Because long distance residential moving companies carry such precious cargo, it is up to you to do the necessary research into finding out whether the company is legitimate.
They are responsible for transporting your most irreplaceable possessions across the country—or further—which is why choosing the right long distance residential moving company is a decision no family should take lightly.
Not only do families have to worry about cost when selecting a residential mover—since the prices companies charge can vary wildly—they also must consider the company’s reputation and safety record, since nearly everyone has heard at least one horror story involving an illegal moving company.
Although there is no full protection against getting ripped off by a moving company, there is one way that gives customers the best odds of finding a reliable company at a great price—knowing the facts.
The more a customer knows about long distance residential moving, the better his chances of success when it comes time to move from one home to another. And while many customers may believe they have a good idea of how to hire a mover based on a previous experience moving across town, few know the ins and outs of moving long distances.
When you are moving to a different state or a different country, knowing the facts about how to find and hire a quality moving company can be more important than ever. A few things to consider include:
How are estimates handled?
Hiring movers to haul your belongings across the country can be exponentially more expensive than simply hiring a company to deliver your belongings across town, which is why obtaining an accurate estimate for how much the job will cost is one of the first steps everyone should take when hiring a mover. For large jobs, most moving companies will send a representative to the customer’s home to evaluate the goods. If a company refuses to do this, move on to another company. With a moving job this large, you cannot afford to deal with amateurs.
Find out the specifics regarding how much the actual cost on moving day will be and refuse to sign a contract with any company that will not put a total cost estimates down on paper. Ideally, reputable movers will sign a Binding Not-To-Exceed contract, which means that the amount you owe on moving day will not under any circumstances go over the estimate. Similarly, some moving companies prefer offering clients a Binding agreement, which sets a fixed price for the move regardless of weight on moving day. On long distance moves, it is best to avoid the least desirable of estimates—the Non-Binding agreement. With this type of contract, the customer will be responsible for paying the final bill on moving day, no matter the price, even if it is much higher than the original estimate.
Get the details in writing.
For the best chance of a successful move, find out as much about the long distance residential moving company as possible and get all the details in writing. Some common questions to inquire about include whether they will be doing the job themselves—since many companies contract out to others—how much insurance is included in the price quote. More general questions that are perfectly acceptable to ask include whether the company is licensed, how long it has been in business, what its physical address is, and if the representative can give you a list of references.
