Movers - 7 Secrets to Finding the Right Moving Company

Quick summary

Get references from local real estate agents and friends who have recently moved.
Only consider moving companies that are licensed, bonded, and insured.
Research your potential movers through the U.S. Department of Transportation, The Better Business Bureau, and Moving OKC Movers.
Evaluate a minimum of 3 people who move based on estimates of assets that will move into the home.[
Ask for "binding not to exceed" written estimates.
Avoid "rogue bikers" - if you feel uncomfortable, trust your instincts!
The details
If you decide to hire professional moving companies, you will be faced with a big decision: how do you find reputable moving companies or moving companies? The good news is that a small amount of time spent researching potential movers can help ensure a stress-free move. This article describes those investigation steps.

Introduction: references

Obtaining references is clearly the best way to start your review of potential moving companies. While yellow pages (for those of us who can even find your phone books!) And web searches can help, references can provide the best clues. Ask your friends, co-workers, and new neighbors about their experiences. Look for people who have moved in the last 12 months, as the quality of businesses changes over time. Be sure to ask for details like the names of the people they worked with, what went well, and what to keep in mind. Even information about movements that did not go well can be useful.

In addition to friends and co-workers, try to get referrals from industry professionals. Check with your leasing agent or real estate agent to learn about their clients' experiences; they can be a wealth of useful information. If you work for a large company, check with the Human Resources department to see if they have someone to work with relocation (even if you are not receiving relocation assistance, they may be willing to pass on helpful information anyway). Getting these types of referrals will get your research started on the right foot.

License

Moving companies are regulated by federal, state, and local laws. At the federal level, a moving company that transports goods across state (interstate) lines must be licensed by the Department of Transportation (DOT does not regulate local moving companies). At the state level, laws vary widely, and several states (Alaska, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, South Dakota, Utah, and Vermont) do not require moving companies to have a separate license. For those that do, check that the licenses are current. We also recommend that your moving companies are linked and insured, both as proof that the company is legitimate and financial stability in case the worst happens and you need to file a claim.

Investigate potential drivers

Once you know the basics about your potential moving companies, it's time to learn about people's experiences. You want to know how to get objective third-party opinion opinions based on dozens or hundreds of consumer evaluations. While almost all moving companies have had some type of complaint, it is important to have objective resources. Fortunately, there are some great resources that you can use for free. The US Department of Transportation has a website dedicated to its "Protect Your Move" program. There you will find a link that will allow you to search for individual moving companies. You can also check the websites of Moving vivos.com, ProtectYourMove.gov, and Better Business Bureau. It's a good idea to check all 3 to make sure you see a complete picture. Again, almost any moving company that has been around for a while will have a complaint from someone - they are looking for patterns of problems and how the moving companies tried to solve the problems.

Estimates at home

Many companies offer methods for clients to obtain a quote over the phone or on the web. This presents great convenience for the consumer. Until a representative of the moving company takes a physical inventory, the estimates they create will not be very reliable. You should also be a little concerned when a mover is not interested enough in your business to request a house call.