Moving is a giant task. It involves a ton of time, preparation, and of course, money. Often times, when making a big move across the country its best to hire a moving company. Yes, it can get expensive but at the end of the day having a professional and reputable company to help you make this new transition in your life can really be the difference between insanity and sanity. The question remains though, how can you find a quality and reputable moving company?
After all, there are companies out there that are illegitimate and are waiting just a scam you. So, how can you avoid these illegal movers? Well, in this article we are going to share four truths about how you can recognize a dishonest moving company.
Truth #1: They Are Not a Licensed Moving Company
If you happen to come across a moving company that is not licensed, beware. The reason being is because most moving companies have to be licensed by the American Moving Association in order to be held to the highest of standards. If the moving company that you are looking at is not licensed, either you are looking at a scam or at a company that is mediocre at its very best. Plus, if they are not licensed it means they are not monitored by the government. Which means, if they would happen to get up and take off with all of your household items that are neatly packed away in their shipping boxes. There is absolutely no way you could track them, or anything you could do. So, make a wise decision and avoid any moving company that is not officially licensed.
Truth #2: Pricing Seems Too Good To Be True
You know the saying, “If it’s too good to be true probably is”? Well, there’s a reason this phrase was coined. It’s because it’s true. If the moving company is offering an absurdly low price, this can only mean one of two things. Either one, they have absolutely no idea what it takes to run a moving company and will be bankrupt within 6 months. Or, it means that they are an illegal moving company and are just waiting to scam you. Also, be aware of when they are hesitant of offering you a price set in stone. A moving company should never keep an open-ended estimate once a contract is signed. If you do not have a final number in black and white, then move along to a moving company that will give you a fixed, set price before signing the contract.
Truth #3: They Don’t Have or Offer Suitable Insurance
One thing that’s important to keep in mind when hiring a moving company is to always ask about their insurance options. One reason why you should ask this question is because if a moving company does not carry suitable insurance, there is a high probability that they are not a legitimate company. If the insurance that they do show you seems to be questionable, do your due diligence and look into the supposed insurance provider to find out exactly what it is they cover. After all, there’s nothing worse than having to dispute a claim over your items that were broken or damaged during the move.
Truth #4: They Don’t Have a Physical Location
There is nothing that screams illegitimate more than a company that does not have a physical location. After all, think about how much space it takes to run a moving company. You have to have lots for the trucks, buildings for all of the shipping supplies and other items, a place for your offices, etc. If you come across a moving company that doesn’t have a physical location, what’s from stopping them from disconnecting their phones and not responding to emails once they have your items in their hands? So, make sure that you physically see their actual location before you sign or agree to any form of contract
Moving is already difficult enough. So, don’t add to your stress and do your due diligence to find a reputable moving company that you can trust to get you from your current location to your new home. Happy moving!
