Moving long distance can be daunting and there are a lot of horror stories out there. Some of these stories will detail damage done to property by movers or movers who never arrive. While some of these stories are false, there are unreliable and fraudulent long distance movers out there. If you do not want to fall victim to them, you need to know how to choose the right mover.  

Check Their Reputation

Before you get an estimate from any movers, you need to check their reputation. The best long distance movers to use will be those with an excellent reputation for moving and storage. The reputation should come from current and past customers alike.   

There are a number of websites that you can use to help you get reputation information. Online reviews will be a good place to start. If you have any friends or family who have used the movers before, you should also ask them about their experience. While online reviews can give you a lot of information about the movers, you should not always trust them because you never know who is really leaving them.  

Check Their Reliability 

Another check that you need to do before you contact any movers is a reliability check. All long distance moving companies that operate interstate will need to be licensed by the US Department of Transportation. The license will provide them with a USDOT number which you can use to search the USDOT website.   

The USDOT website will provide you with a lot of information about the company. You should never consider a moving company that does not have a number, particularly if you are moving to a different state. If the company is not willing to provide you with this number, that is a red flag and you should not work with them.  

While the license is important, you also need to consider if they are active members of professional organizations. There are a few organizations that you can focus on with the best being the AMSA. This is the American Moving and Storage Association and they will guarantee that the company has passed a very rigorous background check.   

The Affordability 

Once you have 3 to 5 moving companies that you want to work with, you need to start getting estimates. You should arrange an in-house consultation with each of the movers. This is important because it is the only way you are going to get accurate estimates. There are some state to state moving companies that ask you to tell them what you want to move and they will give you an estimate based on this. That can be a problem which results in you being billed for more than you were expected after the move. 

During the consultation, the company should arrive on time and on the agreed date. If they do not, this can be a sign of bad things to come and you need to reconsider working with them. They should also take a good look at everything you are moving which means that you need to show them everything. The company should also inspect the rest of your home for any variables that could affect the move including out of order elevators, stairs or oversized furniture that is hard to move.   

After the consultation, you should get an estimate from the company in writing. While you should not use the cost of the move as your only deciding factor, it is important. You should compare all of the estimates that you get and determine which company would be better from this point. You should not automatically choose the cheapest, but the most expensive might not be the best solution either. Most people find that a mid-range estimate is the best solution.  

Use Your Intuition 

When you meet the company representative, you need to consider how comfortable you were with them. Intuition can help you make a tough decision, particularly if you are torn between two companies. Listening to your gut may help you choose between similar companies and save you some stress in the long run.   

If the representative makes you feel uneasy, you should reconsider working with the company. During the in-home consultation, you should ask them any questions that you have about their company or how they will handle your move. If they are unwilling to provide clear answers, you should reconsider working with them. You should also reconsider if they are unwilling to provide you with any information.   

There are a lot of long distance moving companies out there vying for your custom. However, they are not all reputable and there are many that you should not be working with. The best way to choose the right moving company is to research them before you contact them. Ensure that they are licensed and have a good reputation before you get in touch.