You are not alone if you are moving and looking for reputable movers in your neighbourhood but do not know where to begin. We have all heard horror tales about bad moving experiences, so choosing who will be in charge of your personal things requires effort and study. Check moving estimates before proceeding to hire a mover by mymovingestimates.com.
You will save money and prevent surprises during your relocation if you know what to look for and which questions to ask. And, if you follow these basic guidelines, you will be more likely to locate a moving and storage business you can rely on.
Confirm that they are a Mover and not a Broker
To locate a reputable mover, make sure you are working with a legitimate moving business rather than a broker. A moving broker does not carry your things; instead, they schedule your move and then sell that booking information to a moving firm.
Working with a moving broker entails an increase in danger, with the riskiest aspect being the inability to choose the firm that will carry your belongings. In the case of damage or loss, it will also be difficult to assign responsibility to either party since both the broker and mover usually point fingers at one another.
Finally, cost estimates from a broker may be terribly incorrect since they are done over the phone; the true cost is often far more. Needless to say, working with a moving business rather than a broker means that you have complete trust in the team you have hand-picked.
Investigate the Moving Company (Who Are They?)
While this may seem to be the most apparent advice, it is one of the most essential. Always do a thorough investigation on any and all moving firms you are considering. If you are going to entrust your belongings to someone, you need to know who they are.
Determine if they are a new or established company. Is it possible for you to discover a lot of information on the mover? Is looking for information like looking for a needle in a haystack?
Now that you have fully researched the moving business online, it is time to move your investigation outside. Pay them a visit at their workplace. A reputable mover should have a real location where they do business and would gladly welcome your visit to discuss how the services they provide may assist you with your move. Avoid movers that do not provide a company address since it may be difficult to locate them in the case of an issue.
It is simple for a business to ignore your calls, but it is far more difficult to ignore an unhappy client who visits their office to speak with them face to face.
Request an Estimate Cost Breakdown
So, you have finished your in-home estimate – what now? Inquire about a cost breakdown. Moving firms that are reputable charge based on the weight of the shipment rather than the number of cubic feet the goods occupy. Charging by cubic feet is often exploited by dishonest businesses that substantially overcharge unwary consumers. In fact, several states have made this practice illegal. Only work with movers that charge by the pound.
Examine Federal and State Resource
Just because a business claims to be legitimate does not imply they are. Check with extra federal and state resources to ensure that the moving company is a genuine and respectable firm. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has created a database of interstate movers that includes information such as the location of the moving company’s headquarters as well as contact information. It also indicates whether or not they are legally licensed and registered with the United States Department of Transportation, and it provides a history of any consumer or safety concerns, if relevant.
Check to see whether the Mover is licensed and insured
All respectable movers must be licensed by the US Department of Transportation (check for your moving business here to confirm) and have workers’ compensation insurance. Never use a moving company that is not licensed or insured. A mover will lack current (or any) insurance if they are a part-time mover, are unable to pay it, or have simply failed to get it. You do not want to work with these movers. Why? If a worker is injured on your property and your mover is uninsured, you may be held legally responsible for all medical expenses – a price you do not want to foot.
Check Out the Customer Reviews!
While suggestions from family and friends are useful, it is also a good idea to look into what the internet has to say. Read what past customers had to say about their moving experience on different review sites, such as Yelp and Yellow Pages, as well as reviews on the company’s own Facebook and Google accounts.
Check to see whether they are BBB certified, then go through their profile for unresolved consumer complaints. A respectable moving business should have a good rating, as well as a track record of responding to and resolving concerns.
Sort reviews by most recent to keep your research current. A remark made one or two years ago is unlikely to be as relevant as one made one or two months ago. When comparing good and bad reviews, keep this in mind. Most businesses, particularly bigger ones, are anticipated to have a few negative reviews (in fact, proceed with care if all reviews are given 5 stars; this may be an indication of false reviews), so do not allow them to influence your choice too much.
The objective is to locate a moving business that has a high proportion of positive ratings while also responding to negative reviews politely and attempting to fix the issue. When a large number of clients have comparable problems and are dissatisfied, this raises a red signal.
Request recommendations from individuals you know
Getting a reference from someone you know is the greatest thing you can do. You can rely on the advice of a friend, while internet reviews may be dubious. One of my favourite methods to obtain suggestions is via crowdsourcing on Facebook. People will tell you what is nice, terrible, and ugly. Even if a moving business was recommended by a friend, you should still study reviews, verify their credentials, and talk with a few other firms for comparative reasons.
