Many of them can be found online through sites like Yelp and Nextdoor, but you can also ask neighbors, friends, and coworkers for recommendations. You can also check with the Better Business Bureau to see if there have been any complaints. If you can't find any mention of a potential moving company on the internet, consider it a red flag and a potential moving scam. If the sellers visiting your home didn't show any identification and weren't wearing uniforms, this is also a warning sign.
The same rule applies on the day of the move. A truck that doesn't display logos or names of moving companies is highly suspicious, unless proven otherwise. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires moving companies to make a free quote from home. Working with a certified moving company is always recommended.
To confirm the credentials of a moving company that claims to be certified, visit this DOT site and select “transporter search”. Find out if a moving company is certified by the American Moving %26 Storage Association and also check the Better Business Bureau and other online directories. In the past, reputable moving companies never asked for payment in advance. However, to meet the needs of the modern consumer, times are “changing”.
To set customers' moving dates, moving companies often request a deposit before handling any of their belongings, especially if they move within the same city. This protects customers so that a moving company with a bad reputation doesn't find a more convenient move (i.e., for example, the practice of requesting payment in advance is also common when moving abroad). As most international moving companies prepay for freight and maritime services at their destination, it's common practice to request payment before providing services. It looks like you have local storage turned off.
To avoid seeing this message again, enable your browser's local storage. Well, putting everything you have in a moving truck is the same thing multiplied by 1000, which is why many traditional moving companies like to estimate from home. As you can see, moving across the country is practically regulated, and if you choose the most suitable moving companies, your experience will be simple. After an inspection, moving companies should send you their budget (and other possible charges) in writing, leaving no unforeseen costs for later.
To make things easier for you and the team that is going to give you a budget, it would be good if you could already do a family inventory of the things you plan to move. If the moving company you work with answers the phone with a generic term of “moving company” or “moving companies”, it's a warning sign. If a moving company has been accredited by the BBB, it means that moving companies meet the organization's accreditation standards. Taking these steps will help ensure that both parties are accountable and that your move goes smoothly.
If the moving company answers these questions successfully, no problem, but you should still proceed with caution. Ask the company for detailed estimates of what it will cost to complete your move, as well as detailed descriptions of the services they offer. Before hiring a moving company, it's important to ensure that the moving company has the proper license and insurance. But if the moving company asks you for cash in advance, it's a sign of one of the many scams that exist among moving companies.
In addition, you should always be sure to document your entire move by taking photographs of the furniture before and after transportation, in addition to keeping a record of any paperwork given to you by moving companies. The FMCSA states that all entities that provide relocation services must provide an internal moving budget free of charge to protect customers from unfair market prices.
