Published by Programme B
Packing up your belongings and moving to a new home can represent a fresh start and an exciting new chapter in life. But it also involves a lot of work, which is why it is important to give yourself plenty of time to plan and price out your move.
If you need to hire a moving company in Canada to help you relocate in the coming months, here are four things you should look for in your service provider.
1. Proven Experience
Like many industries that require low overhead to enter, the moving industry has plenty of unprofessional and inexperienced companies who draw in customers with low prices. These companies may look good on paper, but when it comes time for the move itself, they can be careless with property, go over schedule, and fail to live up to the promises they have made.
The best way to make sure the moving company you hire really can deliver is by only working with companies that have been in the industry for at least a decade. You should also check online review sites like Yelp to see what previous customers have had to say about their experience.
2. Smart Long-Distance Options
If you’re moving between provinces, shipping by rail may be much cheaper than using trucks. Many long-distance moving companies in Canada take advantage of this fact by offering moving services that utilize the efficiency of rail.
Instead of having to pack everything up, deliver it to the shipping agent, and picking it up yourself when it reaches its destination, a long distance mover can do all of this on your behalf, making your move affordable and less stressful.
3. Transparent Pricing
Hidden costs are the bane of anyone moving house. A company provides you a quote for the move, but they neglect to mention that this number will go up if the move takes longer than expected, or if there are issues with shipping.
Always find out exactly what the quote you’ve been given includes. A reputable company should be willing to provide an itemized list detailing what they are charging you for, and what circumstances would lead to the quote being adjusted.
4. Priced-In Insurance
If you’re looking for ways to save money while moving, you might be thinking about foregoing insurance the move — after all, doesn’t homeowner’s insurance usually cover your belongings even during periods of transition?
Insurance might seem like any area where there is room to economize, but you should always make sure you understand what insurance does and does not cover. For example, if you have valuable items of property, like antiques or works of art, you may need to declare this value to the movers for it to be covered.
Fortunately, some moving companies actually price the insurance into to total moving costs, meaning that you get the full package without having to pay a premium, as the mover’s insurance covers everything. If you’re shopping between moving companies, make sure to mention any costly items being shipped, and find out what their insurance will cover.
In addition to being a tiring and stressful process, moving house can also be quite expensive. The good news is that there are ways to bring down the price without compromising on quality.
Taking your time to research moving companies and making sure you get a detailed quote and insurance coverage can take the uncertainty out of the process, allowing you to focus on setting up life in your new home.