Moving? Before you hire a moving company, it’s important to learn what to look out for to ensure you are receiving a professional service. Most movers are reputable and honest companies, but unfortunately there are those few who can try to take advantage of their customers. The following are things that should raise a “red flag” and should be investigated further. These things do not always indicate a scam; they may be closer to negligence on the part of the mover. Either way, they certainly bear further investigation and you may want to reconsider using them as a mover:

• • The mover provides an estimate that is extremely low as compared to other movers.
• • The mover asks for a substantial “deposit” before the moving day. They may even request it to be in cash.
• • The trucks that they have do not have a company name or logo on it. They may even be rentals from services like U-Haul.
• • Your property is not delivered on schedule unless you pay another fee.
• • When your property is delivered to your new home, the mover now charges a hefty fee that must be paid before the truck will be unloaded. This fee was never discussed before.
• • The moving company does not offer a receipt or contract.

Moving is stressful enough without having to contend with moving scams. So before you make the move, read these tips on how to avoid being scammed. It will save you time, money and energy as well as possibly your personal belongings.

• • Shop around. Make sure to get an ample number of quotes so you understand what the average price of your move is. Using a service like MovinGood.com can help you find up to 7 estimates so you can compare and contrast the best mover for the job.
• • Read what you sign. Before signing any documents or contracts, make sure you have read and understood the “fine print.” There may be hidden fees that were not mentioned in your initial discussion within these documents. And remember that MovinGood.com movers never have hidden fees! Their proposals always list the full amount of the job.
• • If a mover is asking for a large deposit up front, before they have done any work, it may be time to find a new mover. Make sure the payment plan is negotiated before you begin the move and that it is fair to both you and the mover.
• • A moving company is a business. They should have a business address and telephone number so you can contact them when needed. A scam company does not have this information available.
• • Are they licensed? Most areas require movers to be licensed, like a plumber or electrician. And if goods are being moved across state lines, the mover will need a DOT license to do so. A reputable mover will be licensed. Work only with those who are.
• • Are they insured? Licensed movers are required to carry a minimum amount of insurance depending on what they are carrying and the weight of the load. Make sure the mover you work with is not only licensed, but also insured. This way, you and your belongings are protected.

So before you make the move, make sure to educate yourself on what to look out for when hiring a mover. Being prepared now could save you the headache of dealing with a dishonest scam company later.

And if you have ever been a part of a moving scam, send us a message from our contact page and we can post the company on MovinGood.com for others to see.

Typically most people will only move once or twice in their lifetime. Moving is often classified as one of those big life changing events like getting married or childbirth that can be one of the most stressful times in your life.

Because moving is something that we typically don’t do very often there are a number of problems that can happen. Here are six of the most common moving mistakes that we find people typically encounter when they don’t use a resource like MovinGood.com to help them with their move.

1. Not having a proper plan – a move is often a big event. There are a number of parts to it and you need to be sure that you have planned properly so that things get completed in the correct sequence. MovinGood.com has moving checklists which are designed to take the headache out of planning a move.
2. Not having a moving budget – very often people are so focused on the cost of purchasing a new home that they forget to budget for moving their possessions from the old one. You need to make sure you allow adequate funds to pay for your move.
3. Thinking you can do it yourself – if you have a tight budget it can be tempting to try and do the work yourself. Often this can be a false economy as the added stress and increased damage to your possessions can often not make it worthwhile.
4. Not getting multiple quotes – if you don’t have enough time for your moving project it can sometimes seem easier just to get one quote and go with that. Often this is going to cost you money as there can be huge disparities between the amounts that different movers charge.
5. Choosing the “low ball” moving quote – sometimes it can be tempting to choose a really low quote, however you need to be careful in this scenario. If the mover is offering to work too cheaply then you have to be aware of the risk of too many corners being cut.
6. Not giving full details to your moving company – when you get a quote or engage a moving company you need to be sure that you give them all the details. For example if you are moving from a fourth floor apartment with no loft access you need to make them aware. Often there is no harm in arranging an onsite visit to be sure the company has all the details.