When you're searching for a mover, you may be worried about unskilled staff, unprofessional service, and unethical business practices. Making sure a moving company is qualified, experienced and trustworthy is an important part of planning your move to ensure everything runs smoothly and without mishap. If you're concerned about hiring an unreliable and incompetent company for your move, the following tips will help you weed out the undesirables and choose a mover that meets your needs.
Verify licensing credentials
Professional movers are required by law to be registered and licensed to perform moves--especially if they ship goods over state lines. State requirements will vary, but if you are hiring movers for an interstate relocation, it will be regulated by the federal government. The FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association) requires that these movers register with a USDOT number and that they are subject to inspection and safety regulation. Before hiring any long distance mover, make sure to ask for their USDOT number and verify it on the FMCSA website.
Ask about experience
When receiving your in-home estimate from a moving company, it's important to ask questions about the company's experience performing various moving services. If you have any special requests--such as packing an antique china cabinet or moving a piano--it's crucial to inquire about the company's familiarity with these tasks.
Questions to ask include:
- How long have you been in the moving industry?
- What kind of training do your movers undergo?
- Do you have any screening process for hiring?
- What are your methods for packing and wrapping furniture? Antiques? Artwork?
- What kind of packing materials/moving tools do your workers use?
- Do you have experience moving a piano/pool table/treadmill/safe/other special item?
Read online reviews
Reading customer reviews can be a great way to gauge a company's performance. Review websites like Yelp, Yahoo Local, and Movers.com contain hundreds of customer testimonials--either attesting to a company's stellar performance or griping about subpar service. Unfortunately, many dishonest companies actually pay people to write favorable reviews, so be sure to be on the lookout for telltale signs that a review is illegitimate. You can also check for outstanding complaints against the company on websites like MovingScam.com.
Check their business rating
Many established and legitimate businesses will be credited by organizations like the Better Business Bureau, or have a membership with moving associations like the AMSA. Certain standards are held to companies with whom they affiliate, so it reflects positively on any potential mover you consider if they hold accreditation from well-known and esteemed organizations. Ask the company if they are BBB accredited or have memberships with any moving organizations, and verify it on your own with research. You can view any company's profile on the BBB website, and check their accreditation, rating, outstanding complaints, and customer reviews.
Compare quotes
The more on-site estimates you receive from different moving companies, the more knowledgeable you will be about the going rates for comparable services and the more easily you will spot unqualified or possible scam companies. You should always receive at least three in-home estimates from three different movers before choosing one for hire. You can get started comparing free quotes today--right here at Movers.com! Simply fill out our fast and easy quote form with just a few details about your move and you will be contacted by up to seven companies in your area!