10 best long-distance moving companies in Cottage Lake, WA

Long-distance or interstate moves differ from local moves in significant ways. Many people moving interstate or long-distance worry about challenges like how to move their car, as well as higher costs and complicated logistics.

Selecting the right movers can help relieve your concerns. To help ensure you, your loved ones, and your belongings make it to your new home without incident, we've created this guide to the leading long-distance movers in Cottage Lake.

What Makes Long-Distance Movers Different From Local Movers?

Moving companies that perform long-distance moves differ considerably from those that only assist with local moves. Local movers only operate within a specific geographic radius and often charge a significantly higher fee for moves beyond their standard service circle if they agree to such requests at all.

Another benefit of choosing a long-distance mover is that they typically charge based on the weight of your belongings, while local movers are more likely to charge based on time. Keep in mind that certain movers might use both weight and time in their estimates, so ask your specific movers about their pricing structure.

Local Cottage Lake moving companies may have a more knowledge of your specific location and provide more affordable services, but their experience with interstate moves is most likely limited. Long-distance moving companies can save you time and stress because they're more likely to have the proper information and experience to help with the logistics and legalities of interstate moves.

How To Choose a Long-Distance Mover in Cottage Lake

Picking the right long-distance moving company in Cottage Lake requires research to ensure the company offers the services you need and fits your budget. To help you navigate the process of picking a legitimate and trustworthy long-distance mover in Cottage Lake, we've gathered some guidance below.

• Ask about insurance: Interstate moving companies are required by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to offer two types of options for insurance coverage to their clients: Full Value Protection and Released Value Protection. For long-distance moves inside one state, looking into these or similar insurance options is a good idea. In addition to the insurance options offered by your mover, purchasing your own moving insurance will give you complete protection for your belongings. To help you better understand your long-term moving insurance options, we've provided a more detailed overview below.
• Assess qualifications: Interstate movers must have a USDOT number and must be registered with the FMCSA. This registration serves as an indication that you're working with a reputable company. The FMCSA enforces certain regulations, such as mandating that movers supply a written estimate, and also publishes moving companies' complaint histories on its website.
• Compare costs: Reach out to several long-distance movers in Cottage Lake several months before your move and request detailed quotes. Ensure these quotes include prices for the actual move, insurance coverage, and any other services you think you might use.
• Look at financing options: To help with the financial aspect of your move, plenty of moving companies have financing plans. A moving or relocation loan can help with cost. Talk with your moving company about relocation loans or financing plans if you need financial assistance for your move. Looking into several options allows you to find the one with the best rates and fewest fees.
• Read reviews: Check Better Business Bureau (BBB) and similar online review sites to see what others have said about specific long-distance moving companies. Friends and relatives can also provide valuable recommendations.
• Think about timing: Because summer is the most common season to move in, it can be difficult and more expensive to book a mover. Because there are so many college students living in Cottage Lake, June and August may be particularly busy because of students moving.
• Watch out for red flags: Movers that provide nonbinding or seemingly "too good to be true" estimates should make you suspicious. Additionally, trustworthy movers won't ask for the full payment before the move. If a mover has an extensive history of bad reviews or BBB complaints, it's best to avoid them. You should be familiar with your mover rights and responsibilities, as described by the FMCSA.

Long-Distance Moving Tips

A helpful tip for long-distance moves is to reserve your movers far enough ahead of time. To ensure a stress-free move, find your movers no less than 90 days ahead of your move date, and potentially even more if you need specialized services, like piano or car moving.

Start packing a full four weeks in advance if you plan on packing for your move by yourself. You might prefer to have certain items, such as electronics and family heirlooms, with you in your car rather than in the moving truck.

Create a list of all the tasks that need to be done before and after your move. The list should include items such as updating your address with the Washington DMV.

Pack a suitcase with essentials for the first couple of days of your move, such as toothbrushes, medicine, and extra clothes.

The night before moving day, make sure you get enough rest.

Moving Insurance for Long-Distance Moves

Moving insurance is essential for long-distance moves because it'll cover the cost if any of your possessions are lost or damagedin the move.

The FMCSA requires all interstate movers to have two insurance options. Under Full Value Protection, movers have to replace, repair, or provide money back for any possessions lost or damaged while moving. Some movers might not cover very expensive belongings (usually those worth more than $100 a pound) under this policy. Full Value Protection costs more but offers more coverage. The second option, Released Value Protection, doesn't cost you anything, but it has less coverage. With this option, your moving company will pay you up to 60 cents per pound for lost or damaged belongings.

Your current homeowners or renters insurance policy might cover some of your belongings during the move if you keep the same policy during your move. While this usually doesn't apply to long-distance moves, checking your policy could be beneficial.

Sources

Washington State Department of Licensing U.S. DOT Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration