Are you starting to sweat the move? Does the thought of packing boxes put you in a state of paralysis? You bought/sold the house now what are you going to do with all your stuff? Have you stopped enjoying the thought of that fabulous new home?

Consider hiring a professional mover. I have done the move it yourself and hired professional movers. Now that I have had others pack for me, I will never go back. Yes, I do spend a lot of time clearing through the clutter of items that are mine in advance. But why kill yourself when moving is rough enough already. Having a professional pack and move your belongings allows you to concentrate on the positive aspects of your move. The important thing is to do your homework first.

Not all movers are alike, save yourself stress and broken dreams by investigating each potential moving company to be sure they are reliable and reputable. Ask everyone who they have used and had good luck with - your real estate agent, friends, neighbors, family. Check the Better Business Bureauto see if there are any complaints against them. Google them and see what comes up.

Once you have narrowed down your selection ask some important questions:

  1. How long have you been in business?
  2. How long has the estimator been in the industry?
  3. Is the company insured?
  4. How does this insurance cover your belongings?
  5. Do they have worker’s compensation? (You don’t want to be liable for any accidents)

Next get an estimate of what it will cost for the move at least 6-8 weeks in advance. Local moves are usually figured out by the number of movers and truck multiplied by the hours on the job. Long distance moves your costs are mainly charged on the weight of your stuff and how far they have to go. In both cases there can be extra charges figured into the costs. These include the boxes, bubble wrap, special handling of antiques/art, etc. Have the estimator come to your home and look at how much stuff has to be moved. Then get a written copy of their estimate.

Written estimates are key in making this decision. First it protects you from surprise expenses and second you don’t want someone to understate the fee just to get your business. After the estimate you want to get on their schedule no less than 2 weeks before the anticipated move. The earlier the better is my rule of thumb. Try to remember that May and September are the busy months for movers.

Finally make sure the mover gives you an estimated time of arrival so you can have someone at the new house to accept your household goods otherwise the items could be put into storage which will cause delays and storage fees.

Now that you have the right professional on your side you can sit back and enjoy the moving day and the new start in a new home!

(c) Shannon Aldrich, Keller Williams Coastal Realty Portsmouth NH