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How to Find Affordable NJ Movers You Can Trust

How to Find Affordable NJ Movers You Can Trust

Finding the right NJ moving company to help with your relocation can be a daunting process. Looking for a trustworthy affordable one can be even harder. With so many moving companies in NJ to choose from, it’s important to take the time to do your research and find one that matches your needs and budget. Luckily, the steps below can help you find an NJ moving company that is affordable and trustworthy.

Start Early

The sooner you can start your research, the better. While there are hundreds of reliable companies in NJ (including NJ Great Movers), there are also plenty of scams out there. The more time you give yourself to research companies, the better odds you’ll have of finding a reputable one. Ideally, you should start your search at least a month before you plan on moving out of your current home. You might want to start earlier if you’ve moving during peak season which is from May through September. 

Of course, sometimes you won’t have the luxury of time. If you need to move out in a hurry, you should still take some time to do as much research as possible and don’t go for the first company that offers you a good deal. Ask questions, look up reviews, and most of all, trust your instincts. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. And if the moving companies seem to be dodging your questions or trying to pressure you into signing the estimate, they’re probably trying to scam you. Look for companies that provide full answers, are helpful, and most of all, have an active Department of Transportation (DOT) number listed on their site.

Ask for Recommendations

No moving company is going to say that they’re bad or mediocre. Every single one will claim that they are the best. Instead, ask people you know first for recommendations. You’ll likely get better advice and feedback from them since they can provide you with reliable information regarding their experience.

After that, go online and look for customer reviews about cheap NJ movers. There are plenty of review sites online that you can check and you can even join some online groups and ask its members their opinion on various moving companies. When checking online reviews, take it with a grain of salt. The moving companies themselves create the listings on these sites and can manipulate the reviews to make themselves look good.

While you’re at it, make sure to look the company up on the Better Business Bureau and look for complaints. You should also look up the DOT number online to make sure the company still has a valid registration with the state and federal government.

Call the Movers

Once you’ve narrowed your choices down, it’s time to look up the movers themselves. Check out their website to make sure that they have things like a DOT number listed on their site, a business email, phone number, and address. From there, check the DOT site to ensure the name of the company and address listed on the site matches what is registered with the DOT.

If everything checks out, give the movers a call. When answering the phone they should say the company’s name not a generic “movers” or “moving company” or, worse, their name. If you do hear the latter, move on to the next company. In case everything is fine, ask for an estimate. Most companies will either need a virtual or in-person tour to see what you are bringing with you. Make sure to convey important information like if you need them to navigate stairs or other things like dealing with building management. These could add to the estimate.

Most estimates should be within the same range give or take $10-20. If the estimate is suspiciously low, it’s likely a scam. Ask the company for clarification and make sure there aren’t any hidden costs. Always discuss every aspect of the move including additional services like packing and unpacking, storage, furniture disassembly, insurance, etc. If you’re working with professional NJ movers you should have released value protection included for free, but it doesn’t hurt to ask. If it’s not included, RUN! By law, all professional moving companies need to offer this for FREE.

Quality Over Price

Even if you’re moving on a tight budget, it’s important to understand that you get what you pay for. Renting a van might be an inexpensive option, but you’ll spend a lot of time doing the moving yourself. And unless you have people to help or the appropriate equipment, moving bulky or large pieces of furniture will be out of the question. Even with help, you could easily injure yourself carrying boxes or other items because you don’t know proper technique or know moving safety guidelines. There’s nothing worse than having to move into a new place while injured.

Even when hiring professional movers, it can be worth it to go with a company that is a bit more expensive but has great recommendations and reviews. An experienced company will be able to efficiently and safely move all your belongings from one place to another in a few hours. Not only that, but they’ll have all the appropriate equipment and materials for a successful relocation.

When it comes to cutting costs, one of the easiest places to save money is with packing supplies. While they should be sturdy and durable, you don’t have to buy them new. In fact, you should try to use as many things in your home as possible such as bags, plastic bins, suitcases, etc. If you’re low on boxes, ask your local supermarket to see if they have any extra boxes or papers lying around. You should be able to scrounge up enough, but if not, you will only have to buy a handful of boxes instead of a couple dozen.

Ready to Move?

Whether you’re making a local or long distance move, NJ Great Movers can help. Our highly qualified employees can provide you with useful information and help with creating your custom moving plan. Just give us a call and we’ll walk you through the process.

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Local Moving Long-Distance Moving

What’s the Difference Between Local and Long Distance Moves?

What's the Difference Between Local and Long-Distance Moves

One of the first questions you’ll get when you call professional movers is whether you are making a local or long-distance move. While it’s obvious there are differences between the moves, it might be hard to understand the intricacies from a customer standpoint. Knowing what kind of move you’re going to need will help you save time, effort, and money in the long run. So what are the differences?

Local vs. Long Distance Move

It might be obvious that a move down the street would be considered a local move, but what if you’re moving 5+ hours away in the same state? Generally, a local move is defined as moving either within the same city or within a 50-70 mile radius of your current home.

On the flip-side, a long distance move is one that is more than 70 miles away and generally requires crossing state lines. Long distance moves require careful planning to ensure that the delivery arrives at the right place at the right time. Long distance moves might be calculated in days versus hours depending on how far you’re going. More importantly, crossing state lines means the movers will need additional insurance and licenses to cover different locations and policies.

So what happens if you’re moving 50-70 miles away but it’s in a different state? Well that depends on the movers and your location. For example, many NYC moving companies consider bordering cities in New Jersey and Connecticut to be a local move. Don’t assume that’s the case with all movers, though. You should always give your new address and ask questions!

Price Calculation Local vs. Long Distance

Understanding quotes and estimates from local movers should be straightforward so long as you are working with a reputable company. When talking to the company, give as much information as possible. The more detailed you are, the more accurate the quote will be. The most obvious information is how big your house is, your current address, and your new address. However, don’t forget to note:

  • If the movers will need to go up/down stairs at either of your houses
  • What extra services you’ll need (packing, storage, unpacking, packing materials)
  • Whether you’re moving any bulky items like pianos, pool tables, etc.

Based on the information you give them, they will calculate how many hours it will take them to move, how many movers you’ll need, and any extra services you add on. You can usually get away with  having an extra box or two on moving day as that won’t increase the total amount of hours it takes for your move. Just don’t expect to not get charged extra if you end up with 10 extra boxes!

Long distance moves are calculated differently. There are several factors they take into account to determine the total cost including:

  • How much you’re moving
  • The distance between the origin and destination
  • The total weight of items

Moving companies are required by law to charge by the pound. They must also follow the interstate tariff set by the United States Department of Transportation and might provide discounts. Long distance movers will set their charges in one of two ways:

  • Binding estimate – the movers will estimate the weight before providing the price
  • Weight – you get a price per pound and the moving company will weigh everything after

When you’re deciding which movers to use, try to find one that provides a binding estimate. As the name suggests, whatever price the movers give you will become a fixed cost. If you agree to the estimate, you will pay that price, nothing higher and nothing lower. Make sure to obtain quotes from several different places before you agree to the estimate as some moving companies might overcharge you. Also, you won’t be able to sneak an extra box or piece of furniture even if you have a binding estimate. After all, the estimate was only for the items you told them about. If you add anything new, you and the movers will have to renegotiate so it behooves you to be as upfront as possible.

Tips for a Local Move

Even if you’re moving down the street, you’ll want to stay organized when it comes to your local move. There might be no way to get rid of stress completely, but the following tips can make the transition much easier:

  • Find a daycare for your kids AND pets – depending on how old your kids are they might be helpful, but young children can easily become a distraction and might even find themselves in dangerous situations. The same is true for pets. If possible, entrust your kids and pets to friends or family members.
  • Choose your moving day wisely – there are a lot of things to consider when choosing when you will actually move. If you live in an apartment, you might not have that luxury since you have to be out by a certain date. However, think about the time you want the movers to show up as well as the day of the week. Weekends are usually busier, but more people might be available to help out. Weekends might be quieter, but you’ll need to take time off of work. Weigh the pros and cons beforehand so you’re not leaving the decision to the last minute.
  • Ask for help – there’s no shame in asking for help. Moving is a long and tedious process so the more help you can get the better. Your best bet is to call in professional movers to help load and unload your truck, but for everything else you should rely on friends and family. Bribe them with some treats if necessary to help spread the work.
  • Prepare your new home – depending on how much time you have, how far away your new home is, and whether or not someone is still occupying your new home, you might be able to prepare your new home before moving day. Take advantage of that time if you can! Do some light cleaning, look for trouble areas and patch them up, paint the walls, etc. Heck, you can even set up your small play area for your kids and pets so they have somewhere to hang out the first day/night.

Tips for a Long Distance Move

Long distance moves require a lot more planning and consideration especially if you’re moving cross-country. You will need to figure out when you will be available to receive the movers at your new place and whether you’re going to storage in transit. That means planning out your route, planned stops, and leaving plenty of room for traffic problems. Some other tips to make your long distance move go a bit smoother include:

  • Updating important documents – changing your address means you’ll also need to update your information in a lot of different places. If you’re moving to a new state, you’ll need to get a new driver’s license and registration. Don’t forget that you’ll need to update your address at your bank and online ordering sites!
  • Label your boxes with your name – during a long distance move your boxes will most likely be on a moving truck that is shared with other families. In order to prevent any mix ups, label every box with your name and phone number just in case it gets dropped off at the wrong house.
  • Triple-check your inventory – You will need to provide a detailed inventory to the movers before they load up the truck. Don’t lose this list! When the movers arrive at your new place, triple-check to make sure everything has arrived before the movers leave. That way, you can figure out if anything is missing.
  • Take extra care when packing – While you should always pack your items with care, you should be especially diligent when moving long distances. There’s more opportunities for your belongings to get damaged the longer they are on the road. Wrap your fragile items with bubble wrap, paper, and old t-shirts to prevent vibrations. Tape the sides of all your boxes for added sturdiness.

Make Your Local or Long Distance Move

Now that you know the two different types of moves, you’ll need to find a reputable moving company to help you! Great Movers can help you with every move and will walk you through every step of the way. We’ll do our best to create a customized moving plan to suit your budget and needs. Simply contact us and we’ll provide a free quote.

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General

The Most Common and Important Moving Services for NJ Movers

Common Moving Services for NJ Movers

It doesn’t matter how many times you move, the process is often overwhelming and stressful. For many, hiring professional movers to take over some tasks can be a huge relief, but not all movers are the same. Even within New Jersey there some moving companies offer more options than others. That’s why it’s so important for you to figure out what you want to do yourself and what you want to hire NJ movers for. If you’re curious not sure what services movers might offer, the list below can help you plan your next NJ move.

Local Moves: Find the Most Remarkable Moving Services

Perhaps the most common moving service requested of NJ movers. As the name suggests, residential moves help regular people move their belongings from their old house to their new one. In its most basic form, residential moving only includes loading and unloading of boxes and furniture from your old house to your new one. Some moving companies might provide other free services including:

  • Basic disassembly/reassembly of furniture
  • Wardrobe boxes
  • Some light packing of items such as lamps, paintings, etc.
  • Uninstallation of AC units and dismounting of TVs

Not all movers will offer these options though so unless you have confirmed this with the company directly, don’t assume they will do this for you! Even if they do offer these services, it might be better for you to do the disassembly, uninstalling, and dismounting of your furniture. It will reduce the overall time the movers need to spend, which can reduce your overall costs. Of course, most movers charge a minimum for their services so if you think that you won’t go over that amount with the additional work, then you might as well take advantage of these free services.

Packing and Unpacking: The Most Important Part of Moving

Next to lugging your boxes and furniture on and off a truck, the next task most people hate when moving is packing everything and then unpacking. It’s a huge time commitment and improper packing techniques can lead to broken items. And no one wants to see broken glass when they open up a packed box. Not all NJ movers provide packing and unpacking services, but there are many who do.

Of course, adding on this service will cost extra money so make sure you have the budget for it. With that said, you don’t have to spend a fortune to have your items packed. Many moving companies have a partial packing option. All you need to do is let them know what rooms you need help with and then you can pack the rest of your house. This option allows you to save money and still organize your boxes and belongings for the majority of your house without issue. If you don’t want to deal with packing at all, you can choose a full packing service. As the name suggests, the movers will pack everything up for you and, of course, provide the appropriate packing materials.

In addition to packing, you can also hire movers to unpack your boxes. It’s a great option if you have the money as you can immediately get settled into your new home. With that said, the downside to having others unpack is that they won’t necessarily put everything where you want it so you might have to spend some time after to organize properly.

Regardless of whether you choose full service or partial, you’ll need to provide an inventory of the items you want packed not just for the movers, but for yourself. That way if anything ends up missing, you have a record of every item that should have arrived at your new home. Reputable movers will have basic coverage for lost and/or damaged items of $0.60 per pound per item. Make sure to let them know immediately when you notice something has gone missing. The best companies might even reimburse you more than the baseline amount as an apology.

Storage: A Less Popular Yet Useful Moving Service

Although not as common as the other two services, many movers in NJ do offer some storage options. There are many reasons why you might need storage:

  • Can’t move into your new home yet
  • Moving from a larger to a smaller space
  • Long-term travel (1+ month)

And so on. Whatever your reason, you need a place to securely store your belongings. While there are plenty of third-party options available in NJ and beyond, one of the benefits of booking storage with a moving company is that you get an all-in-one service. Not only will they bring your items to storage, when you’re ready to move to your new place, they will bring everything to you at no charge.

If you need storage, make sure to ask the movers about their facilities. Not all companies offer the same amenities. Some might have simple outdoor lockers while others have climate-controlled options. While basic outdoor storage isn’t horrible, there’s no guarantee that your items will be safe during extreme weather events. If you want to make sure your belongings don’t suffer any potential damage from weather or temperature related issues, always opt for climate-controlled storage. You should also ask about the security of their facilities. Some might have a guard on-duty but no security cameras. Finally, ask about their rental length. Not all companies offer long-term storage so if you need something for longer than that time, make sure to ask.

Moving Boxes and Plastic Bins: The Most Useful Options

Sure, you can get cardboard boxes for free, but that means you need to spend time looking for them and then lugging them back to your home. Not everyone has the time or interest in spending weeks looking for boxes. Plus, used boxes might already suffer from some damage and could fall apart during your move. You can buy new boxes from the home supply store, but you’re not guaranteed high quality materials.

If you want to make sure your belongings are safe, you should purchase directly from movers. Not only do they source their boxes from high quality vendors, they also have a variety of sizes to choose from so you’re not stuck with comically large or small boxes. These boxes can withstand the moving process and you can always save them for later or donate them to someone else in need. For those looking to be more environmentally friendly, you can rent plastic bins from moving companies. These bins are a great option as they are easily stackable and water-resistant so they won’t break down in even the heaviest downpour. Plus, since they’re rented they don’t take up any unnecessary room in your new home. Just call up the movers and they will pick them up.

Which Is the Best Service for Your NJ Move?

There are a lot of options available so it can be overwhelming. Your best bet is to figure out your needs as well as your budget. From there, you can decide what options make the most sense for your move. If you have any questions, don’t be afraid to ask! Reliable NJ movers will work with you to create a personalized moving experience that works within your budget.