Are you stressed about your upcoming move? With the right movers at your side, you can make the entire journey seamless.
Top Tips
- Sort the details of your move and decide between local or long-distance movers
- Ask friends or family for moving company recommendations or find referrals online
- Check their website and social media to see if they are legitimate
- Visit their office in person and chat with their team
- Don’t forget to get an in-home inspection and estimate
Here are five things to keep in mind for picking a reputable moving company so you can ensure you only get the best of the best.
See Related: 5 Tips For Moving During The Winter
#1. Sort Out The Details Of Your Move
If you’ve got a move ahead of you, you’re likely already sweating the details. A lot goes into moving, and it’s important not to let anything fall through the cracks. From finding your kids a new school to picking out a new dentist, you have a lot on your plate!
If you want your move to be a success, you need to start preparing early. Waiting until the last minute could have some disastrous consequences. It’s not like a school assignment you can speed-finish one night during college.
Finding a moving company should be one of the first things you take care of. You can never go wrong getting movers plenty in advance.
Deciding Between A Team For Interstate Or Local Moves
The first step to finding movers you can trust and rely on is sorting out your move. You need to know what you need from your movers. Often, this comes down to deciding whether you need long-distance moving services or a local moving company.
This can be figured out pretty easily. If you’re relocating cross-country or moving from state to state, you’ll likely need to find some long distance movers.
However, if you’re just moving across town or making a small relocation, local movers are likely the right team for your job.
When you find a company you’re interested in, see what they consider longer-distance versus local. Some movers have different criteria for this.
#2. Ask Around For Recommendations Or Get Referrals
Now, it’s time to start your research. Finding a safe, reliable, and trustworthy moving company is about locating a team that has made moves for many others easy and straightforward.
One of the best ways to find reliable teams is by reaching out to those closest to you. Maybe you have a cousin who just recently completed a move across the country, and you’re in need of some good interstate movers.
Don’t Forget To Ask Great Questions
Ask them which moving company they went with and why! Here are some other standard questions you shouldn’t forget to ask:
- What did you like about the company?
- What didn’t you like?
- Would you use this same company again?
- What made you choose this moving company in particular?
- What services do they offer?
- Did you like their service?
- Were there any hiccups during the moving process?
Family, friends, and co-workers are great people to get referrals from. Other places you can find recommendations can include message boards, Facebook groups, or Nextdoor.
Spotting Illegitamte Moving Companies Online
However, do your due diligence when looking for referrals online. Be wary of recommendations that seem way over the top or by bot accounts. There could be posts written by the company itself looking to bolster its reputation or by people they’ve hired.
This is often the case with scam moving companies. For any illegitimate movers, there will likely never be any real comments online corroborating their reputation. There will often be fake recommendations amuck.
To find real referrals, look for people postings questions such as “Can anyone recommend a good moving company?” Look and see if there are comments from unrelated and genuine accounts vouching for movers.
To verify the legitimacy of a moving company, make sure you review their website and social media or check with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA.)
Bonus: How To Pack Shoes For Moving In 6 Easy Steps
#3. Do Your Due Diligence
Verifying that your chosen moving company is legitimate is actually a critical part of the moving process. Unfortunately, there are some movers out there who try to take advantage, and it’s important to know how to steer clear of moving scams.
You should hopefully have a list of prospective moving companies by now. Whether it’s movers your family recommended or a local moving company you found on the web, make sure you don’t narrow your options too much.
Start by checking the online presence of your company. In today’s world, every company is on the internet, so you should start there. Check their social media platforms and their website for further proof of their legitimacy.
Go Beyond Their Social Media
You can also check the companies’ histories with the Better Business Bureau and the FMCSA. These sites are great for checking for red flags and verifying the moving company’s legitimacy.
Online reviews will also be a lifesaver. There are plenty of platforms online where people can leave reviews of movers. If you notice a lot of reviews are negative or have some significant issues with the movers, they’re probably not a good team to go with.
Google, Facebook, and HomeAdvisor are a few places where you can check the reviews left by others. The more (legit) reviews, the better. And the better the reviews, the better!
#4. Contact Them And Visit Them In Person
Now that you’ve vetted your potential moving companies, it’s time to dig a little deeper. You should contact them or stop by their office for a quick visit and see what they’re all about.
If you’re not up for an outing, you can also just simply give them a call on the phone. Chat with them and ask any questions you may have about their moving services.
However, a physical trip to their office should be prioritized. You can check out their space and see if it’s reminiscent of a reputable moving company. Any genuine movers will want to ensure their office is presentable and ready for new customers!
The right moving company will be a team of experienced professionals that you can trust. They should be friendly and welcoming while still being knowledgeable about their craft. So, if the employees are standoffish and disorganized when you arrive, take it as a bad sign.
A Reputable Moving Company You Can Rely On
At The Movers Moving And Storage, we know every move is more than loading up some trucks and hitting the road. We want to give you an experience that will last a lifetime and the foundation for the memories you’ll create in your new home.
Families all across the state of Florida have trusted us for over 40 years with their family relocation. Plus, we offer great storage and packing services, so all you need to worry about is the snacks for the trip.
Our movers are properly licensed and insured and have been working in the industry for years. They’re also very friendly and will make you feel comfortable every step of the way.
Even if you need help packing fragile items, we’ve got your back. We take extra care and attention to wrap and pad anything from pianos to heavy furniture to breakable items.
#5. Get An In-Home Estimate
All movers should be able to give you an in-home estimate for an upcoming move. This will give them a real idea of what’s needed for your move.
If they only want to give you an estimate over the phone, take that as a red flag. This could mean they are not a legitimate moving company. Or, the estimate itself will probably be highly inaccurate.
In-home inspections are crucial when movers give you an estimate. It lets them see how many belongings they need to handle, the amount of manpower they’ll need for loading and unloading trucks, as well as the layout of your home.
Ensure your chosen moving company will come to your home with plenty of time before your move. Feel free to get a few different estimates from various companies as well. This will help you make the best choice based on your needs.
Keep Reading: 9 Fun Attractions To Visit In Tampa, Florida
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The Movers Moving & Storage has been a family-owned and operated moving company for 40 years and across three generations. Serving areas in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Bradenton, Spring Hill, Lakeland, Wesley Chapel, Brandon, and Clearwater in Florida, our simple approach to moving has not changed since the day we opened. We treat our customers like family and their belongings like our own. For more moving facts and information, follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter.
