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As anyone who’s ever gone about
finding a mover the wrong way can attest, there is definitely
a right and wrong way to find the right mover for your move.
Horror stories abound, but it’s common for those who
don’t take the proper steps to prepare for a move to
be stuck with a bill much larger than they expected, damaged
belongings, or worse - some belongings missing.
When it comes to finding a mover, there are signs you should
look for - some good, and some bad.
The Good
Let’s start with the good news. There are certain signs
to look for when confirming that the mover you’re hoping
to work with is, in fact, a good mover.
The mover is licensed by the Federal
Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
A reputable mover should be licensed by the Federal Motor
Carrier Safety Administration. You can confirm whether or
not your mover is licensed by visiting www.protectyourmove.gov.
The mover has a satisfactory or good
rating with the Better Business Bureau.
Did you know that the Better Business Bureau receives almost
9,000 complaints a year about movers? Use this great resource
to find out what complaints, if any, have been given about
your mover. If your mover has a good rating on the Better
Business Bureau, that’s a good sign.
The mover is willing to provide you
with a written estimate.
The Better Business Bureau guidelines for working with movers
state that you really shouldn’t trust a hard estimate
that’s delivered over the phone. A reputable mover will
provide you with a written document that states their estimated
costs.
The mover is willing to visit your
residence and evaluate your belongings before providing an
estimate.
It’s logical to figure that if a mover hasn’t
even seen your belongings, he or she is going to have difficulty
giving you a real estimate as to how much it’s going
to cost to move your things. If your mover wants to come to
your home for an evaluation of the move before providing an
estimate, this is a really great sign, and it’s something
you should happily do.
The Bad
Of course, there are some signs that you should be on the
outlook for that might mean your mover is not good.
The mover asks for a large cash deposit
upfront.
Reputable movers will not ask for large sums of money before
any work has been completed. If your mover asks you for a
lot of cash upfront, take a step back.
The mover doesn’t own a truck.
A serious moving company has their own fleet of trucks. If
your movers show up in a rental truck, they may very well
not be the most reputable company (or they may not be a company
at all).
The mover’s website doesn’t
display insurance information.
Your mover’s insurance information should be readily
available to the public, and more importantly, to you. If
your mover claims they have insurance but won’t provide
documentation of it and can’t prove it, be very careful. |
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