10 questions to ask your Ontario movers before hiring them

You’re moving to Ontario, but are a bit wary of your moving company choice? Choosing which moving company to employ can be a stressful one. You can never be too sure who to entrust your belongings to. But fret not, as one of the best cross Canada movers, we present 10 questions to ask your Ontario movers before hiring them! By following our list of questions, you can ease your stress levels immensely.

1. Are you properly licensed?

Might seem obvious, but we would still like to remind you to ask this question. The number of fake or unlicensed companies is not too high, but it’s always in your best interest to check. You wouldn’t want someone unregistered meddling with your belongings.

You can usually consult the Better Business Bureau (BBB) where a lot of Canadian-based services are accredited. Otherwise, check directly with the movers and ask them about everything you’re curious about. We would also recommend asking how long the company has been in business.

2. Do you have experience with my type of move?

Depending on what kind of move you are conducting, different moving companies might offer different deals. You might for example be interested in long distance moving, residential moving, or even moving your company. Other things to consider are if you’re moving to the top floor of a tall building if your new apartment building doesn’t have an elevator, and similar.

You also need to be aware of the size of the move, the distance, the number of vehicles you might need, etc. You have to be completely prepared before contacting your moving company. This will simply make it easier for everyone. The movers will be able to give you better advice and you’ll be able to ask better questions.

3. Can you give me an estimate for the moving process?

You need to be prepared financially-wise. An estimated cost per vehicle for short-distance moves is around $1,300 or less, but for long-distance moves, the number jumps between $1,300 and $2,600. Our long distance movers Ontario offer a professional, carefully planned out long-distance moving process, that leaves nothing unaccounted for.

We recommend always have a surplus of prepared money for these types of moves. With real professionals, there will never be additional costs. But it is better to be safe than sorry.

4. What coverage options do you offer?

Moving coverage is a type of insurance that can cover the costs of broken or damaged possessions during the move. This is a very important question to ask your Ontario movers before hiring them. There are three types of insurance coverage in Canada.

1. Released liability

Released liability is insurance that is paid by how much your belongings weigh. This option is free but isn’t the safest if you’ve got quite a bit of valuable possessions. It is $0.60 per pound for items. If it’s a shorter move, the number can drop down to $0,30.

2. Full-value protection

This option is completely different from the previous and much more suited for moving prized possessions. If something is lost/broken during transport, you will get the exact amount of money that object is worth. Alternatively, your items will be replaced with the exact same items. This type of moving coverage retails from $8 to $12 per pound.

Information about insurance is one of the questions y0u should ask your Ontario movers before hiring them. 

3. Third party insurance

This option is mostly reserved for items of extraordinary value, like really expensive works of art for example. You will most likely have to get these items appraised and then get an estimate.

5. Do I have to pay a deposit?

Deposits are becoming more widely used. It’s always a plus if you can get out of paying a deposit. Currently, movers are requesting deposits for very big moves, like moving to a 10-bedroom villa or moving your 25-room office. This is because the movers need to set aside a few days and a lot of vehicles for these types of moves.

For smaller moves, you will most likely not need to pay anything in advance. For more information, you can consult our relocation services Canada. We offer a wide variety of services you might need, all from packing and unpacking to vehicle transportation.

6. Do you have the right equipment for my move?

Another important thing to ask is about the equipment the moving company provides. Usually, moving companies have all the needed equipment, but in case something is missing, it’s good for you to know in advance. You can either buy the missing equipment or search for a different company.

7. How do you calculate prices?

If you ask this question, you will be able to calculate your costs by yourself and see if your chosen moving company is trying to charge you extra. What companies usually charge is:

• Weight of shipped items
• Shipping distance
• Which season it is
• Hourly worker’s rates

Be sure to ask if there will be some unexpected additional costs.

8. Do you guarantee delivery dates?

If you have urgent business or whatever reason why your shipment has to come in at the right day and time, this is the question to ask. This will help planning your time go smoothly.

A good moving company is half the job done.

9. What is your cancellation policy?

This question ties in with the deposit question. Usually, if you need to leave a deposit, upon cancellation, the company will keep the deposit. This is why we recommend finding services with no deposit. There might be some cancellation fees you need to pay, though. These are usually inexpensive.

10. Do you offer any discounts?

Oftentimes there are a few discount options with moving companies. Senior discount which is offered almost everywhere. Seasonal discount if you’re moving out of the usual season. Perhaps even a member’s discount.

Don’t be shy, and always ask for a discount. It’s the easiest way to save a good chunk of money.

We hope our top 10 questions to ask your Ontario movers before hiring them have proved to be useful to you in your journey towards Ontario. We can’t wait to hear from you!