Dec 21, 2022
Are you planning to relocate to or out of California?
Relocating to a new place is always a tedious task, both physically and mentally. And when you have to move cross-country, it gets even more challenging. Now consider that California is even larger than Germany and is almost as populated as Canada! A cross-country move to or from this state will not be a breeze.
Of course, nowadays, you can easily find many packing and moving services that can help you with inter-state and long-distance moves. But even then, you must be well-planned and choose the right service provider for a smooth experience. After all, you will be entrusting your movers with the task of shifting all your possessions from one state to another, so it’s only reasonable that they should be trustworthy and reliable.
With that in mind, if you’re planning to relocate from California to another state, or the other way around, here are a few important tips to keep in mind when you hire cross-country movers:
You first have to check if the company is licensed and has obtained all important certifications. If you didn’t know already, all moving companies must obtain their license number from the US Department of Transportation, also known as the USDOT number. So, you should ask the company to provide their USDOT number, and you can check it on the tool provided by the FMSCA here.
This should quickly confirm whether the company is licensed and legitimate to begin with. While you’re at it, also enquire if they have insurance plans, such as liability coverage and cargo protection. You may have your insurance coverage to protect your items, but the movers must be insured as well, which is also a sign of their credibility.
Customer reviews and past records are the best way to understand a moving company’s service quality. Look for online ratings and testimonials, and ask people in your circle if they have hired the company for interstate moves and how well they handled the process. Even if a company has mostly positive reviews, you should still check the few negative reviews to be aware of any issues or red flags that may come up.
You can know many things about a moving company by analyzing how they plan and approach it. Do they arrive for an initial house inspection to check your items and belongings? Will you get a personal coordinator to handle the cross-country move? Ask them to explain how they will take care of the packaging, loading, and moving process. If there are fragile items, how securely will they be packed and transported? Is there a GPS tracking facility available?
This is important when hiring movers because a reliable company will always have a proper plan right from the start, even before you finalize the move. Just by observing their initial approach, you can tell if they have the skills and expertise required to manage long-distance relocation.
Perhaps the two biggest factors to consider before you hire cross-country movers are their transparency and preparedness.
Transparency means that the moving company should fill you in on every detail of the moving process, even if it’s something minute. So, they should eagerly answer your doubts and questions without hesitation. You’ll obviously have many questions – how long will it take, will your belongings be safe, will there be any pitstops along the way, and so on. And they should have clear answers to address such doubts.
Preparedness means that they should have guidelines and instructions to manage your relocation. That includes having the necessary equipment, well-conditioned vehicles, professional staff that can safely handle your items, strong geographical knowledge, and logistic planning to route your moving vehicle conveniently.
When you’re considering the cost estimate, it doesn’t mean you should always look for cheaper options. The best professional movers in San Diego and California, in general, may not always have the cheapest rates, but what’s important is that they will provide good value for money.
So, ensure you hire movers who can immediately offer you an accurate cost estimate. In most cases, they will give you a quote based on the travel distance and weight of your total items. Of course, there may be some unforeseen expenses that cannot be accounted for in the initial estimate. Or you may ask for some add-on services later on. Even in such cases, a good moving company will clarify any additional costs that may arise on top of your initial quote.
A reputed moving company will always have a broad range of services to cater to their customers’ needs and requirements.
For example, if you have special items such as antique furniture, high-value paintings, murals, and such, then you’ll have to look for movers who have experience and expertise in handling such items while keeping them intact and in mint condition. Such items need to be handled by San Diego specialty movers.
Or if you’re moving a long distance across the country to a faraway state, you may not be able to transport all your belongings in one go. So temporary relocation storage might be necessary. Now you obviously won’t be hiring different companies for storage, regular items, and specialty items. In such cases, you need to make sure that your moving company offers all these services together and can meet all your demands without compromising the integrity and safety of your possessions.
The search for a perfect interstate moving company can be a tiring task, but with Oakley Relocation, you can put your search to an end. We are one of the long-running, reputed downtown San Diego movers and a certified partner agent for North American Van Lines. As professional movers, we don’t just offer readymade services and packages but treat every one of our customers and their moving requirements individually. When you get in touch with us, we will work together to determine the best ways to complete your relocation through a customized plan catering specifically to your needs.
To enlist our moving services and get a cost estimate for your cross-country move in San Diego, feel free to reach out to us today.
