How to Find a Quality Moving and Relocation Services Provider
When it comes choosing a moving service, the first and best piece of advice anyone can give you is to not take the process lightly. Not only is a move a major life event, but it’s usually also a costly one. It unfortunately also carries the potential for being scammed, because there are rogue movers who prey on people when they’re vulnerable during a move. That’s why it’s important to interview multiple moving and relocation services carefully, and to be aware of what to look for before you hire one.
A good place to begin your research is to ask friends and family if they can recommend any moving and relocation services they’ve used. (If cost is an issue, you might want to ask specifically if they know of any discount moving companies.) Even if you get a strong recommendation from someone you know; it’s still important to check the company thoroughly, because moving companies are sometimes sold and can go from reputable to rogue in one sales transaction.
Using our moving service comparison is a great adjunct to getting recommendations from friends, because it makes it easy to research moving and relocation services that are members of the American Moving & Storage Association and that are in good standing with the Better Business Bureau. But no matter how you learn about a company, it’s important to check with these organizations to see if any grievances have been filed. Bear in mind that even the best companies may have a few complaints against them though. The key is to determine whether those complaints were resolved and if the customers were ultimately happy with the results. That information should be included in the grievance reports.
You’ll also want to verify with the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration web site that the company has a DOT registration number. And if you’ll be moving from state to state, be sure to check whether the company is licensed for interstate transport.
Once you’ve completed those preliminary steps, get written estimates from at least three moving service companies that are willing to do on-site inspections of your home. Estimates given over the phone or the Internet are inaccurate at best, and at worst they may be generated by rogue movers who will give you an initial low price and then increase it dramatically once your belongings are on the truck.
Rogue movers often use several company names or no names at all to stay one step ahead of the law, so if the phone is answered with a generic greeting, such as “movers” or “moving company,” scratch that company off your list. Rogue companies can also usually be detected by visiting their premises. If their facilities are dirty, disorganized, have no signage or display signage from another company; or if they look like they just moved in; steer clear.
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