Millions of people move across the United States to start new lives. However, it is a miracle that most of these moves go smoothly and according to plan. That said, what these people have in common is that they all hired a moving company to take care of their moving needs. Unfortunately, however, as thousands of moving companies are operating in the USA alone, shoddy practices and scams are a reality in the relocation industry.
By selecting the right moving company, you can prevent a few common complaints reported by the BBB (Better Business Bureau), including delays in deliveries, high estimates, damaged items, and everything in between. After all, moving day will be stressful enough, and adding these issues will only worsen matters for you. So, what are the steps you should take for selecting a moving company that will offer you the best bang for your buck? We’ve listed them below.
Get estimates from at least a couple of moving companies
Most moving companies will provide their customers with free quotes. While some will prefer working with binding moving estimates, some will prefer non-binding estimates. A binding estimate means the moving company will charge you based on the services they provide you and the weight of the items loaded into the trucks.
On the other hand, a binding estimate will guarantee that you pay the amount quoted by the moving company official, even if your items weigh less than the estimate they provided you with. That said, it would be wise to obtain estimates from two or three moving companies before shortlisting one. Then, choose the one that suits your needs and budget. Moreover, you can contact Moving Options to review and research moving companies and the type of estimates they can quote you.
Ask for recommendations from family and friends
One of the most trusted sources for recommendations and reviews are your family members and friends. Ask around your friends’ circle to find out if anyone hired moving services in the past. They can guide you based on their experience while answering any questions you might have. Your family and friends will be honest with their advice, which might be better than a one-size-fits-all solution on a website.
That said, take their suggestions and opinions with a grain of salt. After all, relying on recommendations provided by someone who hasn’t seen your closet won’t be accurate at all.
Do a background check
When you shortlist a couple of moving companies, it would be wise to go online and perform a quick background check. For instance, you can visit the Better Business Bureau’s website to acquire more information about the moving company you’re looking to hire. Moreover, you can contact The American Moving and Storage Association to see if the moving company you’ve decided to hire is a member or not. Doing so will ensure that the company will abide by the association’s published tariffs.
As long as the moving company you’re looking to go with ticks all the right boxes, go ahead and hire them. Furthermore, don’t forget to visit movingscam.com to check whether the company you’re hiring isn’t listed for scammy services.
When the moving company estimator comes to your home, show everything
Ensure that you show the estimator everything before getting a quote. Doing so will ensure you get the correct quotation while preventing issues on moving day. For example, suppose you have more items than those calculated by the estimator. In that case, the foreman can challenge the original estimate provided by the moving company estimator. Sure, the foreman might not be able to force you to pay more. However, the person can refuse to move your stuff altogether. Thus, you might not be left with many options other than spending more just to get your items on the moving truck if such a thing happens.
Moreover, you must ensure that the moving company estimator knows about the condition of your belongings. Furthermore, ask the estimator if the moving company will be transporting your items themselves instead of contracting a third-party mover.
Ensure that the moving company is licensed and insured
Yes, many movers are working without the proper legal authority. To ensure that the moving company can conduct business, visit the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) website and enter your moving company’s USDOT number. This will present you with tons of information about the moving company. Here are a few things you should look for;
- Are the company name, phone numbers, and address the same as they’ve provided you?
- The ‘outfield of service’ field should say no. If it doesn’t, and the company is still offering your services, say no to them
- The bottom table should contain the moving company’s insurance information. The Insurance on File should be 800,000 dollars, while the ‘cargo’ field should say ‘yes.’
While the information mentioned above isn’t the only thing you should look for, you can get in touch with the FMCSA to know what to look for in a moving company to ensure they are legitimate and authorized to move your items in your state.
Select the moving company and get everything in writing
If the moving company you want to hire fulfills all the above requirements, hire them immediately. Moreover, confirm the details and date of your move, and ensure you get everything in writing. Avoid verbal agreements at all costs. Moreover, ask for written details about any discounts, coverage, estimates, and dates to ensure you and the moving company are on the same page. This will allow you to cover yourself legally if any issues arise during your move.
Conclusion
Most homeowners hate the moving process, even if their move is for the better. The overwhelming process of filling moving boxes, loading them onto a moving truck, and unloading and unpacking them at the new house tends to get the best of us. While a move will never be easy, there are ways you can make it less stressful. So, hire a moving company that takes care of packing, loading, transporting, and unpacking to ensure your move to go as smoothly as possible!
