Hiring a moving company isn't just as simple as finding a phone number on Google, calling the company, and asking them to come to pick up your stuff. It's a thorough process that requires you to handpick the right moving company after careful consideration.

You may think, "Oh, it's just one day. What could go wrong?" The answer is; a lot. Even if you're only working with the moving company for a day, you're handing off all your possessions, everything you own, over to them. If the company isn't good enough, moving will be an absolute nightmare for you.

If you don't know where to start and how to choose the right moving company, we're here to make the moving process much easier for you.

Here are a few preliminary steps you need to follow before hiring a moving company.

Step 1: Talk to Friends and Family

The very first step you should take before you get moving is to talk to your family and friends about the moving companies they might have worked with.

There's nothing better than word of mouth about local, professional movers . And, what better place for it to come from than people that are close to you. By asking for a moving company, you're eliminating a lot of the possibility of getting scammed or ripped off in any way with the Twin Cities or beyond.

Step 2: Research the Moving Company Online reviews

Now that you know the company you want to work with, the next step is to ensure two things; firstly, that they're a legit and professional moving company, and secondly, their moving services are top-notch.

For both, you should go onto online forums like Google, Yelp and Better Business Bureau to check out their customer reviews and see what past customers have been saying about that company's license too.

If there are too many red flags saying that the company ripped them off or didn't provide the actual moving day services they promised etc., you should consider looking for another moving company because this one probably isn't that good of an option as customer satisfaction is key.

Step 3: Pay Them a Visit

If there aren't any major red flags after your research and moving date, there's a pretty good chance that your moving company is legit and good at what they do. However, it doesn't hurt to be careful, now does it?

A huge scam going on in the twin cities of Saint Paul and Minneapolis MN is that a group of individuals is grouping up and renting trucks to call themselves a moving company. While most of them probably aren't going to rip you off, but they are not professionals or going to do a great job. They don't have the right training or knowledge needed to move your cargo.

Moreover, there are others as well that register a company under a new address with a fake name and get you to pay a deposit which they eventually vanish. If you want to avoid all of this, just pay the company address a visit. Make sure that the place they're working out of exists and isn't remote like a trailer. If the company office exists, go in, and say hi. After this, there's zero chance that you'll get scammed.

Pro tip: Check FMCSA website to verify register mover you may want to hire

Step 4: Request a Quote

Now that you trust your moving company completely, it's time to move things ahead with a request and a personalized moving estimate call.

Most major moving companies in Minnesota will send an estimator to your home that will analyze all your rooms and get a rough idea of the quantity and your home layout. Based on that information, they'll provide you a quote.

Step 5: Get Multiple Quotes from Moving Services

The only way to get a good price in a new location in the world of moving companies is to get quotes from multiple moving companies. Compare their prices and packages and see which company is best suited to your requirements.

You're aiming to find a diverse portfolio of services for moving checklist at a reasonable price and remember moving is physically demanding so be prepare to pay your moving services.

Step 6: Inquire About Extra Price

If there's one thing that even some of the best moving companies are doing wrong, it's the hidden fees. They give you one quote and then charge much more at the end of the move. This isn't a scam. Usually, there are some unforeseen circumstances that force the company to charge extra.

However, this isn't fair to you either. So, to avoid extra costs, make sure you ask the company whether the quote they provided is a binding quote.

A binding quote is a price that cannot be changed afterward. If the company is offering binding quotes ideally with long distance move, you're good to go, and this is a sign that you should choose that company with your eyes closed. Also inquiry about packing, and storage if needed.

Step 7: Proceed with Inventory lists

Once you have finalized your moving company, the next step is to allow the movers to take a complete inventory of personal belongings and all the cargo they'll have to haul. This is a really important step, and you should work with the moving company to ensure they don't miss anything as every move is different. Taking inventory helps you keep track of all the possessions they'll be moving.

This eliminates the possibility of anything getting left back at the old house or getting misplaced by the moving company as you want everything moved placed into your new home. Inventories are particularly useful when you are asking the moving company to hold your possessions in their moving truck or storage for a couple of days.

Step 8: Pay the Deposit

The next step is to pay the deposit and confirm the date moving day and time of the move. Some moving companies might not ask for a deposit altogether.

But, if your company does ask you to do so, don't take this as a red flag. Just keep in mind that you shouldn't be paying anything more than 10% to 20% of the total cost of moving expenses for the move as a deposit.

If the company is asking for anything more than that and you are moving locally, you should really go back and do your research. Credible moving companies never ask for huge deposits.

Read more: Moving Help - A Full Guide to Addressing your Moving Needs and Moving Cost: The Ultimate Guide To Moving Estimates

Closing Thoughts

Finding and finalizing a moving company isn't something you can do overnight. It's a pretty extensive procedure that takes several weeks or even months to complete. Put in the proper amount of time, and you'll be able to make relocation process of the move a piece of cake!