Rather than looking for a cheap moving company -
use the following move tips and information to hire a quality moving company at an affordable price.

Feel free to use any of the links below to navigate through.

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Choosing the Right Company
Money Saving Tips

Introduction
I have seen it countless times.  Someone needs a move and they seek the lowest bid to try and save money.  During the move, the less experienced movers take almost twice as long and usually damage something along the way.  Now the customer has to pay twice the labor and gets strung along by a less reputable business owner for the damaged furniture.  Usually the customer decides the damaged furniture is not worth the struggle and tells the business owner and movers not to worry about it.
I am not stating that this always happens, but I truly cannot count the amount of times I witness this within any given year. 

Before we get started, I would like to make it clear that furniture damage simply happens.  My movers are some of the most experienced and careful in Northern Arizona and we still see this uncommon mishap.  Damaged furniture does not mean a moving company is low quality.  However, in 95% of damaged furniture situations, the moving company should "make it right" (fix, replace or reimburse for loss) that same day.  The other 5% might be anything from a loss of over $100, to an isolated location, etc, and should still be expedited quickly and simply.




A cheap moving company is not the answer!  Some quality moving companies offer seasonal discounts, special gift rates, or various other advertising methods- but aside from these rarities, you get what you pay for.  Consider what a business owner will weigh when determining an hourly rate.  Mover salary, insurance & damage protocol, bonding & licensing fees, etc- can make the difference of $10-$30/hour (or more) that is charged.  The difference between a company that charges $60/hour and $90/hour might be the experience, quality and trustworthiness of the movers, as well as a horrible or non-existent insurance policy.

Let's begin with a simple set of questions you can ask moving companies when on the phone. I will show you what "red flags" to watch out for. Later, I will provide a short list of things you can do to drastically cut your costs and diminish your stress.

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Ensure the Moving Company is Trustworthy and Reputable.

When you first contact a moving company:

• Simply tell them you need to be moved and you have a few questions for them before you get started.

I recommend you get to know the company a bit before you give any of your own information.  They want your business. You can always choose another moving company.  Do not be afraid of offending them. If they get offended by your sincere questions there is something wrong with their company- pure and simple.  Take your time- do not let them rush you through the process.  If they can't answer any questions confidently, ask for the phone number of whoever can.  If you visit my home page, you will see that anyone can pick up the phone and call me directly.

• How long have you been in business?  How long have you been working with this moving company(if NOT the owner)?  Does this moving company TRULY offer spotless service?

These questions are a key way to connect with the opinions of the person on the other end of the phone.  Just relax and go with your gut.  Does everything sound legit and ship-shape?

• Do you insure all goods being moved whether they are dropped by a mover or the truck crashes, etc?  Do you cover 100% of damage from $5 to $20,000, etc?

Let's make sure their insurance protocol is rock solid and reputable.  Very few companies provide full insurance coverage as part of their rate.  They typically cover 40 cents per pound, etc. If you do the math, that comes out to 10-30% of what something is worth.  They will probably charge you extra if you want full coverage.  Consider this when doing the math on their hourly charge.  I personally recommend choosing a moving company that provides full coverage from the start.

• What is damage protocol?  What I mean is- if something is damaged, how soon can I be reimbursed, have my furniture fixed or replaced?

This is not rocket science.  What you are listening for is a short and simple answer.  The process should be simple for you and for them.  It should be resolved within a comfortable length of time.

• How experienced are the movers that will help me move?  Will at least one of them speak my (English, Spanish, etc) language?

You want to know how long the movers have worked professionally.  At least a few years per mover is a good starting point.  You also want to make sure you can communicate with at least one of the movers in case you have special requests, etc.

• If you feel satisfied with the dialog thus far, ask what information they need from you so they can provide you with an estimate.
  

Relax and let them guide you through their process.  Estimates should be free unless you live in an isolated or otherwise difficult-to-access area.  Some companies provide an estimate over the phone.  Some companies require a home visit to provide an estimate.  There is no right or wrong way to do this.

• Are there any hidden fees?  Is there any reason I might be charged more than the estimate amount?  Could I be charged less?

These are the final and perhaps most important questions.  Once again, if the answers are not confident and consistent, ask for further clarification.  Remember, they need your business- you don't need theirs.

If there were no "red flags" then congratulations!  You likely found an honest, reliable and reputable company with a responsive and integritous owner.

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Saving Money

Now for several things you can do to save yourself some hard earned cash with these discount moving tips.

The movers will appreciate your contribution, even though it may mean less money for them.  Believe it or not, quality movers prefer to finish a move quickly, rather than drag it out for more hours of pay.

• Be Mentally Prepared

Before the movers arrive, walk through the home that has the furniture and/or boxes and know where everything is going.  If you are mentally organized, everything will be smoother, faster and safer.

• Have Pets and/or Kids?

If you have pets and/or kids, it will speed up the move if you arrange for them to be cared for at another location.  If that is not possible, simply bear in mind doors may be open for the entire move and movers may have occasional questions for you, etc.

• Packing Tips for Moving - Labeling Boxes and Simplifying
  

If you pack all the boxes, make it obvious which room they go to.  Clearly and boldly label the boxes.  It can also save lots of time and money if all boxes go to one room; The garage, for example.

• Furniture Preparation

Clearly and boldly labeling furniture, can also save hours on a move.  Use colored stickers, or even sticky notes.  Use something that will make it obvious, so the movers don't need you to point out anything during the loading process.  If movers do not need to ask you where everything is going and can expedite the move independently- it can chop your move time in half.

• Moving Out Tips - Organizing, Preparing
  

Not moving everything?  A way to save lots of time and money is to clearly separate what is being moved from what is not.  If you cannot comfortably do this, LABEL the furniture and boxes that are going.

• Offer Speed Incentive - Tips, Your friend, not your enemy
  

Will the move likely take over 7-8 hours?  If you are paying by the hour, offer a $50 tip to each mover if they can finish within 5 hours.  Use your imagination- there are infinite ways to dangle a decent tip, in order to ultimately save you money.  It's a win-win with a discount moving result.
Important note- reiterate that you don't want them to hurry if it means they will damage anything.

Feel free to email me if you would like to see more information here.  I am willing to answer questions via email, as well.

I hope you found this informative and helpful.

Chad McMahan
Sedona Verde Valley Moving Company








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Whether you need office, business or house moving tips, I hope the following move tips help you prevent catastrophes and encourage a positive discount moving experience.  I want to help as many people with this information as possible.  Feel free to post the link to this page wherever you like.  If you plan to copy and paste the information, I only ask that you do so in its entirety (include "Learn How to Arrange a Stress-Free Discount Moving Experience" at the top, all the way to my company link at the bottom).

For obvious reasons, I need to state: the information on this page is intended as a guide only and makes no guarantees whatsoever.

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