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Choosing a moving company

• Before buying a car, do you read the reviews, take it for a test drive, and ask the seller questions?
• Before buying a house, do you research different types and sizes to make the right decision?
• In addition, do you hire an inspector to examine the home carefully?
• And before going to a restaurant, do you check recommendations?

So, before moving, why wouldn’t you do more research to choose the right company? Most people just don’t think this way.

Moving: an important decision!

Choosing the best moving company isn’t easy. The moving market is complex and to find the right company, you have to do some research. Some businesses are only in the market to make money, but the good news is that you can find the ideal company.

If you follow a few steps, you’ll be able to find the right company easily and without wasting time!

• The top 10 mistakes when choosing a moving company

  Making a mistake when you move can result in serious problems. That’s why you should be aware of these frequent errors:

  1. Asking for an estimate over the phone: it is hard to get an accurate estimate over the phone. Ask for a company representative to visit your home, so that they can evaluate what will be shipped in details. If you have a small move, it is possible for you to get a proper estimate by phone. But nonetheless, a representative’s visit is very important. And if you are moving to another state, and the moving company is within 50 miles of your home, the representative should visit you to assess the situation.

  2. Not getting estimates from different companies: the only way to get a proper evaluation of the cost of your move is to ask different companies for an estimate, and to have their representatives pay you a visit. Don’t accept an estimate from a company that doesn’t inspect your home and just asks for information from other companies.

  3. Choosing a company that gives you the lowest price: this is one of the biggest mistakes that customers make. How can a moving company offer you a price that is 25-40% lower than other companies? If you choose the cheapest estimate, you run the risk of paying extra fees that are going to make the final price even higher than the other companies. In addition, the company may hold up your move until it receives the full amount.

  4. Choosing a company that isn’t licensed and insured: moving companies should have a license and insurance to operate. If you are moving to another state, check out the website www.protectyourmove.gov run by the government agency, Federal Motor Carrier, to determine whether the company has a license and insurance. You will also have access to a history of complaints about the company.

  5. Choosing to move during the high season: moving companies that provide good service are in high demand in the summertime. So, the ideal thing is to plan your move well in advance. Another tip: the best time to get the best prices is in the winter, and in the second and third weeks of the month. Avoid moving at the start of the month when leases start and end.

  6. Not getting a signed estimate and contract: don’t let the company start your move without a contract that describes the services and costs to be paid. If you don’t agree with the estimate and contract, don’t sign them.

  7. Not providing important information for the company: your apartment is on the fourth floor and your building doesn’t have an elevator. You want to take your bookcase, which is in the basement. And your new house is on a very narrow street for trucks to enter. These are examples of a few of the problems that can be resolved, but they can make your move more expensive. If you don’t inform your moving company of all the details, you will get additional charges later on.

  8. Not understanding insurance options: during your move, accidents can happen and many times your objects will not be covered by insurance. That’s why you need to make sure you’ve made the right choice!

  9. Thinking that it’s easier and cheaper to move on your own: correctly packing objects, loading and accommodating your belongings safely on a truck, and driving them to your new home may not be as easy as you think. This entire process can take more time and cost much more than you planned for, in addition to the risk of not being satisfied. If your move is small, and you don’t have friends to help you, look for a moving company.

  10. Not having budgeted sufficient funds: if you are moving from a large house or moving to a distant location, you will probably incur very high costs. That’s why it is important to make sure that these costs are within your budget.

• Questions you should ask a moving company

  After you’ve asked for quotes for your move, the companies are going to start calling you back to close the deal. So now what?

  Don’t worry, we can help. During the first call, get basic information about the company, such as its address, how many employees it has, whether it is part of any association, etc. More than the answers, the most important thing is to notice how the company is treating you. Have they answered all of your questions? Do they seem interested in closing the deal?

  After you have selected three or four moving companies, ask for them to visit your home. They are going to study what you want to ship and what services you will need, in order to be able to present you with an estimate based on this information. This home visit is the only way to guarantee that you will get an accurate quote of how much your move is going to cost.

  Here are some questions that you should ask moving companies and the types of answers that you should receive. Make sure not only to get the right answer, but also pay attention to the way in which your question is answered. A meticulous, careful salesman normally reflects a company that values good customer service.

  1. How long have you been doing moving estimates?
  You need someone who has worked in this sector for a while. Experience counts a lot. Ask the seller about his/her professional experience, if they have worked as a driver, or if they have worked in some other part of the moving process before getting a quote. The more experience that they have, the more likely you will be to get an accurate quote. Sellers are famous for loving to hear their own voices. If they don’t want to talk about their own experience, then it probably isn’t a good sign.

  2. How long has the company been in the market?
  If the moving company has been in the business for 10 years or more, it normally means that they are doing a good job and providing good service to their customers. You shouldn’t base your decision just on time, but there is no doubt that it is a good indicator about the company.

  3. How does pricing work or what payment terms does the company offer?
  You can learn more and get to know the representative and company better too by finding out how much they know about the market, and how much they are willing to explain the pricing options to make your move. If they don’t give you many details or they don’t seem to understand much about the right pricing options for you case, be aware.

  4. How long will it take to deliver the move?
  You need a realistic answer. For long-distance moves, it may be hard to determine the exact day. Most companies can give a period of a few days for the delivery to arrive. Be wary of proposals that offer a very quick delivery. It may be too good to be true.

  5. Does the company that you are evaluating often work with other businesses in your field?
  Many people ask for third-party references. But, honestly, what company is going to provide a reference who didn’t like the service that they received? However, if the company frequently renders services for a certain type of business, this may mean that they provide consistently good-quality work.

  6. What would the moving company do if it had to transport a family heirloom or a large, heavy object, such as a piano? How will these objects be moved?
  This is another way of testing the representative’s knowledge and finding out how you will be treated. If they give you a complete, thoughtful answer, then there is a good chance that you are dealing with a company that is going to care for your things.

  7. That last question is for you, the person who is moving: is the representative just saying the things that you want to hear?
  To find out, you need the ability to read body language. You probably don’t want to work with someone who disagrees with everything that you say. But if they suggest something other than what you are thinking, find out whether what they are saying makes any sense. If it does, then this is a good sign that the representative is looking out for your interests.

  After you learn about the companies that you have contacted, compare them. Don’t let price be the determining factor for your choice. In reality, a very low price may indicate that something might be missing in the quote or that additional costs are still to come. It is also important to stay in touch after the home inspection.

  And finally, which representative worked the hardest to close the deal with you?

• Final evaluation of a moving company

  In this stage, you’ve gotten to know the company, received a quote, and you like this option. But before you close the deal, follow one more step so that you are sure that you have made the right decision.

  Go to the website Protect your move run by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, so that you can find out information on the company’s license, insurance and fleet. If the fleet is very small, the company probably doesn’t have the infrastructure for long-distance moves. For a more-detailed search of the company, check out the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s website.

  Here is the information that you can find at this site:

  Are the company’s name, address, and phone numbers the same ones that you were given when you talked to the company?

  In the “Out of Service” field in the upper left-hand side of the form, it should say “no”.

  “Power Units” and “Drivers” refer to the number of trucks and drivers that the company has. It should have the same number of contracts that the company says that it has. Is it clear that this company has a satisfactory fleet to be classified as properly organized?

  In the “Operation Classification” field, there should be an X next to “Auth. For Hire”.

  In the “Carrier Operation” field, there should be an X next to “Interstate” if you are moving to another state.

  In the “Cargo Carried” and “Household Goods” fields, there should be an X.

  In the “Inspections/ Crashes” section, there is cause for concern if the company’s average is higher than the national average. “Out of Service” means one or more violations in a single inspection.

  In the “Safety Rating” section, if there is any comment or criticism, the evaluation should be “Satisfactory”.

  Click on the link to “FMCSA Licensing & Insurance site” at the bottom of the page, and on the next page, click on the “HTML” or “Report” icons, below “View Details”, to go to the “Motor Carrier Details” page.

  Below the “Authority Type” column, there will be three lists: “Common”, “Contract”, and “Broker”. The “Authority Status” option informs you of whether this company’s authority is active. The “Common” status should at least be listed as active, with a “No” listed in “Application Pending”.

  In the next table below “Household Goods” should be marked “Yes”.

  The table below contains information about insurance. A moving company should have bodily injury property (BIPD) insurance (at least $750,000) and cargo insurance. Below the title “Insurance on File”, the BIPD should be at least $ 750,000 and “Cargo” should say “Yes”.

  Finally, call the FMCSA’s Safety Violation and Consumer Complaints hotline at 888-368-7238 and ask about complaints against this moving company.