What to Do Before Moving Into Your New Home
The key questions to ask before choosing a moving and storage service
Would you close a deal on a house sight unseen? Probably not.
Then why put confidence in one of the many Cleveland moving companies without taking a tour of the facility? After all, if you’re trusting someone with your most precious possessions, it’s worth your due diligence.
Ask these critical questions when vetting storage and moving companies to ensure your selection meets your unique needs.
Does the company offer containerized or self-storage?
Storage companies offer one of two types of storage: self or containerized. It’s best to find a storage company that offers insulated, temperature-controlled units that are guaranteed to protect your belongings from extreme temperatures. This is especially significant if you have delicate items, such as wooden furniture that can expand and contract, antiques, art, collectibles, important records and musical instruments.
Are your belongings protected from potential damage?
Your movers should make every effort to protect your belongings from scratches and dings. Large pieces, such as leather or cotton sofas, should be pad wrapped with moving blankets or shrink wrapped before going anywhere. If your moving company uses containers, ask if the containers will be packed at your house rather than first being transported to the facility to minimize handling. The less your belongings have to be moved, the less chance of damage.
Is the moving company insured?
There’s always risk when moving items, whether it’s to a storage facility or to your new home. While all legitimate moving companies are required to carry insurance, liabilities can vary from company to company.
Leaders’ Director of Operations Jason Farley warns, “There are different levels of coverage: minimum, depreciated, and replacement. Leaders gives the actual cash value coverage at no charge. So just asking ‘are you insured?’ is too vague of a question and could result in a vague answer from some movers.”
Do you have storage access?
All boxed up with nowhere to go.
Be sure you’re not stranded by asking your Cleveland moving company about their scheduling policy. Leaders requests that our guests give at least 24-hour notice before accessing your items in storage, but we pride ourselves on servicing you quickly when life happens.
Can you visit the facility?
There’s nothing more disappointing than retrieving your belongings after months in storage, only to find they’ve been kept in unsanitary conditions.
Our facilities maintain the highest standards from quality security systems to pest control devices and the absence of flammables or smoke on premises.
In addition, our in-house software tracks where each container is in the facility, and every one of your items is inventoried and labeled.
What is security like?
Are there employees on site? Is there an alarm system? Or are your items subject to who-knows-what during your move?
At Leaders, motion detectors and alarm systems keep intruders out and your possessions in. Unlike self-storage facilities, each crate is securely housed inside of our 10,000-square-foot, temperature-controlled, and secure state-of-the-art facility.
Trust your belongings with one of the best Cleveland moving companies
You should never compromise when it comes to protecting your belongings. Get in touch with a moving and storage company that settles for nothing but the best. To get your guaranteed quote, call our Cleveland office at 440-497-4393 or get an online quote today.
About the author
LEADERS Moving & Storage was founded in 1994 in Ohio with a pickup truck and a handshake. Since then, we’ve become one of the largest moving companies in the Midwest and have set the standard for others to follow.
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