Researching long-distance moving companies
Before you entrust a houseful of your possessions to a team of movers, it's a good idea to make sure you've found the best movers for the job. Good long distance moving companies can vastly improve your experience by reducing the time and effort you have to put into packing, hauling and unloading your furniture and possessions.
Unfortunately, you could encounter low-quality movers who may damage your property, and even some outright thieves posing as professional movers. With a few precautions, you can make sure you've found a moving company that will meet your needs without ripping you off (in either sense).
Reputation check
Before you decide on a moving company, ask your friends and family for recommendations. Anyone who hired a moving company to get into their current house will be able to tell you whether at least one moving company is good or bad. Collect a few stories of especially positive or negative experiences and make a short list of the best movers.
Check with the Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org) to see if the companies you're considering are listed. The BBB provides customer reviews on many companies and offers accreditation. BBB-accredited businesses are verified to fulfill certain requirements, such as fulfilling all licensing requirements, having operated for a year or more and making a good-faith effort to resolve any customer complaints.
Contact the company
Once you've settled on a couple long distance moving companies, give each one a phone call or visit their offices and ask about their rates and services. In addition to giving you useful information, this will help you form an impression about how professional and competent the company is.
A reputable moving company will be transparent and able to answer your questions about prices, services and policies. If the person you speak with seems evasive or confused, do not deal with the company. Also, beware of companies whose offices or trucks are unmarked or in poor condition. Ask several companies for per-hour rates or quotes for the quantity of goods you'll need moved and the distance you're moving.
Services to ask about
It is also useful to ask in advance about what services a moving company offers. Many movers will provide a packing service. This is especially advantageous if the company offers coverage for items they pack, move and unpack themselves. The alternative is to pack and unpack your goods yourself, leaving the movers to load, transport and unload them. This is generally less expensive but involves much more effort, although some people feel uncomfortable trusting movers with the task of packing their boxes.
If you live in a multistory building, especially in a city, ask about the moving company's experience in similar settings. Some movers will even be able to provide special tools such as lifts for removing large items through second-story windows. In some cases, city movers will also have expertise removing and replacing windows to make it easier to get bulky items out.
Finally, look into any auxiliary services you may require, such as piano moving (which requires special equipment and expertise), coverage for valuable art or objects, etc. If the movers typically sign a contract with their clients, request to see a copy ahead of time.
