Military service men and women often have to move at a moment’s notice, putting stress on themselves and their families. Fortunately, professional moving companies that understand the specific challenges of a military moving schedule can alleviate the stress of packing, loading, transporting, and unloading belongings.
Moving does not have to be stressful, even on a tight schedule. An experienced moving team can help you handle the logistics of moving so you can focus on yourself and your family. This list breaks down the most important qualities of a military moving company to help service members and their families find a professional moving service that will meet their needs.
1. Look for a Great Track Record
The internet makes it easy to compare company track records using on-site reviews, external reviews, certifications and awards, and customer recommendations. Accredited moving companies will list customer reviews on their site, which can lead to Yelp and other review sites for more input.
A good rule of thumb when looking for specific services is to “find” (Ctrl+F) specific words and phrases on review pages. By specifically searching for testimonials that include “military” or “military movers,” you can easily find customers with a situation similar to yours.
Without searching multiple sites, it can be difficult to confirm whether a company offers military moving services or how successful they are. Reviews are not the final word on a moving company’s quality, but in a digital age, they provide a great starting point for finding services that match your needs.
2. Ask About Licenses and Insurance
Moving companies must be accredited through national organizations, as well as compliant with certain regulations. You can ask about certification when reviewing your options for military moving companies.
For example, movers must meet the standards of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the U.S. Dept. of Transportation (USDOT) to move between states, and they may receive certification through the American Moving & Storage Association (AMSA). They may also have a record on the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
These organizations establish minimum insurance requirements, safety requirements, and more for moving companies. Ask about licenses, certifications, and insurance coverage when comparing potential movers.
3. Compare Multiple Companies
After checking the reviews, licenses, and insurance minimums for potential moving companies, you should have a small, high-quality list of potential movers. Next, you’ll need to compare their services directly to make sure they can meet your needs.
Look for transparent pricing structures to avoid overpaying and compare quotes between companies. Ask each company on your list about extra costs or hidden fees, including storage costs, long-carry costs, packing fees, or military-specific fees.
Many moving companies conceal these costs to present a lower up-front rate to potential customers. Ask for transparent quotes to make the best financial decision when choosing between moving companies.
4. Ask About Specific Services
Regardless of your timeline, military moves require special services. For those planning a PCS, your prospective moving company may need to move specialized equipment, including firearms, which requires specific licenses and experience.
Even temporary relocations warrant specialized experience in military moving services. Ask about each company’s track record with military moves to gauge their ability to respond to specific challenges, meet a strict deadline, and handle specialized equipment.
5. Consider Storage Services
Military service members often require storage services during their moves. Their new locations often have different storage abilities, making it necessary to downsize belongings on a strict schedule, which can add unneeded stress to the moving process.
Many moving services offer secure storage facilities that help military service members manage their belongings between moves. These facilities can be used before or after the move to hold the overflow until you or your family have time to go through it.
The benefit of having these services directly through the moving company is that they can help you make split decisions about item storage during the moving process. If a piece of furniture or equipment won’t fit in the new location, it can be moved on the same vehicles to the company’s secure storage facility instead.
This seamless decision-making takes a lot of stress off the day of the move, helping you focus on more important tasks without losing any important belongings along the way.
Contact Experienced Military Moving Services to Make Your Next Move
Due to the unpredictability of the service, military moving may be last-minute. This can lead to potential logistical problems as military service members and their families try to make the necessary arrangements, which could include packing and transporting specialized equipment in a hurry.
Not all moving companies have the licensing, insurance, certification, and experience needed to conduct military moves. With the comprehensive moving services at MG Moving Services, military service members can be assured their schedules and families are in good hands.
Instead of stressing over logistics, you can focus on what matters most during a move: adjusting yourself and your loved ones to your new location while staying on schedule with the military’s needs. Contact our experienced team at MG Moving Services to learn how we can help make your military move efficient and stress-free.