Stress-free is the way to be: a moving customer’s guide
Generally, when you see a post on a moving company’s site about how to have a stress-free move, it’s “hey, hire us!” While hiring a reputable mover usually makes for a better move, this post isn’t from our perspective; it’s a customer guide just for you.
moved with us this year and wrote her takeaways in a step-by-step guide to a stress-free moving day. She and her husband had undertaken long distance moves before, but it had been a long time since their last move, so it felt like a brand new experience all over again
If you’re about to move — no matter what distance — you’ll want to read customer guide post before you get started with your moving logistics. Her guide will help you plan out your move, making sure you leave enough time for each piece of the moving puzzle.
Complete Moving Guide
Checklist of What to Do When Moving Out
Make a moving budget
Contact everyone who needs to know about your change of address
Book a moving truck
Declutter and host a yard sale
Gather packing supplies
Pack your stuff!
Load the truck
Create Your Moving Budget
Wondering how to move cheaply across the country? Take control of your expenses by creating a moving budget early in the process. Research typical costs, then set a realistic budget that works for your needs. You’ll thank yourself later!
The Truck
It can be hard to get a pulse on the real cost of renting a moving truck. So break the costs down into smaller segments:
Rental Costs: The truck itself is your biggest expense. Choose the right size of truck to save yourself the time and money of multiple trips. (Stay tuned for tips on how to figure out what size moving truck you need.)
Insurance: Don’t skimp on insurance just to save a buck upfront. If you get in an accident during the moving process, insurance could save you a lot of money in the long run.
Gas: Most moving trucks come with a full tank of gas, and then you’ll need to pay for gas while you’re in possession of the truck and also return it with a full tank.
Towing Rentals: Towing accessories are an ideal way to get your car across the country if you don’t have someone to drive it for you.
Moving Equipment
Make sure you leave room in the budget for renting and buying moving equipment like dollies, furniture blankets, and moving boxes. Though you may be hesitant to add to your moving costs, you will ultimately save money by avoiding damage to your furniture and other possessions.
Travel Costs
Making a move across the country? If so, you will need to budget for travel costs on top of gas for the moving truck. Account for expenses like staying in a hotel and dining out while en route to your new home. You may also be paying for some family members to fly across the country while some of the family drives in the truck. Make sure you also consider how you will be getting your car across the country, such as shipping the vehicle or towing the car behind the moving truck.
THE ULTIMATE MARKETING GUIDE FOR MOVING COMPANIES
How Moving Companies Are Increasing Leads, Booking More Moves, and Growing Revenue
When’s the last time you opened up the phone book to find the phone number of a business? Years ago? Same here. The internet has changed the way moving companies, contractors, and other local businesses advertise to new customers. Gone are the days of the Yellow Pages, which was quickly replaced by Google. Below, we’ve outlined the exact strategies our mover marketing experts use to grow website traffic,
Moving Company Marketing Strategy: Build a Top-Notch Website
Just like with any other business, good moving company marketing begins with a well-designed website that attracts visitors, gives them the information they’re looking for, and keeps them coming back for more.
Did you know that 80% of customers look online for home services like moving companies? Or that 33% of customers click on the first search result they see on Google? Your moving company website is the initial interaction people have with your business so it’s important to create an incredible first impression.
KEY ELEMENTS EVERY MOVING COMPANY’S WEBSITE MUST INCLUDE
There are four key lead generation elements every moving company’s website should focus on:
Website design – A well-designed website is great to look at but, more importantly, it keeps website visitors engaged with your site. And the longer they stay, the more likely they are to convert into a lead and hire you for their next move.
Sticky header and navigation – Your website’s header and navigation should be simple and information should be easy to find, particularly on mobile devices. At least half of buyers use a mobile device as their device of contact to start a search.
Page speed – Faster web pages make for a better user experience. Page speed (or how many seconds it takes your website to load for users) is also a search engine optimization (SEO) ranking factor.
Responsive layout – More than 50% of all website traffic today comes from mobile devices. Your moving company’s website should be built in a responsive layout, meaning the site automatically resizes to fit users’ screens based on what device they visit your site on (e.g. – a desktop computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone). Google’s algorithm also rewards mobile-friendly websites with higher search rankings than non-mobile-friendly sites.
Where or how high you rank on Google is determined based on how well you’ve optimized your website’s:
Site code and structure – Does your website load fast for users? Can search engines easily find and crawl your website? Is your website’s internal linking structure optimized for SEO? These are all important aspects that can have a considerable impact on how high you rank on Google search results.
Onsite content – Do you have a web page for every service you offer (long distance moves, local moves, piano moves/gun safe moves, packing services, etc.)? Every web page on your site is a new opportunity to rank on Google. Optimize your web pages and the content on them for better search rankings.
Offsite factors and reviews – Does your company prioritize generating reviews on places like Google My Business? Are your online directory listings 100% consistent across every platform? Optimizing your entire web presence (not just your website) gives your moving company the best chance to rank on page one of Google.
Guide Moving
Department of Public Utilities (DPU). The DPU helps you by setting certain licensing and insurance requirements which movers must meet and by investigating complaints if you have a problem with your mover. No matter where you are moving or whether the move is large or small, you should take the time to carefully plan your relocation.
How can I select a reputable mover?
A personal recommendation is the best way to start. Whether you use a company recommended by friends or choose a company through its advertising, be sure that any company you contact has an up-to-date DPU operating certificate number.
They are subject to state laws and the Department’s rules and regulations. For example, movers licensed by the DPU are required to carry a minimum amount of cargo insurance. However, your ability to recover for loss or damage is dependent upon your agreement with the mover. All movers are also required to file the rates charged for various moving services. These rates are called a tariff and they are filed with the DPU and available to the public.
How important is obtaining an estimate?
A written estimate where a company representative comes to your home is one of your best safeguards against overcharges and other potential issues. Verbal estimates over the phone or email are non-binding. To obtain a reasonably accurate estimate, you must show the estimator everything you intend to ship.
An estimate is not a bid or a contract and choosing the mover submitting the lowest estimate will not assure you of the lowest cost move. Regardless of any estimate provided, the final amount you must pay for your move is determined by the hourly rate, the amount of packing completed, and any other additional services performed by the mover.
A quick guide
Secure a home when moving
It might seem like an obvious one, but many people wait until the last minute to find a place they can call home. Let’s say you have gotten a better job The last thing you should do is wait for your moving day to approach in order to start looking at properties. It doesn’t make much of a difference whether you want to purchase a house or rent it.
That being said, it might be a good idea to work with a real estate agent. They are familiar with all the listings, which means they will be able to match you with a property that fits the description of the home you are looking for.
because you know so much about the place that you love it or was it due to circumstances? Either way, the best way to adjust to your life after the move is by learning as much as you can about your new home. Research the best restaurants, the closest hospitals, the most important events. Knowing where you can go to unwind after your long-distance move will help with the post-relocation stress and anxiety.
Find a moving company you can trust
Any time you find yourself on the cusp of relocation, you have two choices – you can either attempt a DIY relocation or you can find a professional moving company to assist you. If you feel like you have the time and energy for a solo relocation, then that’s a great way to save some money. However, if you feel like you could use all the help you can get then,
You don’t need much to find a moving company you can trust – you just need a stable Internet connection. Search through the moving companies in your area, request free moving quotes, and find a company with the best quality to affordability ratio. And always make it your mission to read the comments people have left on their website. Also, check out the comments on different online forums. That will be a great indicator of their level of quality.