People often envision long distance movers as bigger and more brutish guys who lug every box in their homes into a truck and then hop into that truck to the next destination. And while moving used to be similar to that … simple services and simple business models … today that landscape is changing. Today, long distance movers are doing more, offering more and doing things better, and so you should expect more from whomever you hire.

Thus, to avoid having to complain about the long distance movers you have chosen for your impending move, you must do front-end work to ensure you have secured the best in the business. All it will take you is a few hours to nail down a great mover at a cost-effective price. Just be certain to choose long distance movers that have lengthy lists of references upon request, at least five years in business and proof that they have adequately trained their staffs.

References are important in job searches just as they are essential to hiring long distance movers. A human resources manager taking a few minutes out of her day to call on a prospective employee’s reference can open up a lot of information about the person. The same thing applies with a mover. Clients willing to speak well of the moving companies they have used will get into some real specifics, which ideally is more beneficial than reading information on a company from its own website.

Experience is perhaps just as essential as references are for long distance movers. A company that has just gained its license is of course a good sign that the economy is doing well, but this does not mean you have to select a brand new mover. Your belongings are your prized possessions, and truly only experienced movers should be the ones to handle them. Otherwise, your stuff could wind up getting lost, stolen or broken at the hands of an inexperienced team of movers.

This leads into training, another vital element to look for with long distance movers. Companies that send their staffs of to training via independent training companies offsite or those that regularly offer training internally so that their employees do their best should be the sole companies considered here. Those that simply rely on hiring strong men for the job should be overlooked. They probably are not all that focused on quality moving anyway.