Moving your belongings from one home to another can still be daunting

The toughest part of buying your first home or renting your first place is behind you when you’ve signed the paperwork, but the hurdle of moving your belongings from one home to another can still be daunting.

We asked Matt Wyble, an agent with the Matt Wyble Team of Century 21 New Millennium in Millersville, Md., and Linda Maxwell, an agent with Century 21 New Millennium in Alexandria, Va., for their advice on how to hire a moving company. Both responded via email, and their responses were edited.

Q: Where should someone start looking for a moving company?

Wyble: As with searching for any good referral, begin with your Realtor. We often joke with our clients that we have a guy or gal for literally everything, and I’ll be so bold as to say any good real estate agent has several trusted moving companies they can recommend. You may consider asking your agent for the name of a previous client who has used each company so you can hear a firsthand evaluation of the process and the company. Or talk to your friends or family who have recently moved. They may not tell you who to use, but who not to, which is just as good!

Q: When should they start looking?

Maxwell: A good time to look for a moving company is after you have decided to sell your house, have selected your agent and know when you want to put the house on the market. Before putting your house on the market, call the moving companies to get a ballpark idea what their availability is so you can plan your sale accordingly.

Q: What information does someone need to provide to get an estimate from a moving company?

Wyble: When you know you’re going to be moving, begin making a list of items you’re taking with you. Most companies will have a form to fill out with number of boxes and the items per room to be moved. Based on the details you provide, the moving company will give you a quote that reflects the amount of time and the number of movers your job will require. A digital or virtual conversation should be enough for the estimate.