5 Questions to Ask Your Local Moving Company in San Diego

01.03.2023

It’s a serious business - moving to a new place. You’ll have to pack and prepare your belongings and, most importantly, yourself for the move. It can get overwhelming to choose the right move date, but the hardest task is to find the right moving company. That’s why you should always be aware of possible negative consequences after the move if you won’t prepare the questions to ask moving companies. But what questions?

Questions to ask movers

Yes, you have full right to ask questions, because it’s your money and your baggage. There are lots of moving companies to choose from, it’s a good thing, isn’t it? But some of them may seem riskier than others, how to spot the difference then? You should start asking the companies the right questions. 

Do you have any licenses? 

First, you’ll have to make sure that the company is not trying to scam you and that it actually exists on paper. Ask the company whether it has a license number issued by the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT), and check if the license number is in the online USDOT database. Ask about other licenses they perhaps may have too, which they are obliged to show you in any way. If they don’t want to show their docs, maybe they don’t have any and it’s just a scam thing. 

What ratings do you have and who can give me references?

The company’s representative duties include the presentation of trustworthy references about their company, so feel free to ask. It’s important to know what previous customers think about the company. You may conduct research on your own by looking for reviews and comments about moving companies online. Or you can do it the old way: ask your friends, neighbors, and colleagues what moving companies they used and felt happy about their services. But don’t expect too much by reading some reviews on the Internet, because these comments might be bought. 

Can you deal with my specific move?

If you want to move to a high-rise apartment or to another building which has a lack of elevators, long and narrow passageways or any other obstacles which will make the process of carrying your furniture harder and riskier, you should ask the company if they have such an experience. That’s why you probably should ask your moving company if they can do it. It's better to look for a company that has been in the moving field for at least five years, you need experienced people carrying your belongings if you want a safe move. We recommend you to not agree to the terms of young moving companies claiming that "despite that we're new, we still can do the same things as the experienced movers". Yes, they can hire people from other moving companies who have like 10 years of experience, but it's one person. The rest of the crew may be just students or young adults who have never seen how to carry a sofa through a narrow door.  For example, Finch Moving has been in the moving field for a decade. Finch provides not only the best quality moving services, planning, and scheduling, but also packing your stuff in a way that will definitely keep it safe on the road and while carrying your belongings to a new place.

What liability coverage options do you have to offer?

The professional moving company should have at least a couple of options in case something goes wrong. Licensed local movers will offer you two options: 

1. Full Value Protection - the mover is fully responsible for the damaged or lost goods and will replace their value. 

2. Released Value - the mover is responsible for the lost or damaged goods, but no more than 60 cents per pound per article. 

There is a third option for you - get insurance from a third-party insurance company, but check your homeowner’s insurance policy, maybe you’re already covered. It’s also important to ask the moving company to show their insurance policy and its proof. If they refuse to do so - maybe the company is not licensed and you should send a farewell to them, or ask your relocation company what else they can offer. 

Do you offer binding written estimates?

What if your bill will get extremely high because the move was much longer than it should be or your cargo was much heavier? You’ll have to pay for it, maybe double the starting price. That’s why a lot of companies provide their customers with a binding estimate from the beginning. It includes any add-ons and potential charges. Any additional services should be included in the charges, so you’ll know how much you’re going to pay in the end. 

Additional questions for movers

How long is it going to take? 

How much time will the company spend on the move? Usually, the local moves take not more than a day, long distance moves - from week to ten days. If it takes much longer for them to carry your goods feel free to ask why. You’re also allowed to ask long or short distance movers a question whether they guarantee you that the move will take the exact amount of time as it was told. 

What kind of moving services can I get from you?

Moving is not only about packing your stuff on your own and then hiring a company to drive it across the state or a city. There can be additional packing services, and expedited shipping, just ask them what else they can do. 

Can I contact the driver while they move my belongings?

We can understand that you might feel nervous about your couch traveling with a stranger on a truck. You can actually ask the agent whether you can call the driver during the move and the answer is usually “yes”. 

Do you have any additional charges I should be aware of? 

For example, some companies won’t tell you that you should pay for packing materials, stairs or complicated move. Make sure you covered everything. Who will be in charge of buying packing materials? Do you charge for packing services? 

How does your process for calculating prices goes?

You’ll have to know what you’ll be paying for. Usually, local movers charge per hour. Some of them put an extra charge on gas expenses, and the additional number of people carrying the boxes, packing services, and materials. 

Can I get a storage space from your company?

If you need somewhere to keep your belongings before or after the move, a lot of moving companies offer both short and long-term storage spaces. For example, Finch Moving can provide you with a storage space for no matter how long will you need it. 

How and when should I pay you?

If the moving company does ask to pay you the full price before the move it’s a bad sign. Usually, you pay half or even a quarter of the full price before the move (differs from company to company). Most of the movers allow you to pay with cash, credit cards, or checks. So, if movers ask you to pay in cash the full price right before the move, it's kind of suspicious. 

Any restrictions?

Maybe the last question for moving company should be about that. Some companies have rules on what the client is not allowed to pack and take with them. Ask the company what kind of restrictions they have. Of course, you're not allowed to bring and ask people to pack some illegal stuff, but some companies also have restrictions about delivering plants, for example. You'll probably have to figure it out before the move.