By Julie DeLong, A-1 Freeman Moving Group
How to Find a Great Company for Your Move in Houston
First, you need to know not every moving company in Houston is created equal. Some are experienced, reliable and honest—others are not.
The good news is that you can locate a reputable company to help you move by simply doing a little research. You can, for example, verify their credentials (including their carrier number from the Department of Transportation) and read online reviews and complaints.
You should also review their website—the best movers are often recipients of recognized awards—like the Pinnacle Mover Designation Award and the North American Quality Award—and will often post these awards on their site.
How to Understand the Factors of Your Moving Costs in Houston
Many determinants go into the cost of your move. For instance, what you pay will be based partially on things such as the total weight of your household goods and the mileage to your new home. There are several other factors, however, which will affect the total of your moving estimate, including the following:
Packing and crating costs: Remember, you’re paying the moving company in Houston for their time. Obviously, they shall require more time if you ask them to pack your things. You can save money by packing some or all your possessions yourself. You can cut costs some more by disassembling large pieces of furniture instead of having the mover do it for you. Also, you’ll pay more for specific kinds of packing and handling. For example, if items like artwork or a grandfather clock need crating, your cost will be more.
Poor accessibility to your pick-up or drop-off location in Houston: If your current or future place of residence is in an area which forbids access for a tractor trailer truck (for instance, due to a narrow road or a weak bridge), your professional movers will need to find an alternate method to get your things from your old home or into your new one. In this case, they probably will need to use smaller trucks to gain access. In this case, you’ll need to pay the mover a shuttle fee.
Stairs or long walking distances: The cost of your move will also be more if there are very long stairs (or multiple stairs) which the movers need to maneuver your belongings up or down. You could also have to pay a long-carry fee if the distance from the moving truck to the entrance of your residence is greater than 50 feet.
Storage fees: This is one of the most prevalent reasons for increased costs. If you must store some or most of your possessions at the carrier’s warehouse because your new place to live is not ready to be occupied, you’ll need to pay an additional storage fee.
Time of year: Summer is the busiest moving time of the year, which means that moving in the summer will be more expensive. You can save money if it’s possible to execute your move from September to May. You will also pay more if you move on a national holiday or on the first or last day of the month (this is because rental agreements typically expire at these times, which means more people move then).
Conclusion
Moving companies don’t get a reputation for professionalism, accuracy and candor by accident—they earn it by helping their clients, giving them guidance and working everyday to obtain that trust. The most crucial thing you can do to have a safe move and lower your costs is to identify the kind of moving company in Houston which cares about you and your family and will work tirelessly to ensure your complete satisfaction.
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