A professional moving company can make your relocation much easier, but the right one depends on the services you need and the type of move-local, long distance or international. Some companies charge by the hour, while others have flat rates. The type of move and the service level you need will also affect your budget. Start by asking around for recommendations from friends and family, but don’t stop there. Look at online reviews and compare movers’ prices. Check their licenses and insurance to be sure they are legitimate. You should be wary of any movers that cannot provide proof of their US Department of Transportation (DOT) number for interstate moves or state-specific licenses for local moves. Also be on the lookout for unmarked trucks and a history of poor customer reviews or complaints with consumer protection agencies. Make a list of all items you need to move and ask each mover for a quote. Some movers offer additional services like packing, storage and furniture assembly/disassembly. The more items you have, the higher your moving costs will be. Consider getting rid of items you no longer use or haven’t used in a while to save money. You can even have a garage sale or donate them to charity to offset the cost of the move. It will also be more cost-effective to hire movers who can offer price-binding quotes, which are based on in-home surveys or detailed inventories of your belongings, rather than over-the-phone estimates. movers near me