Moving and relocating can be a stressful process. Not only do you have to pack up your belongings and organize them so they can be moved and reorganized, but it also poses a significant change in your daily routine, which can be quite disruptive and unsettling.
However, one of the biggest stressors isn’t packing and unpacking your possessions; it’s finding a reputable moving company that you can trust to move said valued possessions safely and for a reasonable price. Fortunately, we can take some stress out of moving by discussing 10 tips for finding the best Atlanta moving company.
Read Customer Reviews
It is always a good idea to read customer reviews about a moving company and customer satisfaction in working with them. You could check the Better Business Bureau, as the non-profit organization offers reviews for both accredited and non-accredited businesses.
Choose a Moving Company With Referrals
It’s always best to read reviews on third-party review aggregation websites, check out our google reviews to see real customer testimonials! Reading reviews and doing online research is very important, but word-of-mouth shouldn’t be neglected either.
You can always ask your friends and family members about their moving experiences and which companies they would recommend. Additionally, asking your coworkers is also a fantastic idea, and you’re more likely to get a more diverse response.
Choose a Moving Company That’s Licensed and Insured
Take particular care when selecting a moving company for cross-country residential moving. Read customers’ reviews, but also make sure that the company is registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and has a US Department of Transportation (DoT) number. You can find ours here.
The latter two are particularly important if you need to track the moving service or file a complaint. For long-distance moving within state borders, you can check the company’s reputation with the state’s professional movers association, since many states require household and commercial moving companies to be licensed and insured.
Get Quotes from Different Moving Companies
Most moving companies, both long-distance movers and local moving services, offer free quotes and written estimates to potential customers. It pays to call several companies and get quotes. Ask if the company offers full-service moving, such as disassembly and reassembly of furniture, unpacking and packing services, loading, transportation, and unloading.
This is really important, and all charges and expenses should be clearly laid out in the quote, but it’s also worth noting that most free quotes are non-binding estimates. This means that the estimated price of your move is subject to change, and if your move needs additional labor, you’ll probably end up paying more.
Avoid Moving Companies That Require a Large Deposit
The deposit in the moving industry typically amounts to 20% of the estimated cost of the move. Many local movers won’t even require payment until your valuables are delivered to your new home. Our payment policy is a $200 deposit for most moves and you pay after great service has been delivered!
You shouldn’t deposit any amount that’s higher than 10-20% of the estimated cost of the move for local and long-distance home movers. We only take digital payments at the furniture taxi, so Credit Card, Zelle, & Venmo.
Review Their Contracts
Before you sign a contract with the moving company, make sure to thoroughly review their contract. Consult with a legal expert if you don’t understand particular sections, and always make sure to read the fine print of a contract.
The contract should contain your and the mover’s legal responsibilities, licensing and insurance information, delivery time estimates and terms, contact information, applicable charges, and potential fees beyond the agreed price and services, such as short-term storage services or unusual circumstances.
Choose Local Movers
A number of websites and online moving brokers will offer their services in helping you find the best moving company, but in most of those cases, they outsource the work. In the unfortunate event of anyone losing or damaging your belongings, you’ll have a more difficult time establishing responsibility.
It’s best to look for local Atlanta movers operating in the greater Atlanta metro area, including Sandy Springs and Alpharetta. Depending on your moving needs, you might even want to look for a local company that operates across the entire state of Georgia. This will help you avoid potential scams or third-party companies.
Ask Plenty of Questions
Ask the moving company about how they handle the moving process and what you can expect. You might write a list of questions you might have or want to ask your contending movers, like what’s the company’s cancellation policy or what would happen if any of your things get broken or go missing.
Choose a Detail-Oriented Moving Company
Choosing detailed movers when quoting your move are also likely to perform the move within the amount they propose. At the same time, this will decrease any likelihood of surprises, and the attention to detail likely translates to other aspects of their business conduct, such as handling your belongings with care.
Avoid Moving Companies with Red Flags
Along with avoiding companies that require massive deposits, you also want to distance yourselves from companies whose contracts contain any ambiguity.
While we suggest checking for reviews, it’s best to rely on reputable services. Social media reviewing “services” run unchecked and rampant, and if a review sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
It’s best to rely on services that are willing to offer full transparency into what service they offer, with which companies they cooperate, and whether or not they’re willing to offer any guarantees for the services and companies they vouch for.
FAQs
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about moving services in Atlanta:
How much are movers in Atlanta?
The average costs of local movers really depend on several different factors, such as the size of the move, the distance, and any additional services, such as packing and unpacking. If we really have to answer with a number, we’d say that the average local move costs about $1,400, while the average long-distance move of up to 1,000 miles costs about $4,400.
How much is it to move an apartment in Atlanta?
Check out our blog post called The Cost of Moving in Atlanta! The cost of moving depends on the size of your home. Local one-bedroom apartment moves typically cost from $800 – $1,000.
How much should a moving budget be?
This depends on whether you’re moving locally or cross-state. In either case, you should get free quotes from local moving businesses and add another 20%-30% to the quote to cover any additional costs associated with the move or unforeseen circumstances, such as having to sleep a night at a motel during a cross-state move.
