When searching for the perfect moving company to provide your relocation services, you may come across countless organizations online — some of them genuine and some of them predatory. Luckily, there are specific techniques you can use to determine the reliability of your moving company and to ensure your protection throughout your move.
According to moving and relocation industry professionals, there are 10 surefire ways a consumer or business can determine if they will be satisfied with their chosen moving company:
1. Avoid booking your move with an Internet-based moving broker.
Most of these companies only set up your move before handing it over to a different company — a company you have no experience with. Make sure the company that books your move is the same company that will handle your actual, physical move.
2. Make sure for in-state moves that the moving company you are considering is licensed by that state's Department of Transportation, Public Utilities Commission, or Bureau of Consumer Affairs.
A call to your local state association can help determine if your moving service provider is licensed. A list of state associations is available at http://www.imawa.com/resources/moverassn.shtml. If you are moving to a different state, check to make sure your long distance mover is licensed by the Federal Department of Transportation, located at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/factsfigs/moving.htm. Don't take the company's word for it; call the regulatory agency or state association and check for yourself.
3. Check with the Better Business Bureau regarding constant and numerous complaints.
You can check the complaint records of many moving companies at http://www.bbb.org/ to see how they treat customer reports. Note that a responsible moving company may have a few complaints lodged against them — the more moves they handle, the more likely it is that they will have at least a few complaints. However, their record with the Better Business Bureau should show that they have a satisfactory rating and that they respond to and resolve complaints.
4. Ask your potential moving company if they carry Workers' Compensation Insurance.
If you have doubts, ask to see proof of insurance in the form of an insurance certificate issued by their insurance carrier. Remember: without Workers' Compensation Insurance you are potentially liable for anyone hurt on your premises. Workers' Compensation Insurance adds to the cost of doing business, but it protects you if someone is injured during your move. Be suspicious of the very low bidder, for they may be cutting costs by cheating on essential Workers' Compensation Insurance protection.
5. Make sure the moving company's place of business actually exists.
Be aware of moving companies who provide no business address or business documents on their website and who are hesitant to provide you with their physical business address. It is important that you are able to track the company down if you have a problem.
6. Don't listen to salespeople who tell stories.
A high-quality firm with a good reputation doesn't need to knock the competition or criticize other firms to look better.
7. Get a recommendation.
A satisfied customer is the best sales pitch.
8. Ask if the moving company is a member of the state moving and storage association within its home state.
Check http://www.imawa.com/resources/moverassn.shtml for a list of associations. Ask if the moving company is a member of the American Moving & Storage Association, located at http://www.promover.org. A reputable moving company should be a member of one or the other.
9. Read the federally mandated publication "Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move" if you are moving to a different state.
You can find a copy of this information at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/factsfigs/rights.htm.
10. Insist that you receive ALL of the appropriate federally mandated documents from your moving company if you are moving to a different state.
If the moving company is hesitant to provide you with any of the items below, you should reconsider using that company. (Many state agencies also mandate documents of this type, and your moving company should readily supply you with those as well if you request them.)
- An "Order For Service" signed by your moving company. The Order For Service protects you by spelling out the agreement between you and your mover regarding the dates the shipment will be loaded and delivered, the estimated cost, and (if you are moving to a different state) the fact that the moving company can only collect as much as 110% of the estimate at the time of delivery.
- A written estimate itemizing all of the component charges that contribute to the estimate for your moving cost. Prior to the move date, insist on an in-home visual inspection of the goods you are moving. Accurate estimates can seldom be provided over the phone. Never believe that a phone estimate given by a mover will be the actual cost of your move.
- A "Table of Measurements" (also known as a "Cube Sheet") listing all of the items that you will be moving (e.g., pieces of furniture, number of boxes, etc.). The moving company creates the Table of Measurements in order to calculate the size and weight of your move.
Retaining the relocation services of a dependable, licensed moving company requires a little work on the part of the consumer, but the reward is great: a high-quality move with minimal stress. We urge you to spend a little extra time to ensure that you locate one of the quality, licensed, and professional moving service providers operating in our industry.
