A major decision you’ll have to make when you move is how you’re going to get your belongings from one place to another. There are dozens of large moving companies that operate in numerous states, and you might be tempted to go with one of them because they seem to have the right experience. But, hiring a local moving and storage company might actually be your better option. Here’s why.
You’ll Save Money
This is probably the biggest advantage to hiring a local moving and storage company for your move, especially if you aren’t moving too far away. They will have lower overhead costs to be passed on to the customer and instead of having to pay per mile, you can probably get a lower hourly rate instead. Paying by the hour instead of by the mile will definitely save you money in the long run, particularly if you can get your move done in just a few hours. There may be a minimum charge, but it still should be lower than paying per mile.
Reputation and Reliability
Local movers have to pay more attention to their reputation than the larger, national companies. This is because if they get a bad review in the area in which they operate, they are going to lose a lot of business. A national company has so many customers, they might not care about a bad review or two. In fact, they probably expect to get some complaints and might not even be that willing to fix a problem when one arises.
Reliability is also a key characteristic of local moving and storage companies. You’ve probably heard nightmare stories about moving companies that don’t deliver belongings when they’re supposed to, or they get damaged during the move. Again, local companies have to be on the top of their game when operating in a smaller region to make sure they get other people’s business. Moreover, if you have an issue come up, you can visit their office to straighten it out in person.
Convenience
You can’t beat convenience when you’re in the middle of moving. You’re already experiencing a lot of stress and having a moving company operating out of another state can only add to your load. When you deal with a local company, though, you know right where their operations are, can visit and see their trucks before you hire them, and can call them up during your time zone if you need to speak to someone about your move.
Area Familiarity
Local moving companies are going to know the streets of your city, so not only will they not be as likely to get lost on the way to your new home, but they may also know the quickest routes to get there, even if you’re moving in rush hour. You don’t want to have to deal with movers who don’t know where they’re going. That’s a disaster waiting to happen.
Conclusion
While you can’t always hire local movers, especially if you’re moving across the country or abroad, it’s always a better idea to check out your local options before making a final decision. You could discover that you can save money on a highly reputable, convenient company that knows their way around your town.
