As a Realtor, you know firsthand the complications of the buying/selling process and the emotional toll moving takes on any family. When shopping for moving companies, most clients ask questions like: “Are you available on X date?” and “How much is this going to cost?”
However, on moving day, almost every client is more concerned about the following:
- Personal safety
- Not being taken advantage of
- Their items not being damaged
- Feeling comfortable
Aaron Stead, CEO of Meathead Movers and his brother, Evan, started Meathead Movers when Aaron was 17 on the Central Coast of California. Fifteen years later they are now operating one of the biggest moving companies in the state because of the sheer demand for ethical moving services, often times stemming from clients’ previous “moving horror stories”.
Every year thousands of complaints are filed against moving companies for unethical practices through websites like the U.S. Department of Transportation’s ProtectYourMove.gov. However, there are many great moving companies that will make your relocation easy and stress free. Doing the right research before choosing a moving company will go a long way to a better experience.
The good news is hiring a moving company does not have to be a roll of the dice. With proper planning, and by asking numerous companies the following questions, there is a much greater chance your moving experience will be a pleasant one.
Following are Aaron Stead’s top 10 questions to ask a moving company:
- What is your company’s breakage-to-move ratio?
Every professional moving company should be tracking their breakage-to-move ratio and constantly trying to improve it. If they don’t track it or won’t provide it to you, you can assume they probably don’t care about breaking your belongings.
- How can your company save me money and why?
When moving locally (within a 100 mile radius) all moving companies charge on an hourly rate. The efficiency and hustle of the movers dramatically effects time, and therefore how much you pay at the end of the day. It is better to know all the charges which will apply, before your move rather than after. Moving companies often fail to inform you of all the charges that are applicable until the end.
What are all of the extra costs that could possibly be involved with my move?
Are the movers efficient with their time? Why?
The faster the moving crew, the more you will save.
What is double driving time?
Double driving time means you don’t get charged for the time it takes to get to your home from our warehouse, or in other words the drive to your origin. Instead, the time to get from your origin (starting point – where you are moving from) to your destination (ending point – where you are moving to) is logged, and then doubled. This is supposed to represent all of the drive time involved in your move. All moving companies charge double driving time on local moves, but did they tell you and explain it?
- Are my items insured or does that cost extra?
Most moving companies in the phone book are “insured” but that doesn’t mean your furniture will get replaced if the movers damage it. The moving industry term for coverage of your belongings is “valuation”, and all but the most basic of coverage costs additional money. Depending on the value of your belongings, it might make sense to buy additional coverage.
- What proactive measures has your company taken to reduce the chance of there being damage?
The answer to this question will give you a good read on how your belongings will arrive at the new destination. Also make sure to ask about the quality of their moving equipment and the experience each mover has.
- What incentive programs are in place to encourage the movers to provide me with excellent service and care of my belongings?
If there is no incentive program for the movers to do a great job and treat your belongings with care, you’re increasing the chance for a bad experience.
- What is your company’s hiring process?
This is a very important question so you can prevent people with criminal backgrounds from being in your home. In addition, you want to ask whether the company hires temporary labor. For obvious reasons, temporary labor would not have the training or experience to provide quality service and increases the risk of damaging your belongings. It’s a fact that full-time labor with experience and ongoing training helps reduce the breakage-to-move ratio.
- What hygiene and dress requirements do you have for your movers?
Some companies have hygiene and dress requirements for their employees and some companies do not. Professional moving companies usually require their movers to be clean-cut and dressed professionally.
- Does your management follow up with me after the move to see how they performed?
Any company that cares about the service they offer their clients will check up on their work. There is a reason why Yelp and Angie’s List exist. Professional moving companies know consumers have the power to share their moving experience with others. If they care about their customer experience and reputation, they will follow up after every moving job they do.
- Has your company won any awards for excellent customer service in my area?
Local recognition or awards from newspapers or the city will tell you the kind of service the company provides.
- Does your company have any training programs and are they ongoing? Can you describe them?
The more training the company provides its employees, the better quality of service you will receive. Professional moving companies constantly train their movers by learning from mistakes so they don’t happen again. By doing this, your belongings have a higher chance of being moved to your new home in the same condition as when they were picked up, and your experience will be a positive one.
For more information go to www.meatheadmovers.com
