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Moving to a new address is equally exciting and stressful. Apart from dealing with the paperwork, you have to pack all your things and move it to your new home. Moving is much more efficient when you hire a moving company.
A moving company is a service that moves all your packed belongings straight to your new residence. While there are dozens of companies that offer moving services, not all of them are reliable. Save yourself the headache of dealing with a problematic moving company by keeping these tips in mind:
Do Your Research
We cannot stress this enough, always do your research especially if you are hauling your valuables! Never choose the first moving company that you come across with. You can check for moving services in person or via online. Researching online is more convenient because you do not have to visit a moving office one by one.
To conduct your research, look for movers in your local area. Then, check their service history, services, destinations, and estimated costs of moving. Compile these information and compare each service from the other. From there, you should get an idea which of these services is best for you. Then, once you have shortlisted several companies, contact each one by phone and inquire about their services.
Get a Referral
A referral should take you to the right direction when looking for a reliable moving company. But of course, the referral must come from a person you can trust, like a friend, colleague, or family member who hired the company before. Again, once you come across a likely candidate, call the company up and inquire about their services.
Know What to Avoid
Yes, scammers thrive all around even in the moving industry. We recommend checking online to learn all about the scams some unscrupulous companies engage into. You can also browse through message boards or forums for common problems or pitfalls other members came across with after hiring a specific company. Online forums are an excellent place to ask questions too so don’t hesitate to ask away!
Some of the telltale signs of a rogue mover are:
- The company does not offer or agree to onsite inspection
- Demands cash or large deposit before the move
- Does not provide a copy of “Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move booklet. Movers are required by federal regulations to hand this booklet to customers for interstate moving
- No website, no local address, no information about insurance or licensing
- Claims all goods are covered by insurance but fails to provide other information
- Office and warehouse are not well maintained or nonexistent
- Uses rental truck rather than a marked fleet truck
Check with the Better Business Bureau
One way to ensure a reliable moving company is by checking your local business bureau. From here, you can get a list of customer reports filed by customers of a certain company. You can read through the report and gauge the reliability of a service. See how fast these complaints were resolved by the moving company, if there’s any.
If you are located in the US, you can check the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration website for movers in your local area. These companies are registered with the Department of Transportation.