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It’s May again, and while you might be thinking about Maypoles, flowers, mayo and Mother’s day, it is also the kick-off to one of the busiest months when people move to new residents. That’s right; May is a National Moving Month. Summer is the most active period for relocation firms.

With an increase in the number of movers in this time of the year, moving companies are flooded with requests and inquiries, but is ideally leads to an increase in complaints from unsatisfied clients who availed the services of a sub-standard national moving company.

Unfortunately, there are numerous incompetent and unreliable moving firms out there, which increases the chances of ending up in the wrong end of an awful moving experience. From damaged and missing items to hidden charges and inflated prices, there are numerous reasons to avoid untrustworthy firms.

Here are several tips to keep in mind when choosing a national moving company.

Evaluate Your Needs

First and foremost, it’s essential to determine what you need from a nationwide mover as each varies in not only costs and moving quotes but the services and coverage they provide. Consider the packing services, truck size, moving supplies and even short-term storage.

It is imperative to know how fast you want your possessions to be delivered as it can determine whether or not you need short-term storage. Specifically, ask for a delivery date estimate as it will help you plan accordingly.

Unfortunately, most people do not fully understand how long distance moves work. They do not realize that some national movers load your items along with two or three other people’s items onto a huge truck. The movers are not going to trail your car to your new state or city. Chances are you will have to wait a day or two for your items to arrive.

You should also decide if you want to pack your items or whether you will need to avail the moving company’s packing services. The benefit of availing a long-distance mover’s packing services is it enables you to take advantage of their full insurance coverage. Moving companies offer full coverage when they do the packing as they know the quality that went into the process.

How Long has the Company been in Business?

Experience is one of the most important factors to consider. A track record shows the company’s ability to deliver every time. For instance, have they moved countless children’s clay handprints and know that they are irreplaceable? No insurance cover will ever give you those back. The list of 10 best nationwide movers published by 9Kilo Moving is an ideal start point to choose a moving company. Here’s the article: https://9kilo.com/national-moving/top-10-trusted-nationwide-moving-companies

Are They Insured?

It goes without saying, but it is important to check whether the company you plan to use is properly insured. Think of an unlicensed teenager at the wheel of a semi-truck. It is not a good idea, right? Well, neither is an uninsured group of people who claim to be a national moving company or a bunch of guys who just do moving as a side hustle. Ideally, check whether your personal belongings are covered during a mover under the homeowner’s insurance policy. If not, then you may want to get supplemental moving insurance.

Are They Licensed?

If you are searching for a moving firm to move your belongings from one state to another, then they should have a US DOT number. This is a distinct license number issued by the US Department of Transportation. Ensure that the DOT number of the company you are considering to hire is valid by looking it up at the official U.S DOT website. If you are on the search for a company to move your items in your state, then they require a state license. Ensure you check that as well.

Are They Active in The Community?

If the moving company cares about the community, then they will certainly care about you and what you need. They certainly want to continue doing business in your region and reputation plays a big part when it comes to the longevity of a company. So, search for a company that wants a committed relationship with your community, friends, and family.

Do Not Rely on Reviews

When choosing a national relocation company, it would be unwise to pick one solely based on the company’s website reviews.

You should be very cautious regarding anything you read online. There have been numerous cases where businesses create fake reviews to put them in good light. On the contrary, there are clients that you can never satisfy and more often than not, they are the ones who leave bad reviews that take a toll on the business.

Starting your research on the company’s website is certainly helpful, but a personal recommendation is always better. If you cannot get a recommendation from someone you know and trust, the company is usually willing to give references from past clients. Once you’ve narrowed down your choices, conduct an online search for any negative reports regarding their customer service.

Know Where Everything Will Go

One last tip is to measure all your furniture pieces as well as your new home’s room. Create a scale drawing of each room and scale cut out the furniture. The next step is to figure out how you would like your pieces arranged before moving. Is everything going to fit? Do you like the new look? Having your mind made up before the D-day will save you a lot of time and stress.

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Cross country moving is entirely different to moving across town. In case, you leave something behind; you can go back and collect it when you move locally. But the same isn’t viable where cross country moving is concerned. In fact, you need to get everything correct the first time around. There are many important things to consider when moving cross country. Long-distance relocation doesn’t have to be stressful as most people think. You only need a little planning to make it a success. Here are some of the items that you need to include in your cross country moving checklist.

When you stay in a home for more than a couple of years, you would likely accumulate things that you no longer use or want. This is the best time to get rid of some of these items. In fact, de-cluttering your home is the first thing that you need to do when moving cross-country. It will help reduce the load that you have to transport. That way you can save money when moving. Another important thing is to get your packing supplies in order well in advance. Get the required boxes, shipping tape, and other packing material together early on so that you don’t have to rush at the last hour. You can easily purchase these packing materials from an office supply store in the area.

It is a good idea to make sure that all your furniture could be accommodated to the new house. Measure the doorways in the new house for this purpose. The big furniture should fit through the doorways and in the new house. You may not be the best person to pack valuable personal belongings in your home. That is where a professional cross country moving service comes in handy. Most of the professional relocation companies offer to pack your belongings for a fee. You should decide if you are going to pack the furniture yourself or work with a professional service provider.

The perishable items in your home cannot be moved to your new house. Hence, you should make it a point to use these items before the actual moving date. Frozen foods, chemicals, and household cleaners are some of the items that fall into this category. It is never too early to start packing the items that you plan to move. The items that you use less frequently should be packed first to minimize the inconvenience once you arrive at the destination. Don’t forget to label the boxes while packing. That way you know which room the packages belong when you arrive at the destination.

Another essential factor to consider is to change your address with the post office and relevant service providers that you do business with. Your banks, credit card companies, insurance companies, and brokerages are some of these service providers. You should be sure that you have electricity, water, and heat when you arrive at the new house. Make sure to disconnect the utilities in the existing home and transfer them into the new owner’s name before you leave. Don’t forget to call a professional and experienced long-distance moving company a couple of weeks before you leave. Make your reservations in advance to avoid any last minute disappointments. These are some of the most important things to consider when you plan to move cross-country.

Long-distance moving is quite different to moving across town. There are many important things that you need to consider before moving cross country. The above article provides information on what you should include in your cross country moving checklist.