How to Choose a Best Moving Company in 7 Steps

Moving is one of the most stressful times for most people. There are so many things that could go wrong and so many items that could get damaged or lost in the process. Since many things need to be taken care of, it is important to choose moving companies near me carefully. By taking your time to find the best-qualified moving company, you end up saving a lot of time and money in the end. 

Picking the best professional movers is not very easy. There are so many complaints from people who have dealt with different companies. King David movers is a local moving company experienced in the field. The company works hard to get things done in time and honor estimates. 

When choosing the most appropriate company, the seven steps to consider include:

1. Do your research

We all rely heavily on the internet these days, and it is a good thing that most search engines are working hard to provide the most reliable search results. As a result, when looking for the best moving company, the first thing is to conduct extensive research on Google, Yelp, and BBB. There are numerous websites that can provide you with  credible information. Aside from that, spend some time asking around. Recommendations from people you trust, such as friends, family, and coworkers, can be extremely beneficial. Real estate agents can also provide this type of guidance. We always give every job our full attention, which means we have a very good track record. 

We have a great article here on: How much does it cost to move an apartment?

2. Taking inventory

A professional moving company will always take the time to get an accurate moving inventory of all furniture and items that need to be moved. This is done to determine and calculate the weight and bulk involved in the move. This can either be done virtually or in person. The movers must conduct a thorough check. This is including and not limited to bookcases, cabinets, dressers and their drawers and so on. Part of our pricing is based on the weight and space occupied by inventory. A moving estimate can help you plan ahead of time. It is even better if you can obtain a free moving quote, so that you are aware of all the potential charges at the end of the move. 

Here is more Detailed: 11 Tips for Hiring a Quality Moving Company

3. Avoid large deposits

When choosing a professional moving company, there are some important points to be aware of prior to move. For example, a moving company should not ask for large cash deposits before the move. If the mover requests a huge deposit, it should be a red flag. So, be alert about these small details. 

4. Insurance and licensing

Expert movers must be fully licensed by the appropriate authorities. If you are working with interstate movers, ensure they have all the required documents and verify this before moving. The same way if you’re working with local movers. 

5. Moving contracts

When moving, it is important to get things in writing. This lays down all the rules and guidelines to ensure that the move is as smooth as it ought to be. Moving company service providers should give moving estimates regarding any extra fees applicable during the move. To protect your rights: 

• Do not sign any blank contract.
• Make sure the delivery and pick-up dates are clearly laid out.
• Read the contract and ensure that your inventory is clearly labeled on the inventory form. 

6. Professional accreditation

Trusted movers are usually members of different trade associations. There are many ways to verify your moving company before hiring them by searching on google. Having the approval of a trusted authority is the best thing as it means you are safe and will get the best quality of service. 

Here is more Detailed: Choosing the best Chicago Moving Company

7.  Extra costs involved in a move

Getting all things cleared out before a move makes things easier for all parties involved. If you live or are moving to a two-story house or from a 10th-floor apartment and so on, it is likely there will be extra charges involved. Make your moving plan clear to the mover you hire.  

Finding a reputable moving company is not easy and sometimes could cost a little more. But be sure all movers must have all the licensing required to offer the best moving services. Requesting for a full-packing service for your entire house can also consider an additional charge if needed. 

Millions of moves happen every year, and doing it right is the only guarantee of saving money and getting all your things across with no losses or damage. Moving smoothly is possible and involves hiring the best movers to offer assistance.

How much does it cost to hire movers in Chicago?

Moving houses or offices can be an exciting experience. However, if not properly planned, it can be an unpleasant and costly experience.

Availing services of a Chicago Moving Company may help relieve some of the stress by assuring you that your belongings will be handled by a dedicated team of professionals. But how much does it cost to hire movers in Chicago, and how can you save money on your relocation?

It is different for every move depending on the move size, moving locations, inventory, and more.  

Drawing up an estimate, a calculation of predicted expenses, is a crucial step in the relocation process. The figure can help you budget and select the best movers.

Here are a few heads that affect the cost of the move:

Move Size

The move size and the items on your inventory list are significant factors. It makes sense that a one-bedroom apartment is faster and less costly to move than a four-bedroom apartment. Expect to pay more if you’re moving in or out of a large house. Be sure to provide the local moving company with precise data on the size of your house, the number of items and the number of boxes. Professional movers charge on an hourly basis. Thus, the longer it takes to complete the move, the more you will pay.

Here is more Detailed: HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO MOVE AN APARTMENT?

Here is a sample of how a moving company calculates your moving estimate.

Accessibility

Will moving items in and out of your home pose a challenge?

 Movers will consider the distance from your home to the transport vehicle, the flights of stairs, presence of an elevator and tight corners when calculating the expenses. For instance, relocating a single-family home with a driveway will be less challenging than carrying a huge wardrobe up six flights of stairs. It takes a longer time, and requires more manpower.

Packing Materials & Supplies

When it comes to collecting moving estimates, it is desirable to understand that you have two options: you can opt for a full-moving service and that’s including packing, transporting and unpacking services. Or, you can do the packing yourself and only hire movers to move your furniture and items from one location to another.

Moving firms supply wardrobe boxes, moving boxes of any size, bubble wraps, and specialized wrapping materials for any fragile and breakable items like mirrors, glass, and screens. Many also provide durable, reusable plastic bins or storage totes for rent at an additional cost.

You can cut back on the packing cost by choosing to do it yourself.

Check out this article on: 11 TIPS FOR HIRING A QUALITY MOVING COMPANY

Distance of the relocation

The distance of the relocation has a direct impact on the travel time. With most professional Chicago moving companies, there is a set rate for transport to and from their facility and your place of residence. You might be able to save money if the moving company is in proximity to both of your sites. During the journey from your old house to your new home, your movers are on the clock. So, if it’s a long journey or there’s a lot of traffic, you’ll have to pay their hourly fee en route.

Moving Season

Many individuals prefer to relocate during the warmer months, especially in places like Chicago where the winters are severe and snowy. However, have you realized that the time of your relocation might affect the cost? The slower moving season from November through February has lower hourly moving rates, whereas the peak season from May through July has higher rates than the rest of the months or seasons.

So, time your move correctly to save big.

Here is more Detailed: HOW TO MOVE DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC?

Insurance

A Chicago moving company takes all measures to ensure your belongings are professionally packed. However, there is a possibility of damage during transport. By law, the professional moving company is legally required to protect your belongings and compensate for any damages caused. Items that are extremely valuable and expensive entail a higher declared valuation which translates to a more expensive insurance. To conclude, while hiring professional movers may seem like an expense, it actually saves you money in the long run. In order to avoid any surprises on moving day, you may ask for a moving expert to come over your house and provide a visual estimate for your move

How to move during the COVID-19 pandemic?

The COVID-19 pandemic has upended our personal and work lives. From the way we learn to the way we work, travel, and entertain ourselves, some things will never be the same.

With the threat of the virus looming large, people have been forced to stay indoors; they have been compelled to postpone important occasions and events.

However, with a home move, this isn’t always doable.

How then can you securely navigate a home relocation during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Find out below. We’ve mentioned the necessary precautions to take on the day of the move to ensure a smooth, stress-free, and most importantly, safe transition.

What is COVID-19?

The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a highly infectious disease. It is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The virus attacks a person’s respiratory system and could range from severe to mild symptoms. It spreads through contact with the saliva droplets of an infected person.

Since its emergence in December 2019, COVID-19 has claimed the lives of millions of people worldwide, led to the collapse of health systems, and has also impacted the strongest economies.

Is the move necessary during the COVID-19 pandemic?

This might not have been the information you were looking for. Nevertheless, it is a question you should think about.

Consider delaying your move if you can. It may not be an option for someone whose lease is ending soon or has an approaching closing date on a property deal.

If moving is unavoidable, proceed with caution.

What is social distancing? How does it impact your move?

One of the most effective barriers against the transmission of COVID-19 is social separation, sometimes known as “physical distancing.” This includes maintaining a distance from other people and not gathering in large crowds.

Given the need for social distancing, moving companies have reduced the number of personnel involved in a single move. What earlier would have been handled by 6-7 people is now done by a maximum of 3 people.

You should maintain a safe distance throughout the procedure. A reliable moving company can be trusted to achieve a professional move without you hovering.

Social distancing has also pushed for contactless moves and virtual surveys. In a contactless move, the relocation company does not require the customer to be present on moving day. After unlocking the apartment doors and reviewing what has to be relocated, the customer is free to depart. Homeowners can return and lock up once the movers have packed and are ready to ship.

Before the pandemic, most moves began with an in-person house tour to take inventory of the items to be relocated. However, this is no longer the case. A video conference is the best approach to conduct a house survey and discuss the estimate while reducing physical contact and the dangers of infection.

Furthermore, it reduces the surveyor’s trip time and costs.

Ask about Coronavirus Protocol

The virus can spread easily from a contaminated surface or an infected person. Hence, it is critical to know the preparedness of the local moving company.

Call up the local moving company. Ask about the safeguards they adopt throughout the transfer. For example, inquire about the use of face masks, gloves, boots, sanitization procedures, and employee screening methods.

Frequent sanitization of trucks and transportation vehicles is also a must.

Choosing the best Chicago Moving Company protects family Members

Seniors and kids are the most vulnerable on such occasions. Keep them in a separate room or have them move to another place until the relocation is over. They have a lower likelihood of catching the virus if they are exposed to fewer individuals.

Ensure everyone wears masks and face shields if shifting temporarily is not an option. Your home should be well-ventilated. Open up the doors and windows to allow the air to circulate.

You can choose to do the packing yourself. This will reduce the time you spend with the packers.

Disinfect your home

Before you begin unpacking, disinfect your new house. This particularly includes areas that see frequent handling, such as the doorknobs, tables, kitchen slabs, lights and switches, and furniture. Provide movers with soap and disinfectant spray that they may use to keep themselves safe.

Dispose of cardboard boxes, plastics, and other packaging material carefully, as the virus could survive on these surfaces for up to 24 hours.

While we can’t put life on hold while dealing with the epidemic, we all must be vigilant and do everything we can to safeguard ourselves and those around us.

How much does it cost to move an apartment?

Moving your home shouldn’t cost you a lot of money when you deal with skilled movers and packers. Their knowledge and experience assure a cost-effective and stress-free transfer.

You’ve undoubtedly already started comparing rates if you’ve consulted local Chicago movers for an impending move. A variety of factors influence the average cost of moving an apartment. Here, we break it down for you.

Local or long-distance moving service?

The type of move is a determining factor in this situation. Is it local, intercity, between states or international?

The majority of apartment moving companies will charge by the hour. As a result, it goes without saying that long-distance moves are more expensive than local moves. Distance increases not just the number of hours traveled, but also the costs of taxes, tolls, and insurances. It also dictates the type of vehicle that will be used.

Quantity of Goods

The entire cost of relocating is determined by the number of items you need to transport; more items equals more money. It raises the demand for manpower, packaging materials, and number of vehicles. Not to mention the load weight, which is especially important for international moves.

When relocating, most homeowners only consider larger items; smaller items are frequently overlooked until the moving firm adds them in the quotation.

Moving an apartment will certainly have small or large volumes.

Make a list of everything you have in your house. Rather than transporting old and worthless goods to the new location, discard them. Purchasing products at the new location may be less expensive.

Time of your Move

Many homeowners are unaware that the time of year or season affects how much a local moving company charges.

If you want to move over the holidays, month-ends, or weekends, expect to pay more. Professional packers and movers charge higher during these periods since they are in high demand. If at all possible, move your home during the week or in the middle of the month.

Costs of Packing Service

When it comes to packaging, you have two options: you can do it yourself or hire someone to do it for you. Second, you might employ the services of local movers.

If you choose the first option, you will save money on labor, but you will have to purchase your own packaging materials. If you have friends and relatives to help you pack, it’s a good idea.

Do-it-yourself packaging is not recommended for long-distance travel. Fragile objects endure a lot of abuse and might be ruined. As a result, it’s preferable to leave it to the professionals.

Different packing packages are available from Chicago movers. The cost varies depending on the options you select. Multi-layered packing using corrugated sheets, bubble wrap, and fiberboard boxes, for example, will be more expensive than normal packaging.

Ease of Movement

Here we are talking about the amount of physical effort involved in the move.

The residing floor, the availability of a lift, and the distance between the door and the moving truck are all factors that packers and movers will consider.

It is simple to transport household things from an apartment flat on the ground floor. A second or third-floor flat will necessitate more labor. This entails a greater fee.

If there is an elevator, the floor on which you are staying makes little difference. However, each building may have its own rules governing the use of the lift for large things.

Labor Requirement

Moving an apartment of any size is a team effort rather than an individual task.

Moving services cover a range of tasks like dismantling furniture, packing, loading, unloading, unpacking and reassembling. Each job requires a varying number of workers and different levels of expertise.

The amount you will pay is determined by the jobs you want done as part of the relocation.

Type of Vehicle

There are so many variables here. First, you have the option of using a shared transportation unit, which uses larger vehicles to transfer numerous homes at once. Alternatively, you can hire a dedicated transportation car.

It also depends on the type and quantity of objects you want to move. Some things necessitate the use of specialized equipment in order to be transported safely. It’s possible that the relocation fees will rise as a result of this.

At the end of the day, it all comes down to which Chicago moving company you choose. For example, when requesting a moving quote, try to provide an accurate moving inventory list for your furniture. The more accurate your list of furniture you provide, the more accurate moving estimate you will receive. It’s that simple. Also, compare the moving services and costs of several packers and movers. And of course, before making a selection, remember to read the reviews.

King David Movers will explain thoroughly and calculate your approximate cost for your free moving estimate. We are one of the top high rating on yelp and google reviews

Call us at 847-470-0055 or email us today, and let us give you Free Moving Estimate for smoothest and most pleasant movers in Chicago, IL!

How to Choose a Trusted Moving Company near You

Choosing the best moving company in Chicago involves careful consideration of several factors to ensure a smooth and stress-free moving experience. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you pick the right moving company:

1. Research & Recommendations

• Ask for referrals: Talk to friends, family, and coworkers who have recently moved. They can recommend reliable movers or warn you about bad experiences.
• Online reviews: Check reputable review platforms such as Google, Yelp, and the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Look for consistent positive feedback and high ratings.

2. Licensed and Insured

• Verify credentials: Ensure that the moving company is licensed and insured. In Illinois, check the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) website to confirm the company’s legal standing.
• USDOT number: If you’re moving interstate, make sure the moving company has a U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) number, which shows they are authorized to move across state lines.

3. Experience and Specialization

• Years in business: Choose moving companies with a solid history in the industry. A longer track record often indicates reliability.
• Specialized moves: If you have unique items (pianos, antiques, etc.), make sure the moving company has experience moving such things.

4. In-home Estimates

• Get multiple quotes: Request at least three in-home or virtual estimates from different moving companies in Chicago and the surrounding. This will give you an idea of the average cost for your move.
• Binding estimate: Look for companies that offer binding estimates, which provide a guaranteed price that won’t change unless you add more services.

5. Compare Pricing

• Be wary of low quotes: Extremely low estimates could indicate potential hidden fees or poor service quality.
• Understand the cost breakdown: Make sure you know exactly what is included in the price (labor, transportation, packing materials, etc.). Watch out for any extra charges.

6. Check Services Offered

• Full-service options: Some moving companies offer additional services like packing, unpacking, temporary storage, or assembling furniture movers in Chicago.
• Customizable options: Look for moving companies in Chicago that offer flexibility, such as partial packing services, moving only large items, or moving boxes you’ve packed yourself.

7. Ask About Claims Process

• Damage policy: Accidents can happen, so ask the moving company how they handle damaged or lost items. Ensure they provide some level of liability coverage.
• Read the fine print: Make sure you understand the terms of insurance and liability. Some moving companies offer full value protection, while others provide basic coverage.

8. Customer Service & Communication

• Responsiveness: A good moving company will be responsive to your queries, transparent about the process, and offer consistent communication.
• Professionalism: Observe how the moving company’s customer service treats you during the inquiry process. Their professionalism can reflect the overall quality of the company.

9. Avoid Red Flags

• No on-site estimate: Reputable moving companies will usually offer to send someone to evaluate your belongings in person.
• Large upfront deposit: Be wary if the company demands a large deposit or cash payment in advance.
• Unmarked trucks: A professional moving company will typically have branded trucks and uniforms for the movers.
• No contract: Always have a contract that clearly outlines services, costs, and terms.

10. Local Knowledge

• Familiarity with Chicago: Choose a company familiar with Chicago neighborhoods, traffic patterns, and parking restrictions. This can help avoid unnecessary delays or complications.

Call or email King David Moving & Storage today, and let us provide you with a Free Moving Estimate for the smoothest and most pleasant moving experience in Chicago, IL.

What to do before start looking for moving companies?

Planning a move can feel overwhelming — but the secret to a smooth, stress-free experience starts before you even contact a local moving company. By getting organized early, you’ll save time, reduce costs, and make it easier to find movers near me you can trust.

Whether you’re preparing for a local move, a long-distance relocation, or even need storage solutions, here’s exactly what to do before you start searching for Chicago moving companies.

Take Inventory of Your Belongings

Before you request quotes, make a detailed list of what you’re moving. Include furniture, appliances, and boxes, plus any fragile or valuable items. This inventory helps local moving companies give accurate estimates and ensures nothing gets forgotten.

Declutter and Downsize

The less you move, the less you pay.

Donate, Sell, or Recycle

Go room by room and decide what to keep, donate, sell, or discard. Many people find moving the perfect time to clear out unused clothes, old furniture, and clutter — and it makes finding movers near me more affordable.

Choose Your Moving Date

Your moving date affects cost and availability.

Avoid Peak Moving Seasons

Peak times — like weekends, summer months, and the end of the month — book up quickly and often cost more. If possible, pick a weekday or off-season date to save money and secure the best Chicago moving companies.

Set a Moving Budget

Decide how much you’re willing to spend before you start contacting movers. Keep in mind that the cheapest local moving company isn’t always the best — factor in reviews, reputation, and included services.

Identify Special Moving Needs

If you have fragile antiques, heavy safes, pianos, or require packing/unpacking services, note these in advance. This will help you find Chicago moving companies with the right expertise and equipment.

Gather Important Documents

Before the moving process starts, store all important paperwork in one secure place. This includes your moving inventory, signed agreements, insurance documents, and identification — everything you’ll need for a smooth experience with your chosen movers near me.

Final Thoughts

Doing a little preparation before you start looking for a moving company will save you time, money, and stress. Once you’re ready, contact King David Moving & Storage for professional, reliable moving services. We’re here to make your relocation easy, safe, and efficient.

📞 Call us today at (847) 470-0055 for a free moving estimate!

What ways to take care of your movers?

Find some quick tips here! Shifting your place?

Well, who can deny that movers can be of great help while loading and unloading stuff when you shift home or office? Believe the fact that their task is not easy. It’s not just the physical aspect of shifting huge things, but the mental alertness of managing everything without causing any damage to the goods. It demands a certain sort of appreciation, and there area  few little things which you can do to care for them.

Tips to take care of the movers:

Keep them hydrated:

As the job of movers demands a lot of physical activity, they tend to get tired easily and sweat out. If not only looks good if you offer them beverages like soft drinks, water, or soda, but, also helps them deal with the work with ease. However, it is never a good idea to offer them alcoholic drinks.

Don’t hinder their job:

Even if you are the most caring person on the planet and want to help your movers but after a certain extent, you should not support them. Your help may become a hindrance in their quick-to-finish yet extremely careful job. Do not worry, as they will take full care of your things as they are trained for that.

We have a great article here: How to Choose a Best Moving Company in 7 Steps

Tip is important:

You should offer them tip as it is a nice way to thank them. Keep some cash ready and you can either give to each mover or can hand it over to the foreman in the presence of his colleagues.

There are always a couple of things that movers would want their clients to know. Little yet important things that can help them finish their job quickly are as follows:

Pack things on time:

Well, it’s important to be ready with your side of packing when the movers arrive. We should value their time as they love it when things are already set so that they can start their job quickly. Otherwise, it will reduce their efficiency, and that is not good for you.

Here is more Detailed: 11 Tips for Hiring a Quality Moving Company

Labeling things is important:

To keep things more organized and easier for the movers, you should label everything clearly. This helps them to load and unload the stuff in the truck. You just need to explain them the labeling system when they arrive.

Parking area should be ready:

The one thing they would not appreciate is when they have no parking space. As they need to do a lot of work with the truck so, they should get a good place for parking. On your part, you should keep a parking space ready and that too in a manner that makes their loading and unloading task easy.

Furniture should be empty:

It would be very difficult to carry tables and wardrobes with full drawers. There are chances of things getting scattered while moving your stuff. So, empty your furniture before the arrival of the movers.

Facilitate them:

You should be around while they are keeping your stuff in the truck. If they have any doubts or questions, then your presence will be helpful. So, be there while your movers arrive until they finish their job.

This way, a moving day can be made easy-going by the above-mentioned tips. Hope you find them useful. All the Best!

How to label your moving boxes like a pro

Want to learn the labeling of moving boxes like a Pro? Here’s how!

Moving stuff from your place can be a chaotic task. Things may get disorganized, leading to confusion and frustration. To avoid this, you can use an easy labeling system. This will make things go smoothly without causing too much stress.
A smart labeling system would not only help in packing things but would also make unpacking everything a quick and easy task. It is of great help if you start labeling along with packing. Do it while you are still packing so that you do not forget to label any box.

Tips to easily label your moving boxes:

Get the tools and mind ready:

An alert mind is important, along with the different markers and highlighters. You need markers of different colors so as to manage things easily, and even use color code for things belonging to a particular room. This helps movers to easily unload things and keep the moving boxes in their specific rooms.

Get good quality markers:

It may cost a little bit more, but you must get at least five different colors of markers. And that too of good quality! Permanent waterproof markers would be the best solution.

Colored tape would add to the ease:

Apart from colorful markers, you should also get colored tapes that match the markers. It is fine if you want to use colorless tape for most of the boxes but a single roll of each color would facilitate the labeling process in a big way. Use the tape and mark the name and area where the boxes should reach.

Color code:

Now that you have colored tape and markers ready, just set a color code for each room. Like you can use blue for the bathroom, green for the kitchen, yellow for the living area, pink for the baby girl’s room, and so on. Use your creativity and remember the color for each room.

Once this is done, use the particular marker to label stuff of the rooms. Like green labels would be on every box belonging to the kitchen. Write the name of the room on each box and stick the list of items in the box in small print.

Now, use the colored tape on each box. Even a single strip on the side of the box will also do the job of identification easily. You can easily recognize the kitchen box from a lot of boxes, and the same holds for the boxes belonging to different rooms.

Inform the movers about the labeling system:

To facilitate the movers, just keep a sheet of printed paper ready with color names and their meanings. If they are not aware of your system, then they cannot put things in the right place. The sheet would help them load and unload things with ease.

With the labeling system, there is no chance of guesswork or misplacement of things. It will help you to spot an out of the place box and movers can easily shift it to the desired destination. In case you are reusing old boxes, then it is very important that you cross out previous labels and descriptions, if any. This will reduce any chances of confusion.

That’s it! Now, you know how professionals use the labeling system and use it for packing and moving your space. Hope that this small yet important piece of information helps you in moving to your place without any hassles.

Call or email King David Moving & Storage today, and let us give you a Free Moving Estimate for the smoothest and most pleasant packing services, and label your moving boxes