do business in the country. Interestingly enough, irrespective of their answer, you still need to verify their legitimate status online. Why? The last thing you’d want is to deal with unlicensed rogue local movers that tend to have only one thing on their mind – to find a good way to scam you. If you are moving within your state, the moving company needs a state license. Never hire same day movers without a license number, and make sure the name of the company matches the license holder’s name. This ensures you’re working with a legitimate company. It’s also best to hire local movers that have been in business for many years. Many fake moving companies bounce from name to name to try and escape a bad reputation. Verify that the moving company is insured on the same website you used to check their license. Never hire local movers without insurance, to protect your belongings. Also, check to see if your personal items are covered during a move under your homeowners’ or renters’ policy. If not, you may want to consider supplemental moving insurance. However, moving regulations and license movers’

3. Does the mover offer a binding not-to-exceed estimate?

While locating local movers, you are probably working on your moving budget, too. Determining estimates and fees from potential LA movers near me can help you find a reliable local mover with affordable rates. A binding not-to-exceed estimate means you only must pay for an agreed-upon price, even if your weight exceeds the estimate.

4. What type of insurance do the local movers offer?

Understanding your insurance options is an important aspect of your upcoming move so it should be one of the mandatory questions to ask when local movers. The moving company will often provide insurance at an additional cost. Insurance is usually based on weight, so you will need to assess the value of your goods versus what the insurance policy will provide should your belongings arrive damaged or not at all. Standard coverage is 60 cents per pound and is usually not enough to cover the true cost of the damaged item. Before you purchase more insurance, look into your home insurance to see if they offer additional coverage for moving.

In the majority of cases, you will receive a free basic coverage called Basic Limited Liability Protection as soon as you sign the Bill of Lading. You shouldn’t get too excited though because that basic coverage is de facto non-existent – would you be satisfied to get around $20 as compensation if your local movers broke your big plasma TV? Of course not. Instead, ask your local movers about you purchasing real moving insurance that will cover you adequately in case of damage or loss of one of your belongings. Such protection is called Full Value protection and entitles the movers Los Angeles to reimburse the replacement value of whatever’s been damaged or lost.

5. Are there any specifics to your move that will cost extra?

Find out if there are any additional fees or when additional fees apply. Some local movers will charge extra for awkward items, if the destination does not have easy access, or if the load has to be hand-carried over a certain distance. To avoid such costs, note any larger items and pre-arrange where the truck can park, if there are any stairs, and, if you are moving to a condo or high-rise, investigate any possible obstructions such as elevator usage and load restrictions. If your old or new residence is not accessible for a large carrier truck or van, you may need to have the local movers arrange for a shuttle service, which will also incur additional costs. These extra charges are called “flight charges” or “long carry charges,” and they should be discussed with your LA movers ahead of time. If you’re well-organized, have arranged for parking and elevator usage, these charges should not apply.

This question is about the moving charges related to your specific relocation. It’s good to keep in mind the following information: Local moves are usually charged hourly per worker. Knowing this before you speak to your moving specialist can also help you ask questions about additional policies related to a local move.

6. How do you prevent property damage during the move?

You want your new home to be protected on moving day. The local movers should be able to provide you with information about their moving techniques and the type of protective coverings they use. Large appliances require moving pads, sliders, and a dolly. Furniture should be dissembled and wrapped in blankets. It would also be wise for the local movers to measure your doorways and plot out a pathway before the move day. The movers Los Angeles should protect your new and previous home’s banisters, corners, floors, and walls when moving furniture. Do they use corner guards, moving blankets, and other protected materials? If not, what precautions do they take? How do they intend on treating special items, such as glass-fronted furniture and antiques? If you have a lot of delicate items, make sure to aks before the move.

7. Does the mover have the necessary moving equipment?

When paying professional local movers to help you out with your house move, you want to be certain that they have the proper moving equipment to handle your specific type of move. This is especially important when you have special items and you’d like the local movers to be able to protect them and move them safely to the new home. Don’t underestimate the complexity and danger of moving bulky furniture pieces or household appliances either. You just need to know that your movers Los Angeles have enough trained staff and the right moving equipment to complete the job as scheduled. Assuming that your same day movers have basic moving equipment such as a truck of the right size, furniture dollies, appliance dollies, moving blankets, furniture sliders, and all the necessary packing supplies, you may need the LA movers to have special hoisting equipment or more heavy-duty dollies for transporting extra-large and extra-heavy things such as a hot tub, a heavy safe, or a pool table.

8. What extra services will the local movers offer you?

One of the essential questions to ask local movers when getting estimates is what additional services they will offer you so that they can complete the move as scheduled. Note that some of those extra moving services may be required for the successful completion of the relocation (furniture disassembly and assembly, for example), while other accessorial services you can request from your local movers (packing or unpacking, for instance). All good full-service moving companies should be able to offer you the extra services of packing, unpacking, disassembly, and reassembly of furniture, hoisting, wooden crating, temporary storage, and more. Also, ask your moving company in advance what additional moving services you should expect to be charged for. The charges for all services should be included in the binding moving estimate you have received after the on-site survey by the professional movers Los Angeles.

9. Does the company provide a trained moving crew?

One of the things to look for when hiring a moving company is the extent of their experience. The thing you need to know before you agree on specific same day movers is whether their employees work permanently for the company (properly trained and background-checked moving experts) or whether they are just temporary workers with little or no experience in the moving industry. During the peak of the moving season, some moving companies hire temporary inexperienced same day movers due to the high demand for local movers. As a result, the risk of property damage or personal injuries on moving day will be too high even though you’ve hired the services of professional local movers. The local movers should use regular employees, not contractors. Not only will regular LA movers be professionally trained and experienced, but they will undergo background checks and be covered under workers’ compensation. If the moving company doesn’t provide insurance or workers’ compensation, then the customer is liable for injuries that occur on their property. So, don’t forget to ask the moving company whether the crew that will be packing and moving your things will comprise of experienced professional local movers – you don’t want amateurs to be handling your prized possessions.

10. How do you handle complaints and claims?

Ask the local movers if they have any unresolved complaints or claims against them. Most will give you a history of complaints and claims, and if they were resolved satisfactorily for the client. Details won’t necessarily be provided, but if there are some outstanding issues, ask for more information about why and the nature of the complaint and claim. Also, ask how many claims and complaints they’ve had, as this is a good indication of their incident record. So, in addition to locating information about the local movers’ policy, inquire about their claims procedure. No matter how many precautions your local movers take, there is still the possibility that something will get broken or misplaced during the move. Know the company’s policy in advance, so you’ll be ready to handle claims as soon as they happen.

We hope we helped you a little bit when it comes to choosing professional local movers for your upcoming move. If you decide to choose the best one- Burbank Movers, get your free moving quote today!