Moving to a new residence can be both exciting and stressful. Exciting because you are going to a new and better place and stressful because of the activities involved. To relieve yourself of the hardships of packing, loading, and transporting your belongings, you should hire a residential mover. To find the right professional for your move, here are some questions you should ask your prospective movers.

Do You Offer Packing and Storage Services?

One of the essential services you can expect from a mover is packing and storage. Ask your mover how they protect and label items. You should make an inventory of all your items. The mover should also be responsible for preparing your appliances for transport. Determine whether they charge for appliance service. 

Many companies come with their packing supplies and provide a free blanket wrap service for sofas and other items. Some companies charge for this service; therefore, make sure you know their terms for packing services.

If you need storage, make sure you choose a mover who offers these services. Large companies usually offer this service, which saves you time and money. Make sure you inspect the storage facility beforehand.

What Estimates Do You Provide?

You should choose a mover according to your budget. The best way to determine whether a mover is a suitable match for you is their estimates. Moving companies offer three types of estimates: 

• Binding not to exceed
• Binding 
• Non-binding estimates

A binding not to exceed estimate means the estimate cannot be increased, but it can be decreased if your move takes less time than expected. On the other hand, a binding estimate cannot be changed, whereas a non-binding estimate can be altered to reflect a lower or higher final price.

What Is Your Claims Process?

When hiring a mover, ask them to give you a history of complaints and claims against their movers. Ask them how they handle claims. A record of complaints and claims against them will help you determine whether they are reliable.

No matter how cautious a mover is, there is still a likelihood that something will be damaged or misplaced. Therefore, make sure you review the residential mover's policy to know what steps to take if you have a complaint. 

Moving can be a stressful endeavor if you are not prepared. Make sure you take stock of the items you want to move, dispose of, and store. Also, make sure you search for a local mover. The ideal residential mover should have considerable experience, a qualified staff of movers, and reasonable moving rates.