Expert Long-Distance Movers in Houston

Any move can be stressful, but when you're moving to a new state or across the country, the circumstances can be especially challenging. To help make your long-distance move easier, it's important to work with the best moving company you can find. Here are a few things you should look for in a mover before making your final choice:

• Length of Time in Business
  Inexpensive movers come and go overnight—make sure that the company you're considering has been in business for many years. Well-established moving companies are likely to have comprehensive services, experienced moving crews and drivers, and options that give you flexibility.

• Reviews
  Go online to look for first-hand experiences of a moving company's past customers. Google reviews are one reliable place to find moving company reviews that can help you gauge a company's quality and how they manage customer service.

• Employee Vetting Processes
  A long-distance moving company is only as trustworthy as its employees. Look into the company's policies and processes for hiring its moving crews to find out if they do background checks, and how they train employees to handle your belongings and protect your property.

• Guaranteed Pricing
  Ask each moving company you're considering if they guarantee that your estimate won't change if the particulars of your move don't change. Too often, consumers realize too late that they're responsible for additional charges or that the company's estimate included hidden fees. It's a good idea to become familiar with the type of long-distance moving estimate you're being given as well.

  You should also be aware that the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires a moving company to provide in-home moving estimates, which include virtual survey estimates, at no cost.

• Credentials
  No moving company should make your shortlist if you can't get information on its credentials and certifications. Avoid any company that doesn't have an online presence and verify that it is certified to handle long-distance moves between states: The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) requires interstate moving companies to have a USDOT number, which should be easy to find on their paperwork and websites. If you're moving long-distance within Texas, make sure your moving company has the required Texas Department of Motor Vehicles number as well.

  While a long-distance moving company in Houston is not required to belong to the American Trucking Associations (ATA), membership in this national trade association is an indication of the company's quality. Also, look for the AMSA's ProMover certification.

Whether you're making an intrastate move (moving from one location to another within the same state) or an interstate move (moving to another state), a long-distance move is generally defined as one that's more than 50 miles.

Since Texas is such a big state, this comes up often! You might be moving within Texas, but it is still considered a long-distance move, it would just be categorized as intrastate by your moving company.

If at all possible, it's best to book your long-distance move approximately four to six weeks in advance. This will help ensure you are able to schedule movers on your desired moving date.

You may also want to schedule your move outside of the busy season, which runs from May through September. If you do need to move during the summer months, book your move as soon as you know your moving date.

Each move is different, but there are several factors that will ultimately affect the cost of your long-distance move, including:

• Distance: A 60-mile move won't cost as much as a 1,000-mile move.
• Weight: The total weight of the goods we'll be moving for you is factored into your quote from our in-home estimator. We recommend decluttering prior to your move to reduce your moving costs.
• Services: The partial packing service costs less than the full packing service.
• Specialty items: Extra-large or delicate items, such as grandfather clocks, antiques, and artwork, will require special wrapping and handling that may add to your costs.

In addition to the costs of using a long-distance moving company, you may also want to consider the costs that can go along with any change of address, such as real estate or rental expenses, utility deposits, cleaning services, and storage costs.

After your move, you may realize that your long-distance movers in Houston did an incredible job, and you might like to show your gratitude. If you're wondering if you should tip them, the answer is yes.

Although tipping is not a requirement, it is a great gesture to show appreciation to your movers for safely transporting your belongings. The amount you tip, however, can vary depending on several factors, such as:

• The total cost of moving services
• The overall complexity of your move (fragile items, steep stairways, narrow entrances, etc.)
• The duration of your move (the longer it takes, the more you should tip)
• The number of movers
• The level of satisfaction you have with your moving experience

A general rule that can help you decide how much you should tip long-distance movers in Houston would be to tip:

Driver: $50 - $75 per day

Helpers: $25 - $50 per crew member (a 2-day move is typically $40 - $80)

Tip: This only includes the number of days spent loading or unloading, not days spent driving for a long-distance move. You can slide up and down that scale depending on these variables:

• You had a local, long distance or international move
• The size of your move
• The scope of work included an unusual amount of labor or special handling

Also, alongside a tip, it can help to have items like water or Gatorade and maybe some snacks available to everyone working on your move. This kind gesture can help keep the crew energized and focused on your move.

Typically, crew members come with everything they’ll need for the day, but it doesn’t mean the gesture isn’t appreciated and noticed.

Whether you're moving within Texas or to another state, there are many common household items that are simply not worth moving.

Besides the obvious things you toss while decluttering — such as expired food and medications and old bills and receipts — leave behind or get rid of the following items before calling long-distance moving companies in Houston:

• Old linens
• Shower curtains
• Outdated electronics
• Stained or mismatched containers
• Clothes that don’t fit
• Old magazines
• Old toys or baby gear
• Appliances
• Damaged furniture
• Unused DVDs or CDs
• Firewood
• Potted plants
• Unwanted books
• Frozen food
• Canned goods
• Unused exercise equipment
• Household items that you don't use

Many of these items weigh down the moving truck and cost more to move than they're worth.

Since virtually all long-distance moving companies in Houston factor the overall weight into the cost, getting rid of these nonessential items before moving can help you save money. It's also a good idea to leave behind any artwork that you don't love in order to save on specialty packing costs.

If you don't want to toss your belongings, consider selling items that are still usable, such as DVDs, workout equipment, and houseplants. Canned goods, old clothes, and other non-perishable items may be donated to your local food bank or homeless shelter.

When it comes to determining how long the international relocation process takes, there are several things you should consider. First and foremost, no two international relocation experiences are alike. From the country you may be calling your new home to your budget, these are all unique attributes that can positively or negatively impact the amount of time your move would take.

The amount of time an average international relocation process can take is anywhere from three to six months. This variation is due to both the time of year you’ll be moving, and the congestion at the local port. Typically, items are sent via sea freight, and have to be inspected by customs upon arrival.

This means you want an experienced moving company and international move coordinator who can help you ensure there are no delays at customs, and all paperwork is filled out correctly. An experienced international moving company like Daryl Flood will also work with these ports frequently and be able to give you some idea of how long you can expect to wait.