This article originally appeared on infinite-sushi.com

Everyone knows that moving across the country is a stressful experience.

You’ll have to find a place to stay, set up your utilities and so many other small details.

This is why you need professional services to take care of your belongings and make things easier.

If you’re not familiar with the term, long-distance movers are people who specialize in moving people from one state or city to another.

Whether you are moving locally or out of state, it’s best to hire professionals who can pack up all your belongings and transport them safely to the new destination.

Even if you cannot afford an entire moving crew, there are several affordable options for hiring a trustworthy long-distance mover that can take care of the heavy lifting for you.

In this blog post, we will provide you with insider tips on how to choose a long-distance movers company that fits your specific needs and budget.

But first, let’s take a look at the benefits you can expect from hiring a long-distance movers company.  

Pros of Hiring a Long Distance Movers Company

1. Help With the Packing and Moving Process

Packing and moving your own belongings can be a challenging and stressful process.

Thankfully, a long distance moving company can make this process much easier and less stressful.

The professionals can pack your items, prepare the paperwork, apply for hauling permits if necessary, and transport your belongings safely to the new destination.

You don’t have to worry about breaking fragile items, staying organized during the packing process, or organizing a moving crew.

Professional movers can do everything for you and save you a lot of time and effort.

2. Save Time and Money

Another great benefit of hiring professional long distance movers is that you can save time and money.

Moving trucks are pretty expensive, and you’ll also have to deal with additional charges for fuel.

Long distance movers, on the other hand, charge a flat rate.

You won’t have to worry about driving to another state or hiring a moving truck and paying additional charges for gas.

3. Easy to Coordinate a Long Distance Move

If you’ve never hired a long distance moving company before, you may be wondering how to find a reputable company and how to coordinate a long distance move.

But you can achieve this so much easily if you choose a reputable company.

The company will assist you with the entire moving process.

They will help you pack and transport your items, and unpack your belongings at the new destination.  

4. Help Transport Fragile or Expensive Items

If you have fragile or expensive items, it’s best to hire professionals to move them.

Long-distance movers can help you transport delicate items such as porcelain or antique furniture without damaging them.

If you have items that are irreplaceable or sentimental to you, you should make it clear before the packing process begins.

If you pack these items yourself or hire a low-quailty service, these items may get lost or damaged during the transportation process.  

Now that you fully understand what you stand to gain from hiring a long-distance movers company to help you relocate, let’s look at high-value tricks and tips on how you can find the best service for your needs and budget.  

Tips to Finding the Best Long Distance Movers Company

1. Make Sure They’re Licensed

Anyone who calls themselves a mover should be licensed to do so, whether they’re an interstate trucking company or a local one with a couple of trucks and trailers.

If a company doesn’t have a valid license, you don’t have much recourse if something goes wrong, including if your goods are damaged or lost.

Although individual movers don’t have to be licensed, their companies do, and you should be able to find that information on the state or federal level.

You can also look for the license numbers to make sure a company is properly certified.

There are two licenses to be aware of when choosing a moving company: a commercial registration and a vehicle permit.

A commercial registration is for a business whereas a vehicle permit is for vehicles that move goods.

2. Do They Have Insurance

Insurance is important for any business, especially those in the service industry. Hiring a long-distance moving company is no different.

You need to make sure they have insurance to cover any damages or losses in case they happen.

If the company doesn’t have insurance, you might be liable for any losses that happen to your belongings.

Even if they’re at fault, your homeowner’s insurance might not cover damage caused by a moving company.

Fortunately, there are certain types of business insurance that most movers will have.

This includes general liability, workers’ compensation, and automobile coverage.

Inquire about the types of coverage they have, and make sure you understand what is and is not covered.

If your long-distance movers don’t have insurance, consider hiring a different company.

3. Make a List of Your Belongings

Before you get in touch with any companies, you need to make a list of your belongings. You need to know what you have and where it is located.

This way, you can make sure those items are packed properly and won’t get damaged during the move.

Along with this list, write down the room where the items are located and their condition.

If your belongings are valuable, it’s a good idea to take pictures of them before moving them.

When doing this, be as specific as you can. For example, a couch is a couch, but there are many different types of sofas.

4. Find Out the Estimated Cost

You should start looking for quote estimates from movers as soon as you know you’ll be moving.

This way, you’ll have a lot of time to evaluate your options and choose the right company for you.

As with anything, you get what you pay for. A long distance moving company that is cheap probably won’t do a very good job.

In order to find a company that meets your needs and stays within your budget, you need to do your research.

Start by making a list of the movers in your area. Then, check out each of them online and see which one you like.

You can check out the reviews and rates on their websites and speak with a representative to find out more about their services and rates.

5. Ask for Referrals From Friends and Family

If you know anyone who recently moved, ask them for recommendations. People often share their experiences, good or bad, and you can learn a lot from them.

If you don’t know anyone who recently moved, you can ask people you trust for recommendations.

You could ask your friends and family or even co-workers.

Chances are, one of them hired a long-distance moving company recently and can tell you about their experience.

It’s important to note that you shouldn’t only ask for a recommendation but also ask for their honest opinion, general experience, and what they would change if they could do it again.

6. Check the Contract and Don’t Forget the Deposit

When you find a moving company that you like, you should get in touch with them right away.

The sooner you get started with the process, the more time you have to do everything you need to do.

You should also get a contract from the company before they start the moving process.

This contract should outline everything you and the moving company agreed to.

You should also put down a deposit to hold your spot with the company.

This deposit is usually non-refundable, but you can use it as payment for your moving costs.

7. Look Up Their Reviews

Before you hire a long distance moving company, make sure you check their reviews.

You can find a few different places online where people review companies.

There are two main places you should check out: the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot.

The BBB rates businesses and movers on a scale from 0-100. You can see how many complaints a business has and what their rating is overall. You can also see what the complaints are related to.

Trustpilot is similar to BBB. This platform is used by many businesses to tell their customers about their experience.

On this site, you can read reviews about different moving companies and see what customers like and dislike about them.

In Conclusion

Choosing a long distance moving company is a big decision.

And while it may be tempting to just go with the first one that comes along, it’s important to do your homework first.

Fortunately, with the tips we provided above, you can find the best company for you.

Just make sure they’re properly licensed, have insurance, write down your belongings, and find out the estimated cost.

If you follow these tips, you will be able to find the perfect long distance moving company for your needs.