Choosing the right moving company for your Seattle move is about more than just price. Moving can be a stressful occasion—to limit your stress, make sure you choose an excellent company to partner with you on moving day. Consider these criteria when selecting your mover.
Regulations and Licenses
Moving companies in Seattle are required to have a valid Department of Transportation (USDOT) number. If the company also completes out-of-state moves, they must register with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Make sure your mover is also licensed and insured so your belongings are protected during your move. All of this information lives online, so it should be easy to track down this information quickly.
Established Reputation
As with most of the products and services we buy, ratings and reviews should be a large driving force behind which moving company you choose. You can learn a lot about a moving company by the number of years they have been in business and how past customers have ranked them. Before deciding on a company, check sites like the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Trustpilot, Google, Facebook and Yelp to read reviews and get a sense of the company’s rating and performance.
Service Area Coverage
If you only need a local move within the Seattle metro area, a local mover can meet your needs. However, if you are moving to or from Seattle across the state or the nation, you will need to choose a mover covering the extended service area to avoid hiring multiple moving companies.
Services Available
Many companies offer more than just the base level of moving services. For additional costs, the right team can also provide packing and unpacking services, piano transport, car shipping and even storage options. If these are add-ons that might make your move even smoother, be sure to choose your company with care.
Financing, Estimates and Insurance Valuations
The cost of movers is an important factor in your ultimate decision. Before choosing your mover, we suggest requesting pricing estimates from at least three different moving companies.
Each company should be transparent with its pricing and never include hidden fees, though some companies require an in-person review before offering an estimate. Also, make sure you have an itemized list of every item you plan to move in order to get the most accurate estimate.
Review each company’s insurance options and make sure you feel comfortable with the coverage amounts. Depending on what and how much you have to move, you may want to go with a company that offers a more comprehensive and higher-value insurance plan. You can figure out exactly how much moving truck space you need with our moving calculator.
Company Size
While it may seem less important than other factors when choosing a Seattle mover, company size can indicate what kind of moving experience you may have. For example, a smaller moving company may have less availability than a larger one, meaning if you wait too long to book your move, you may not get your first-choice moving company.
It’s also worth noting that, larger moving companies are more likely to handle larger moves, and they usually have more insurance options to choose from.
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