Introduction
Moving is stressful enough, but the last thing you want to do is pay for the wrong move. If you hire movers who don’t know what they are doing and charge you more than they should, you could end up paying even more money in the long run. Fortunately, there are some things that you can do to protect yourself against fraud. Here are some tips on how to hire a moving company without getting scammed:
Always Get Estimates
When interviewing movers, it's important to ask for estimates. You should always get at least three estimates for your move: one from the company you're thinking about hiring, and two from other companies that are familiar with their services. Ask for references too! If a mover has been in business for more than five years, ask if they have any satisfied customers who could vouch for them.
Ask about insurance coverage and how much it will cost if something breaks during transport or storage of your belongings. Also inquire about whether there is a fee associated with late deliveries; this isn't always an issue but can sometimes occur when moving day gets delayed by weather conditions or other unforeseen circumstances (such as traffic jams).
In general terms, check out information online about what equipment each company uses—do they use dollies? Do they have trucks equipped with ramps? What type of truck do they use most often? Does their website mention any safety violations on record?
Understand What You Are Paying For
You should understand what you are paying for. A moving company is the same as a mover, but there are some differences. A mover is someone who comes to your home and helps you move, while a truck rental company rents out trucks that can be used as moving vehicles.
A storage facility offers secure storage space for items that need to be stored away temporarily before they are moved into storage or sold at auction after being cleared out of their current house or apartment building by movers (this usually happens when houses or apartments get sold).
Don’t Fall for Lowball Estimates
The best way to avoid lowball estimates is to not get one in the first place. If you want to know how much your movers will cost, talk with them directly and ask for an estimate before they start working on your move.
If you do choose to go with a lowball estimate from your moving company, there are some things you should look out for:
The company may be inexperienced or have poor customer service skills; these can both lead them to give inaccurate quotes or overpromise what they can actually handle.
Ask About Their Hours Per Move
Ask about their hours per move.
It's important to ask how long it takes to complete a move, as well as how many trips will be required and how many days they'll have to work on your project. The more information you can get about these things before hiring movers, the better off you'll be in terms of planning ahead and ensuring that your job is done correctly.
Ask About Packing Materials and Services
Packing materials and services are not included in the price of your move, so you'll need to factor that into your budget. If you don't have any large items (like furniture), it may be cheaper for movers to use boxes instead of packing supplies. It's also important to note that packing companies often offer special deals on their services—as a consumer, you should take advantage of these opportunities whenever possible!
Know the Hidden Costs Before You Book
Before you book a mover, be sure to ask about any hidden costs. These include packing materials, insurance, and extra fees that you may not see on their website or in the contract. You want to be aware of them so you can avoid them if possible—and if they do come up with one of these charges during the move itself (which is rare), take note so that you can dispute it later on down the line.
How much does this cost? The exact amount depends on what type of service your moving company offers:
Packing material fees: This refers specifically to boxes and tape used when preparing items for transport; some companies will charge by weight while others charge by volume (e.g., how much stuff goes into each box). The former typically applies only if there’s an additional fee associated with transporting larger items like furniture or appliances; otherwise it should be included as part of their overall rate list price which includes all other parts including loading-in/unloading-out times along with mileage charges between stops along your route(s)
Check With the Better Business Bureau
You should always check with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) before hiring a moving company. The BBB is a great resource for checking up on a company, and it helps you learn about their history, complaints, and ratings. You can also find out if there have been any lawsuits filed against them in the past few years by searching through their website or contacting them directly by phone at 1-888-539-5191.
If you're looking for more information on specific companies in your area, try using an online search engine such as Google or Yahoo! Search Engine Results Page(Searches are conducted daily). These databases will provide links to contact info for each company listed; click through those links and read over what others have said about each company before deciding whether or not they're right for your move!
Verify Insurance Protection With the Mover
You should verify that the movers have adequate insurance coverage to protect your property and belongings. Some moving companies may offer only liability or commercial auto policies, which means they're not required to provide any form of physical damage coverage. Make sure that you check with both the mover and their insurer about what kind of insurance is required before finalizing your move.
If a company offers different types of protection depending on whether it's a residential or commercial move, make sure that they offer enough coverage for both types so there won't be any gaps in coverage later down the road when it really matters most—like when one type gets damaged during transport because its drivers weren't paying attention!
Make sure you know exactly what you are paying for and don't get scammed.
The first thing you should do before hiring a moving company is to get an estimate. You can do this by first asking around at your local community center, or by visiting the website of any reputable moving company in your area. Once you have found one that suits your needs and budget, you can ask them for an estimate on how much it will cost to move all of your belongings from one location to another.
It's important that you get several estimates so that you can compare them as objectively as possible. Also make sure that the companies give written estimates instead of just providing verbal ones (or vice versa). Finally make sure that each quote includes all charges such as packing materials and labor fees included!
Conclusion
In the end, you should be able to find a reliable mover who will work with you to get your stuff where it needs to go. You can start with our free estimate form for help making that decision.