How do I recognize a reputable moving company?
To make your move a successful day, we have listed here the most important points you should pay attention to before hiring a moving company.
1. Compare three to four moving quotes
Prices for moves could not be more different. This has a lot to do, in particular, with the equipment of the various companies. Larger moving companies are equipped with professional trucks and gear for every situation. In general, moves with such companies go smoothly, but also at a hefty price. Newly founded companies are poorly equipped, have almost no experience, but they are very cheap. In between, there is everything. It is therefore worth comparing a few moving quotes so that you can see which moving company suits your needs.
2. Moving quotes - what you should pay attention to
Unfortunately, it often happens that a moving company completely misjudges the effort required for the move. Our recommendation is to always arrange a free on-site inspection from 3 rooms onwards. In this case, you are always on the safe side, ensuring that the moving company is not completely surprised on moving day and tells you that you should have mentioned certain things and that it will therefore now become more expensive. These could be, for example, heavy plants, a safe, or the fact that you completely forgot about the attic. On moving day, you generally tend to agree to all the moving company's demands, because you depend on the company's services and cannot quickly find another moving team at short notice.
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Flat-rate quotes
Quotes with a fixed price, so-called flat-rate quotes, are a common form for private moves. As a customer, you have the advantage of being able to budget the moving costs well and of not experiencing any nasty surprises. A possible traffic jam, or a piece of furniture that gives the moving crew unexpectedly much trouble, has no influence on the final price. A flat-rate price tends to be calculated somewhat generously. The moving company, too, must factor unforeseen events into this price. If everything runs smoothly, the moving company tends to benefit more, otherwise you as the customer do.
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Hourly billing with a cost cap
For hourly billing, we recommend requesting a cost cap from the moving company. This type of quote is also customary and widespread. The following applies: the moving company estimates the time and adds a margin on top. This margin may well be somewhat higher than with the flat-rate price. However, through your moving preparation, it is in your hands whether the move proceeds faster or slower.
In both cases, whether flat-rate price or hourly billing with a cost cap, it is important that you stick to the agreement you made with the moving company. If you have, for example, agreed that the moving company only has to move the large furniture and the moving boxes, but on moving day there is still a lot of small items, then the moving quote could become void.
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Hourly billing without a cost cap
This variant should only be chosen if you are convinced that the move will proceed quickly. Or else if you have enough money. In that case, this variant is even recommendable. The moving crew can, after all, sometimes lose its motivation when it knows that from now on it is only working for free because the cost cap has been reached. This should of course not be the case, but reality teaches us otherwise.
3. Check the contract
Unfortunately, many companies try to play tricks in order to win contracts. Here are a few tips on which points you should pay attention to in the moving quotes:
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Insurance
If a company does not have transport insurance, it should be removed from your list right away. Furthermore, it is important to understand that most moving companies do indeed have transport insurance, but only want to activate it in an emergency. Moving companies cannot make use of the insurance without limit and for every small damage, otherwise the premiums rise or the policy is canceled. That is why moving companies always try to cover damages in another way or, in the worst case, to conceal them.
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Value added tax
Unlike a company move, a quote for a private move should always be offered including value added tax. If this is not the case, then you should examine a moving quote closely to see whether there are other points where tricks are being played.
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Heavy items
Many companies have surcharges for heavy goods, such as a piano, grand piano, safe, aquarium, or heavy plants. If an inspection has been carried out, the moving expert should recognize for themselves which goods would be affected by a corresponding surcharge and can indicate these directly on the quote.
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Travel to and from the site
This is particularly relevant with billing at an hourly rate. As a rule, it is a selling point for moving companies that the travel to and from the site is not charged. You should check it nonetheless.
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Services
What exactly is the scope of services included? Will the furniture be reassembled at the new location?
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Minimum for hourly rate
When billing is done at an hourly rate, many companies specify a minimum. Even if the move only lasts, for example, 3 hours, at least 4 hours are invoiced. This is fundamentally legitimate, since the company incurs an effort with the travel and the organization.
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Furniture lift
Are there surcharges when a furniture lift is needed? Are these costs precisely stated?
4. What are the possible differences between moving companies?
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Vehicles
For a move, vans with flat side walls are far more suitable than bus-shaped vans. Loading goes faster and the risk of furniture being damaged is much smaller.
For larger moves, it is additionally an advantage if the moving company has a truck with a total weight of more than 3.5t available. Otherwise, a move without overloading is almost impossible and the chance of running into a check is not exactly small. In this scenario, the vehicle has to be left behind and the entire load reloaded until the weight is in order again.
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Workers
In this industry, there are many temporary workers. But these should always be integrated into a good team. Loading the vehicle requires a lot of experience. In addition, the team leader is a decisive person during the move. They know when which furniture should be carried to the vehicle so that loading goes fastest. They take over the entire coordination on moving day. Furthermore, it is important that some workers in the team speak your language. Ask about these points.
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Equipment
Good equipment is absolutely relevant for a professional move. The moving crew should show up at your place with stretch film, bubble wrap, and enough blankets. For long flat carrying paths, rolling aids are additionally very important, because they save a great deal of effort.
5. The right moving company for your needs
It is advisable to match the choice of moving company to your furniture and your value expectations. If you have very expensive furniture that means a lot to you, then it makes little sense to hire the cheapest moving company for the move. If you want to spare yourself a lot of trouble, then in such a case choose a more expensive company that can demonstrate the necessary professionalism. In addition, there are many moving companies that are the perfect solution for a 3-room apartment, but would be overwhelmed by larger moves.
6. Important points when choosing the right moving company
You should consider the following points:
- Does the company have an entry in the commercial register? Check this at: zefix.ch
- Does it have transport insurance? Check the conditions in the event of a damage claim.
- How many permanently employed movers with experience will be present at your move?
- Is the company equipped for your move? Stair-climbing robot, furniture lift, piano straps, etc.?
- How was the company rated by other customers? Use the reviews on our portal for this.
- Does the company also handle additional services that are important to me? E.g. disposal of furniture, parking space reservation, etc.
Important to conclude: Trust your gut feeling rather than your bank account. If you can save Fr. 200 but have a bad feeling, it often ends up becoming quite a bit more expensive in the end.
7. Payment for the move
It is customary with many moving companies that the service must be paid for directly after the move. This is done either in cash or by card, provided the moving company is equipped accordingly. Some moving companies also offer payment by invoice. However, since many companies have had negative experiences with outstanding payments, many companies forgo this option.
Clarify the payment in advance, so that this cannot lead to any disagreements after the move.
Do not make any advance payment! It is very unprofessional when companies demand an advance payment, except when you obviously have a poor credit rating and the company has legitimate concerns that you will ultimately not pay.
8. What to do in case of a conflict with the moving company
Should it happen that the moving company makes upward price adjustments during or after the move that you do not agree with, or does not want to provide promised services, then it is important that you do not let yourself be pressured in the end. Under no circumstances pay the full amount. We recommend withholding an appropriate portion, for example half or a third of the total amount. In such a case, record everything in writing and try to find an amicable solution. In the case of damages, companies often offer a small discount, which is often satisfactory for both parties, since there is then no more follow-up effort.
Under no circumstances let yourself be threatened by the moving team present on site; in such a case call the police immediately and report the company concerned to us, so that we can exclude it from our portal.
