Moving is no easy feat, especially when dealing with a huge life change. You need to pack up all your things and be careful they survive the journey. One of the quintessential things you’ll do is hire a moving company.
The problem is, how do you find a San Diego moving company worth your time and money? You don’t want to trust anybody other than the best. You’ll want to consider a number of things, including reputation, skills, flexibility, price, and care.
For six tips for finding a San Diego moving company, look no further. Our guide has you covered, so keep reading.
1. Start With Your Needs
Before even trying to find a San Diego moving company that’s right for you, the first step is knowing what you need. Assess the scale of the move and list down any specifics. You can start with where you’re moving to, the things that need moving, as well as any assistance you need.
Knowing the distance of the move is essential too. Interstate moves are often less difficult to pull off. They require less effort and coordination compared to moving to another state.
Whether you’re hauling most of your household items or only several boxes also makes a difference. To some, the moving process is something they choose to avoid altogether. If this sounds like you, it’s best to look for moving companies that can handle the whole ordeal.
Such services can include sorting, packing, or even getting rid of items you no longer want. Certain companies can even help you set up a garage sale, charity donations, or dump runs. Once you have a better idea of what you need, jot it down.
Finally, try to be more flexible-have backup plans, and keep your options open. Communicate all these to your potential movers when you start looking around. All this will make for a smoother move.
2. Research, Reviews, and Referrals
After the planning stage, it’s time to get into action. Start with doing your research. Google, social media, and online forums are your friends.
They play a huge role in every business’ success or downfall. Ask around the local community if there’s a moving company they can recommend you. If you check threads like your local Facebook community or Reddit, you’re sure to find a moving company that checks all your boxes.
They can also alert you of red flags to watch out for or warn you of which ones to steer clear from. The last thing you want is to spend your hard-earned money on people who only care about getting things done. Remember, they’ll be handling your belongings.
If they don’t do things the right way, chances are you’ll end up with damaged, or worse, lost items. The move itself can already be quite pricey. Replacing items that should have arrived with damages will only put a hole in your pocket.
3. Get Quotes and Estimates
After you’ve narrowed your choices down, the next step is asking for quotes and estimates. Taking the current world situation into account, many areas are experiencing inflation. In addition to that, long-distance moving companies weren’t always budget-friendly.
Unfortunately, they won’t start being so anytime soon either. This is you should start looking into the actual costs of your move. Get at least three quotations and estimates, and then decide from there.
Depending on your budget, you can start adjusting by reducing costs or adding a bit more for the haul. If possible, you can even move some of your items and belongings by yourself. This isn’t always ideal though, especially if you have to do multiple trips.
This is what makes most people only want to take the bare minimum. That said, working with a budget doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get good service. There are still several moving companies in San Diego, CA, who are more than capable of delivering.
4. Look Into Accreditation
Professional movers will always stand out. They’ll have accreditations, awards, or other glowing symbols of their excellence. Organizations like the Better Business Bureau will highlight them for being trustworthy.
It might be easier and cheaper to hire an unknown local company, but this isn’t advisable. You shouldn’t risk your precious contents with just any moving company.
5. Insurance Is A Must
Something to consider when looking at moving companies is insurance. Everything you plan to take with you has monetary or personal value. Making sure the moving company has insurance can help if things get broken.
A competent moving company will be careful with your things, especially if they are fragile. That said, accidents still happen, even to the best. Sometimes these aren’t the mover or driver’s fault, such as a mechanical failure with the truck.
Getting hit in an accident is also a grim but realistic possibility. You want everyone to be safe and sound, of course, but that also includes your stuff. If insurance isn’t part of the conversation, then things can get heated if the topic of compensation ever comes up.
You don’t want to go back and forth with the movers over who should pay for your $1000 broken glass table.
6. Goes Beyond Moving Services
Moving companies do more than help you move. They help you pick up your life to start somewhere new. Part of this involves them having respect for you and your belongings.
You never want to see a moving company roughly handling your things. It doesn’t matter if they are fragile or not. A moving company should listen to your concerns and direction.
They should do their best to be efficient, safe, and reasonable. That means not being rude or arguing over “the best way” to pack something. Civil conversations and gentle handling of packages are key.
Find a San Diego Moving Company For You
There’s a lot to consider when picking the right San Diego moving company for you. You need to factor in your needs and the reputation, flexibility, and skills of the company. Financial considerations will also be a big factor.
If you need more advice or articles about what to look for, then take a quick peek at our site.