Whether you choose full-service movers, moving containers, or rental trucks, you must hire a legitimate company. Avoid shady companies that will rip you off or leave your items damaged.
Use paid strategies like social media and ads to target customers interested in your services. This will help you get your business off the ground.
Check the License
The best way to avoid moving horror stories is by doing your homework. You should always check the license number of your local and state movers before hiring them. A licensed moving company will post this number on its website, trucks, and other promotional materials. If you don’t see it, that’s a big red flag!
It would help if you also asked the movers for their insurance information. Take your business elsewhere if they can’t provide proof of cargo, public liability, and workers’ compensation coverage. You should also ask them if they carry a certificate of insurance (COI), a standard document that all reputable moving companies must have.
Make sure the COI covers both local and interstate moves, as well as storage warehouses. In addition, you should always read the Federal government’s helpful brochure, Protect Your Move. This brochure explains what to do if your movers lose or damage your belongings during the moving process.
Check the Insurance
When looking for a local moving company, checking their insurance and licenses is important. This will ensure that they are qualified and capable of doing the job. It would help if you also asked for a copy of their Certificate of Insurance (COI).
They should be able to provide you with the USDOT number and state-specific license information. This will help you verify that they are a legitimate moving company and comply with the FMCSA regulations for interstate moves.
It is also a good idea to get multiple quotes from different companies. This will give you a better idea of the average price range for your move. However, be wary of significantly low or high quotes – these could be red flags that the moving company is not legitimate. In addition, you should ask the movers for a written estimate based on an in-home survey or detailed inventory of your belongings.
Check the Reputation
In addition to checking licensing and insurance, it’s important to check movers’ reputations. You can ask friends and family for recommendations or search online reviews. Look for reviews that mention hidden fees, excessive price increases, and unprofessional behavior.
When you’re getting estimates, choose a company that does in-home inspections and detailed inventories of your belongings. Also, avoid movers that require large cash deposits or try to pressure you into hiring them on the spot.
A good mover will also have a brick-and-mortar office, business cards, and vehicles clearly labeled with their moving company name. You should also be able to find compliance information about the company on its website, such as its U.S. DOT number and membership in a peak industry organization.
It should be a red flag if a mover cannot provide this information. It would help if you also avoided movers that use subcontractors. This signifies rogue moving companies that may not be licensed and insured.
Check the Pricing
When you’re deciding which company to hire, you must consider pricing. Getting multiple estimates before committing to one company is also a good idea. If the prices are dramatically different, that could be a red flag.
Some moving companies provide instant quotes online, while others require an in-person or virtual inventory of your items before giving a quote. In addition, some moving companies may charge by the hour or based on mileage and weight. It’s important to ask about these fees to avoid any surprise charges during your move.
Lastly, you’ll want to check how the company accepts payment. While most reputable moving companies will accept credit cards and checks, you should be wary of any company that only accepts cash. This is a big sign that the company isn’t as reputable as they claim to be. It’s worth 10 minutes of research to ensure you’re hiring a legitimate company.
