How To Choose A Long-Distance Mover

Aren’t you happy and excited about your upcoming move!? That’s how it should be and can be if you let expert movers handle your relocation - especially if you’re moving across the state with everything you own. Once you choose a long-distance mover you trust, a significant part of your moving prep is done. And this is how you make the right choice. 

Warming up: A tiny bit of moving terminology 

Unlike local relocations, a long-haul or long-distance move will take your cherished belongings over four hundred miles and farther. If you cross the border in the process, it becomes an interstate or cross-country move. Likewise, this long-distance move is considered an intrastate relocation if you remain in the current state. 

1. Factors that will inevitably influence your choice of movers 

The first thing you might have noticed when searching for a moving company online is that there are hundreds of movers out there. Does your choice matter? Aren’t they all the same? Won’t they all transport your belongings from A to B? It’s a bit more complicated than that. 

Certain limiting factors will impact your mover selection process and help you initiate it. Most notably, you need to assess the scope of your relocation because it’s a basis for determining your budget. Focus on: 

• How much you can spend without straining your finances. 
• Specialty items that will need expert handling. 
• The number of things you plan to relocate. 
• The urgency of your move. 
• Moving distance. 

Be wary of the costs 

The best way to start budgeting for a move is to ask for a free moving price estimate or a so-called moving quote. Most quotes are non-binding and will give you only a rough estimation of the moving costs. Always account for at least 10 percent more, just in case, unless you have received a binding estimate. Note that the most precise quote is based on an in-house estimate. 

The more items you have and the farther you need to move, the more expensive your relocation will be. Add to it the fact that you need to move on short notice, and there’s another significant uptick in your moving budget. But costs are not the only important factor to help you choose a long-distance mover. Moreover, you can save a significant amount of money if you declutter your items before packing. This is a great way to make your move more affordable without sacrificing on quality. 

A genuinely successful long-distance move is the one you can comfortably finance and receive high-quality, punctual, and safe transportation in return. Only then can you prepare for the moving day with peace of mind and be ready on time for this important project. Sufficient preparation ahead of the big day can make all the difference. 

2. Looking for long-distance movers 

Choosing a local moving company to handle your long-distance move is always recommended. After all, they are easier to reach, and screen and are more likely to design a moving experience tailored to your needs. This usually includes additional moving assistance like packing and unpacking fragile and expensive (specialty) items like artwork and antiquities, musical instruments, glass, and china. 

Start with asking your family, most reliable friends, and colleagues for recommendations. Word of mouth is the best way to find a quality mover but not the only one. Reputable moving companies offer recent, verifiable online reviews for you to rely on. Select a couple of companies and proceed to the mover qualifying stage. 

3. Screening selected movers 

What is the definition of an excellent long-distance moving company? 

• Fully licensed with the U.S. DOT (U.S. Department of Transportation), members of AMSA (American Moving and Storage Association), and accredited by the BBB (Better Business Bureau). 

• Highly ranked by legitimate customer reviews covering punctuality, expertise, dedication to the customer, and transparency in communication and pricing. 
• Backed up with years of demonstrated experience in interstate and long-distance relocations in the United States. 
• Reasonably priced, particularly for additional moving services, such as packing, unpacking, and storage in transit. 

Ideally, your chosen movers should tick all of these boxes. 

4. The time to choose a long-distance mover is now 

If all movers on your list fulfill the requirements listed above, it’s time to check a few more essential details and ask yourself as many questions. 

• Your mover’s availability. How quickly and easily you’ll book your movers depends on the season. Expect lower availability during the late spring and summer months and relatively free schedules during the off-season – in the fall and winter. Which of the short-listed movers are available on your moving date? 
• Consider getting moving insurance. A reliable moving company is always insured; however, types of valuations differ. Full-value replacement is the best coverage you can get, but you might need to arrange it for yourself. What kind of insurance do your movers provide, and is it included in the moving price? 
• Possibility of continuous shipment tracking. We can’t imagine ordering a shampoo without a tracking number, let alone sending the lifetime of belongings hundreds of miles away. Thus, providing continuous tracking is a must for a reputable moving company. Do the movers have the shipment tracking, and how detailed is it? 
• Additional moving services. All-in-one moving service, including packing and unpacking, is a dream come true for every type of relocation. However, when it comes to long-distance moves, the possibility of storing your items short-term is indispensable as you never know what might go wrong at the destination. Do your movers provide the service of storage in transit? 

• Quality packing supplies. Whether you plan to pack your belongings yourself or outsource packing to your movers, you need sufficient quality moving supplies. Hence, if you don’t know which containers and padding would work best for your items and how much you would need, your movers do. Which packing materials do your movers use, and how much does it cost? 

You’ll need a bit of luck 

Finally, call your intuition into the game. There are little things that can tip the scales in favor of a specific moving company. For you, it may be the speedy replies, cordial and honest communication with the representative, movers’ tidy uniforms, clean moving equipment, and the vehicle you can check during an interview. 

To sum it all up 

With a clear picture of how much you can spend, what you move, when, and how far, it shouldn’t take you long to find and choose a long-distance mover. However, choosing the right moving company for you is a project, one that’s well worth your time and effort. With these tips, it should become a tad easier. 

Meta description: Once you choose a long-distance mover you trust, a great part of your moving prep is done. Consider these factors in your selection process.