Table of Contents
Checking the business credentials of moving services
You want to look for insured and licensed residential moving services, which means they have dedicated workers’ compensation coverage and will be registered with the Department of Transportation, or other relevant government departments, as a business engaged in interstate commerce.
Check these two items and make sure moving rates are reasonable before you hire them! Be cautious if ‘grandma’ is charging less than the going rate – she probably has false credentials or isn’t insured (no worker’s compensation).
Your check should depend on what you need. For example, suppose you’re hiring movers to pack up your apartment and do the heavy lifting for an extended period. In that case, there are various certifications and inspections that movers can work towards, such as “Responsible Carrier Level One,” a government-mandated credential. However, these certifications aren’t strictly required.
If you only require light packing services executed in a day (such as loading up your car with boxes before the move), it doesn’t make sense to hire someone who has racked up experience working 15-hour days loading trucks all week long. You would be paying far too high a price for basic labor costs that won’t translate into an enhanced quality of service.
Regardless of what service you need, you must find a mover who has been in business long enough so they can provide references–if not from past customers, then at least from other businesses such as real estate agents or mortgage brokers. You want someone with excellent experience moving people like you and who knows your needs. Also check if the moving service has a customer complaints policy
And if you’re a business owner, make sure the company that moves you has excellent experience moving commercial properties. Such a company must have sufficient insurance coverage to protect their crew and any property they handle on behalf of others–or get specialised advice from someone with expertise in this area. Details matter, even when it’s just about moving.
Check the licensing details of the moving services
A good question to ask is whether they’re a bonded and insured company with at least $2 million in liability insurance that can cover your belongings. Make sure they are experienced in the kind of relocation you need and any size you have.
Another option to consider is to hire professionals for the packing, relocating some of the furniture yourself or using an agent. Ensure if getting quotations from more than one company that only those providing written quotes are included in your comparison – verbal quotes will not be binding legally.
You also want someone responsive – talk to them before booking, and make sure they don’t disappear once you’ve paid them! If your budget permits it, hiring professional movers will help avoid lost items and minimize the amount of damage to your belongings that may occur.
The most crucial point to look at during an interview with a moving company is the license tag that they show you. It should be in the form of TAG: 00090011, for example. Any other code isn’t as reliable, but if that’s what you have heard being recommended to you, then indeed, it’ll work for your concerns too!
Finding top-rated Professional Moving Services in Your area
Most reputable companies have an “A” or “B” rating with Better Business Bureau (BBB) and all the licenses and insurance records that are required by law. Reviewing their Yelp page is a great start. You can post those reviews on Yelp as well.
TIP 1: Pick up the phone! Call several of them, tell them what your needs are, ask to discuss rates, get quotes; you may be surprised how much some companies charge for the same service others offer at a lower cost rate. Remember always to maintain your cool no matter how contentious they become (they’re going to want to push you into making decisions then don’t know!).
TIP 2: Compare Moving Quotes online – we know this sounds silly, but it can save you a lot of grief and time. A few minutes on the computer can help to make fewer headaches for everyone!
TIP 3: Get estimates and compare them – this will help save time and stress on your move day. Remember that not all movers are the same, so it’s crucial to find out what each company offers in terms of packing materials, insurance coverage, etc., before making your decision.
TIP 4: Get your moving quotes in writing – if they don’t commit to putting it in writing, run the other way; this is when things get complicated as details are generally left out or forgotten about. Remember that the quoted price is not always the actual cost.
TIP 5: Be sure to get everything in Writing – this includes an agreement on what will happen if some items are damaged when unpacking (be specific about items)
TIP 6: You can also ask for references. Reliable moving services will provide you with a list of references. However, it’s a good idea to approach this with tact as you don’t want to come across as someone looking down on the company or professionals but, instead, evaluating if their services will best suit what you need.
Check verified reviews
- Check to see when the reviews were written. It’s best to go with a well-established business with recent feedback.
- Take a look at the overall tone of the reviews, and read through one or two before trusting them; they should be relevant, without any overly negative statements like “expensive” or “waste of money.”
- Read what each review specifically says about your prospective mover (what units were inspected? Were there any difficulties? etc.).
- Check out customer service contact information in case you have more questions after reading all the information on the site and in reviewing feedbacks
- Only click or tap on reviews with in-depth analysis. You’re less likely to get a good idea of how the moving company was if they just say “moved my stuff”.
- Look for reviews that talk about packing and unpacking, as these are significant factors.
- Lastly, it’s worth noting that some businesses will never please everyone because people have such different needs and expectations from their service providers. So, try not to take one negative review too seriously.
