This is a lot you need to consider as you’re planning your move. A big part of this is choosing which moving company you are going to hire. There are many moving scams out there you need to be aware of. We’re here to help you detect moving scams and find some reputable moving companies.
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Pricing Guidelines
While all moving companies have differences in prices, they all typically follow the same style when it comes to giving people price estimates.
No In-Home Estimate
Moving companies tend to do an in-home estimate. In-home estimates help movers know the number of items you have so they can fairly charge you for their services. This in turn helps them prepare for how many movers they will need and approximate how long packing up the truck will take.
Moving companies that don’t require in-home estimates may be scams. They do this so they can charge you more on the day of the move or even after the move. They claim you had more items than anticipated so they are forced to charge you more since they did more work than expected.
Be advised not all companies that do not require in-home estimates are scams. If you’re weary of a company because they do not offer in-home estimates, ask if they have flat rates with no hidden fees. And as is true in life, read the fine print before you sign anything.
Not Asking Questions
Another common moving scam is a company not asking questions during an in-home estimate. This is a major red flag. Reputable moving companies will ask you many questions during a walk-through of your home to ensure they know exactly which items will be included in the move. This helps them give you an accurate moving estimate and keep your items safe and secure.
Companies that don’t ask questions will never be able to give an accurate estimate. They will either charge you too much, or more commonly they will give you a low-ball quote. This can lead to them demanding more money after the move and refusing to give you your items until you pay an additional fee.
Customer Reviews
Something else to always check when finding a moving company is the company’s reviews. A reputable moving company will have many reviews and most of them will be positive.
If a company only has a few reviews or their reviews are all from similar dates, they are most likely a scam. It is common for companies to change their names often and create new websites after they have scammed a few customers. This ensures the bad reviews written about them are not associated with the new company’s name.
Signing Your Contract
An easy way to avoid scams is to make sure you read your moving contract before you sign it. Just skimming through or reading the headings isn’t going to cut it. Make sure you read the whole thing from top to bottom, fine print included. Being aware of every part of your contract will ensure there are no surprises later when it comes to pricing.
Blank Contracts
Not being aware of what you’re agreeing to can be one of the easiest ways to get scammed. Many scams start with companies trying to get their customers to agree to a “blank contract.” A blank contract simply means the customer has not signed a written agreement about the prices and dates.
Signing a blank contract allows the company to try and overcharge you. They can either claim there were additional fees or act like your estimate was more than it actually was. Since there was no written contract it is hard to prove they are charging you more than you verbally agreed upon.
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Reputable Moving Companies
Trying to find some reputable moving companies? Here are some moving companies that have been around for a while and are known for their good services.
Bellhop Moving Company
Bellhop is a moving company that specializes in both local and long-distance moves. They are well known for being able to help with last-minute moves and offering multiple moving services. The company also requires all their movers to go through background checks to ensure your possessions are in safe hands.
North American Moving Services
North American Moving Services is a moving company that covers all fifty states and even helps with international moves. The company prides itself in offering value protection for your items and having no hidden fees. Besides simply moving your items, they offer services such as packing, storage, furniture assembly, and more.
UniMovers
UniMovers is a labor-only moving company specializing in residential, in-home, and commercial moving services. We employ university students and recent graduates who are working to put themselves through school. Our customers will save 30% to 50% by using our services over a full-service moving company. We have a flat hourly rate with no hidden fees and we’re insured so you can move with peace of mind.
Conclusion
Finding a reputable moving company can be quite a challenge. Knowing what to look for when researching a moving company can help you to avoid moving scams. Take your time and look into a company before booking them to help with your move. Be sure to find an insured company with competitive rates and proper licensing.
FAQ
Some of the most common moving scams include companies giving low estimates that seem too good to be true, trying to avoid having a customer sign a contract, and not having proper licenses to move people’s items.
A good rule of thumb is to check how many reviews a company has and in what type of timeframe the reviews were written. While this doesn’t guarantee that a company is reputable, it does allow you to see multiple perspectives of what people think of their services.
While there are a lot of moving scams out there, there are also a lot of reputable moving companies to choose from. The key is to look for a company that has been in the business for a good amount of time and provides the services you want within your budget.
Jessica is a students at the University of Northern Iowa. She is majoring in English Education with a creative writing minor. In her free time she loves to read books of every genre, write short stories, and spend time with friends. In the future she hopes to share her love for reading and writing with her future students.