Lansing, Mich. ­– Officially recognized as National Moving Month, May kicks off the busiest relocation season as over 21 million Americans move each year in the months leading up to Labor Day.

As part of their continuing mission to simplify the moving process for consumers, residential and commercial moving company TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® stresses the importance of education and preparation to those planning a move – whether it is a household or a business.

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® President Melanie Bergeron said that planning ahead and hiring a reputable moving company will save a lot of time and headaches later. She suggests asking potential moving companies the following questions*:

• Do you charge by the piece or by the hour? Most times paying by the hour with an accurate estimate is better, Bergeron said. She stressed that no matter how the rate is calculated, find out everything that is included in the price. Specifically ask about extra charges.
• Are my items insured during the move? She reminds consumers that just because a mover is bonded and insured does not mean that your items are covered during the move. Ask for an explanation of the policies.
• Do you have full-time employees or use temps and day labor? “Be cautious of moving companies that use temps and day labor,” Bergeron said, adding that it is important to ask the company how it trains the movers. “Temps are usually not adequately trained,” she said.

Many people use the Internet to find moving services and it can be a good starting point for finding a moving company. However, customers can help guarantee accurate estimates by contacting the moving company and speaking directly to a trained representative. “As you can imagine, it is easy for people to overlook many items that need to be moved, unless prompted by a professional,” said Bergeron.

Started as an after-school endeavor for two high school boys, the Michigan-based TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® franchise system has grown to become the fifth-largest moving company in the United States with 118 locations in 25 states and over 720 trucks on the road. For more information, visit the company’s Web site at www.twomenandatruck.com.