Our Sure-Fire Guide To Sorting The Good Movers From The Bad
What makes the best moving company in Vancouver? It’s the winning combination of fair price, care for your belongings and efficient service. But where can you find one?
Internet review sites often give conflicting reports on moving companies and the maze of information can be confusing. This can make it tricky to sort the good from the bad.
To make life a whole lot easier, we have created a useful guide on how to pick the best moving company in Vancouver.
In this article, we will look at:
Ready to find the best moving company in Vancouver? Let’s get started!
Part 1 – Establishing the Type of Moving Service You Need
Before you start researching moving companies and collecting quotes, you will first need to establish exactly what type of moving service you require. The best moving companies in Vancouver will offer a range of different services additional to moving your furniture and belongings, and depending on your requirements and budget, you may also want help with your packing, or the option to store your belongings in a warehouse or container.
Different moving services
- General home moving – e.g. furniture, boxes and other standard household belongings
- Specialist moving – e.g. heavy/bulky/delicate/fragile items such as pianos, pool tables, gym equipment, and antique furniture
- Long distance moving – e.g. city to city and cross country
- Commercial moving – e.g. moving a place of business, office or warehouse
- Packing – e.g. packing your belongings into boxes, protecting your belongings for safe transport such as wrapping mattresses in plastic, and dismantling/reassembling beds
- Storage – e.g. storing your items in a warehouse or container (on-site or off-site) for short or long-term
When do you want to move?
Do you have a proposed moving date, and what time of day do you want to start your move? Can your moving service be completed in one day, or do you have additional services that would be spread over two or more days, such as packing? Do you have any time constrictions – e.g. difficulty finding parking for a moving truck at certain times of day, for example school drop off/collection, or during office/business hours?
What is your budget?
Your budget will determine the type of moving service you are able to get. If you opt for a packing service as well as moving, this will be more expensive than if you were to pack yourself. Whilst packing your own home takes time, it will significantly reduce the overall cost of your move. Reusing packing materials from a previous move is also a great way to keep costs down, not to mention eco-friendly. Packing is also the perfect opportunity to declutter and get rid of the things you don’t want or need, and less stuff means less to move.
Part 2 – Preparing Yourself for Collecting Quotes
Before you start collecting quotes, make sure you have a good understanding of the size of truck you require for your move. The loading capacity of a moving truck is measured in cubic metres (m3), which is calculated by multiplying length X width X height.
Find out your truck size in cubic metres (m3) here.
The best moving companies in Vancouver will offer a range of truck sizes, from small 4 tonne trucks (around 20 m3) to large and XL trucks (60 m3 +).
It is also a good idea to gain an understanding of the approximate cost of your move. For this you will need to factor in the services you have opted for, for example packing or storage, and also include variables such as the overall length of time your move takes to carry out. This is when your moving costs have the potential to vary, as there are certain factors out of anyone’s control, such as adverse weather conditions on moving day – moving in the winter can prove just as troublesome as moving on a sweltering summer day.
With this in mind, it is possible to get a ballpark figure of moving costs. Check out our handy moving cost calculator here.
Part 3 – Researching Moving Companies
Now that you have established the type of moving service you require and have an understanding of truck size and approximate moving costs, it’s time to jump online and begin checking out the best moving companies in Vancouver.
In an increasingly tech-savvy world, with tools and resources readily available to anyone with an internet connection, it’s no longer necessary to be a whizz-kid to create a half-decent looking website.
Because of this, it can be difficult to tell a reputable company from a not-so-reputable company on face value alone. So, before requesting a moving quote, be sure to look out for tell-tale signs that could indicate a potentially dodgy mover.
What to look for in a moving company:
- How are their online reviews? Do their reviews seem genuine?
- Does their website look professional?
- Are they fully-licenced and insured?
- How many years of experience do they have?
- How do their trucks and movers look?
- Do they offer free estimates and zero obligation quotes?
- Are they BBB or C.A.M. accredited?
- Do they offer all of the services you require?
Part 4 – Selecting a Mover
Once you have performed your due diligence and shortlisted the best moving companies in Vancouver, it’s time to start collecting quotes.
Asking the right questions will make sure the moving company is genuine, plus will help to highlight any red flags and potential scams.
Ask the right questions
- How long has your company been in operation?
- Are your movers trained in-house, or do you hire contract workers?
- Do you perform background checks on employees?
- Do you own your moving trucks or are they hired?
- Do you have proof of licence and insurance?
- What is included in the insurance protection?
- Are security deposits mandatory and how much?
- What is your cancellation policy?
- What items do you not pack or move?
- What do you factor in the estimate?
- Do any of your services require additional charges?
- Are you available on my desired moving day?
- Do you charge more on specific days of the week?
- How long will the move take on average?
Be wary of scams and look for red flags
- Website looks unprofessional
- No local phone number
- Company only advertised on 3rd party websites
- Online reviews/testimonies don’t seem genuine
- You feel pressured into a sale
- Deposits/payment demanded before anything else
- Lack of services
- Only accept cash or e-transfer
Get multiple in-house quotes
Arrange in-house inspections for a more comprehensive moving cost estimate and written quote.
Review the contract before signing
Avoid unexpected surprises and be sure to read the moving contract thoroughly before signing.
And remember…
- You are not obligated to choose a moving company just because they have quoted you, so don’t feel pressured
- You can collect multiple quotes and take your time deciding which company you want to go with
- Don’t hand over a security deposit unless you are 100% sure – these are often non-refundable
Part 5 – Getting Yourself Ready for Moving Day
Now you have chosen the best moving company in Vancouver, it’s time for you to start getting ready for moving day.
Moving house is often touted as one of life’s most stressful experiences, but with the right amount of planning, preparation and foresight, it doesn’t have to be.
Our advice? Start early – the earlier the better! But with so much to do, you may be wondering where to even start…
Which is why we created our Ultimate Moving Checklist – helping you work through everything you need to do methodically in a comprehensive step-by-step guide.
Need more moving help and advice? Check out our other tips and tricks to make sure you are ready for anything and everything that moving day can throw at you.
- Moving with pets? Read our guide that’s guaranteed to keep your furry friends safe and happy
- Discover 10 essential things you need to do when moving house in the Canadian winter
- Should you tip your movers? Find out when (and how) to tip movers in Canada
- Don’t miss a thing with our ultimate change of address checklist (link)
