There are a number of shady moving companies out there, so here are a few tips to help you avoid these companies.
- Get recommendations from friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, etc.
- Research moving companies through the Better Business Bureau and the American Moving and Storage Association.
- Don’t trust over the phone estimates, find a mover that will come inspect your home and see what they have to move.
- Get an estimate in writing so either it will be a binding price you pay, or a binding estimate that will not exceed a given amount. This helps to protect you, so movers will not try to charge you extra fees after a move.
- Get multiple estimates from the moving companies you are interested in. Then weigh the pros and cons of each company.
- Make sure the company you want to use is fully licensed, insured, and can legally transport you items.
- Find out what the insurance policy is on lost or broken items.
- Determine who is packing the items, you or the movers. Their liability may be affected by it.
- Test out any phone numbers a moving company may give you, and look up the addresses of offices to make sure they exist.
- The cheapest offer doesn’t mean it’s the best offer.
These are just a few of the ways in which you can protect yourself during a move.