Moving is a major endeavor, especially if you’re planning a long-distance relocation. Packing, loading, transporting, unloading, unpacking, reassembling furniture—it’s a lot to handle on your own. And that’s precisely why many people choose not to DIY their relocation and hire professional movers instead.

But how do you know who you can trust? And if you’re hiring a moving company for the first time, what kind of moving services should you even look for? Let’s take a look. 

Tips for Hiring a Reputable Moving Company

If you’ve never hired movers before, the idea of trusting other people with all of your belongings can be a bit nerve-wracking. But, if you know what to look for and you do your due diligence, finding a trustworthy moving company can be simple.

Here are some of our top tips for hiring a quality local or long-distance moving company.

Research Then Contact

Look for customer reviews, licensing, registration, insurance, liability coverage, BBB accreditation and rating, and other trust signals.

Get at Least Three Moving Estimates

Make sure you ask if you’re getting a binding or non-binding estimate, as this will allow you to better anticipate your moving costs. Ask about each company’s cancellation policy, too.

Make Sure the Estimator Does a Thorough Walk-Through

The total weight of your shipment is a major determiner of how much your relocation will cost. So when an estimator comes to your home or business, make sure they do a thorough job assessing what you’ll be moving. 

Ask Whether They Require a Deposit

A reputable moving company won’t ask you to pay cash upfront or request a large deposit before they’ll move your things.

Get everything in writing

When you receive estimates or contracts, get them on paper. Any reputable moving company will put everything in writing as a standard practice, so if you have to ask for documentation, be wary.

Check out Tips and Tricks for Hiring Movers in the Midwest for more helpful information on how to hire a reputable local or long-distance moving company.

Full Moving and Packing Services

Whether you’re physically incapable of moving an entire dwelling full of stuff, you’re super busy, or you simply don’t want to deal with the hassle, full moving and packing services are what you need.

With a done-for-you service, your moving company handles every last detail of the packing, loading, and unloading process. Because professional movers and packers are thoroughly trained in appropriate technique, their services typically include:

  • Hand-wrapping breakables and packing them for safe transport

  • Hanging clothes in wardrobe boxes for convenience and cleanliness

  • Depending on your needs, building custom wooden crates to transport large, breakable items safely

  • Furniture disassembly and reassembly, if required

  • Supplying all moving equipment and packing materials

  • Disposal of used packing equipment after the unboxing process

Though this option will certainly cost you more than opting for transport services alone, it’s usually well worth the additional expense. Because the pros are properly trained and highly experienced, they can pack up and transport your belongings in a fraction of the time it would take you to complete the process yourself.

Storage Solutions

When you begin the process of pricing out moving companies, ask whether each one offers its own storage solutions. Whether you’re downsizing or you just want to keep your new place clutter-free, opting to rent a storage unit is a good idea, but not all storage facilities are the same.

No matter what you plan to store, you’ll undoubtedly want your belongings in perfect condition when you pull them out of storage. To ensure your belongings remain secure and well-protected throughout their stay, a climate-controlled storage facility is key.

In addition to interior humidity and heat control, look for the following safeguards at any storage facility you’re considering:

  • A secure warehouse, with properly sealed doors and access points

  • Regular security monitoring

  • Inventory inspections and verifications

It’s also a good idea to inquire about the facility's short- and long-term storage options and whether it offers any form of portable storage. If you only plan to keep your belongings in storage for a short period, you won’t want to sign an extended contract you don’t really need.

For more helpful tips on finding a quality storage facility, check out 12 things you need to know before renting a self-storage unit.

Appliance Moving

If you’re planning to move your major appliances, chances are you’ll need help. Without training on proper packing, loading, and transportation of high-dollar appliances, it’s all too easy to accidentally damage something. Even if you have an extended warranty, that warranty probably doesn’t cover transport-related damage.

To avoid the risk of appliance damage and the unnecessary expense of replacement, it’s always best to bring in the pros. So don’t forget to inquire about whether each company you’re considering offers appliance moving services.

Furniture Moving

If you’re planning to opt for full moving and packing services, furniture moving will be included in the service. But if you’re trying to limit your moving costs by performing some of the labor yourself, chances are you’ll still need help moving bulky, heavy furniture pieces. That’s especially true if you own high-dollar pieces you don’t want to risk damaging during the move.

Some of your furniture pieces may also require disassembly and reassembly, depending on the size of your doors and whether you live in a multi-floor building. Furniture movers will take care of that entire process for you—meaning they’ll disassemble, move, and then reassemble your items—so you don’t have to hassle yourself with the job.

For example, do you know how to disassemble and move a piano? If you have one and don’t know how to move it safely, you could easily injure yourself and cause irreparable damage to your instrument. If you hire movers who have experience handling difficult items, you can rest assured your piano will make it through your move in great condition.

Custom Crating

If some of your household items are too large or awkwardly shaped for standard moving boxes, you may want to consider requesting custom-fitted crates from your moving company. If you do, your movers will hand-build crates according to each item’s dimensions and then carefully pack each item in its respective container.

Unlike cardboard boxes, crates are custom designed to provide high-level protection throughout the transport process. And that means you can enjoy more peace of mind knowing your valuables will make it through your move intact and unblemished.

Keep in mind that not all moving companies offer custom crating, so if you’re interested in the service, make sure you ask about it when you request your initial moving quote. Once your relocation is complete, you can hang onto and store your custom crates, so you can use them for future relocations. 

Custom Move Plans

No two relocations are alike. So if you’re planning to hire a professional moving company, it’s in your best interest to work with a team that understands the importance of personalization.

Hiring a moving company that offers custom move plans will ensure you have access to everything you need throughout the course of your move. Whether that includes storage options, flexible packing options, custom crating, or specialized protection, the movers will create a fully customized plan that caters to your unique needs.

At Ace Moving & Warehousing, our custom move plans include a wide variety of options designed to meet the needs of local, interstate, intrastate, and even international moves. As a proud Atlas Van Lines partner, we not only have access to international logistics assistance but also to hundreds of moving companies and storage units throughout the United States.

We pride ourselves on our ability to meet the unique needs of each of our customers. When you’re looking for a team that truly cares about the success of your relocation, we’re the ones to call!

Military Moving Experience

This won’t apply to everyone, but if you or your spouse or partner is in the military, it’s important to work with movers who have experience conducting military relocations.

At Ace, we’ve been facilitating local and long-distance military transfers for decades. We’re highly familiar with the unique circumstances and requirements involved in these relocations and can help ensure your transfer to a new base goes as smoothly as possible.

If you’re not a super-seasoned military transfer pro already, check out some of our helpful military transfer tips:

Looking for Professional Movers in Rochester?

Whether you’re moving from Rochester to another Minnesota city, or you’re planning a move to another state, our team at Ace Moving & Warehousing is here to serve you. We offer a comprehensive collection of professional moving services to meet the needs of any relocator and have proudly served Minnesota residents since 1958.

To learn more about our services or request a quick moving quote, call our Rochester office today at 507-288-3341 or send us a message with your questions, and we’ll be in touch!