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Moving Guide - Tips
Other Moving Guide Topics
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Choosing a Moving Company
Tips on Hiring Movers and
Selecting a Moving Company
Choosing a moving company doesn't have to be a difficult process. GoMovers.com connects you to qualified movers in your area for free moving quotes to help in selecting a moving company. When you work with us, hiring movers becomes easier because moving companies compete for your business. Even if you're moving overseas, you can quickly complete our form for a FREE international moving quote!
Once you get your free moving quotes from various movers, you'll need to make a decision on who will actually be entrusted to move your possessions. The movers you hire will have a direct bearing on your moving experience, so here are some tips to help you when you're faced with selecting a moving company:
- Confirm before selecting a moving company that the company is licensed.
- Since you're moving locally, you should check with friends and neighbors or co-workers to see if they've hired the movers you're considering. In fact, they can also be a good source for getting a recommendation before you even call for estimates. After all, they had to have moved themselves or they hired someone to move them.
- Ask the moving company you'd like to hire for references before making your selection, but keep in mind that they won't want you to contact customers who experienced serious problems that they couldn't resolve. Still, you should call at least 3 references the mover provides and see what they have to say about their experience.
- Before you select a moving company from several bidders, compare the terms and the services included in each bid. What type of insurance is offered and at what cost? Will this coverage pay replacement cost, actual cash value, or so much per pound? What provisions are there for additional charges, what might they amount to, and what situations would trigger them?
- Before you make your final selection, ask if the mover is a member of the American Moving and Storage Association (AMSA) or if they are a member of the AMSA's Certified Mover program, which is a group of only 100 moving companies that have agreed to provide an exceptional level of service and complaint handling. Certified Movers in the program are independent operators, while Certified Van Lines are national and international movers who operate through a network of agents. More information on the program and a listing of members are available from AMSA's web site. The web site also has additional recommendations on choosing a mover.
- Ask the moving company how they handle problems that arise. How are complaints resolved? Who would be your point of contact if you chose this mover and had a problem before, during, or after the move. Compare how the movers you might hire handle these questions.
- Find out how the house mover recommends you keep track of the progress of your delivery. Are they willing to provide the driver's cell phone number or do they use a central dispatcher? Is the delivery date guaranteed? What's your recourse if the date is missed? Regardless of the answers, you'll want to know them.
- Find out what conditions or circumstances will result in additional charges, and what those charges might amount to. What terms are in the written estimate with respect to situations like when your shipment exceeds the estimated weight? Is the estimate a "not to exceed" figure?
- Compare how the house movers' estimators communicate with you. Did one seem more professional and concerned about your situation than the others? Did one seem too pushy to make the sale?
- How does the mover you'd like to hire handle payment arrangements? Usually, moving companies you hire can require that charges be paid in cash or by certified check or money order. Most don't accept personal checks, but some do accept credit card payments. Find out in advance so you'll be prepared. You may prefer one payment method over another.
- You can check a moving company's background with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and your state's Department of Consumer Affairs. You can use the BBB's online lookup tool to find the local office in your area or try your online search through the main BBB web site. Lookups can be accomplished using the name of the local mover or its phone number. Check your state's web site for information on how to contact the Consumer Affairs or similar department in your state to check a local mover's complaint record. Interstate moves (across state lines) are subject to federal regulations. You can use the search tool on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) web site to check whether an interstate mover is properly registered with the U.S Department of Transportation.
In the end, the decision you make when choosing a moving company is yours to make and you need to feel comfortable with it according to your own preferences and your budget. Starting by requesting a free domestic moving quote or a free international moving quote from GoMovers.com will certainly put you on the right track to selecting a moving company that will suit your needs!
More Moving Tips in This Section
You'll also want to check out our Packing Guide for more handy information and tips.
What's your move?
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