Whether you are moving across the country or street, it’s important to avoid scams. Scams will leave you hopeless, stressed, broke and without your property. The good thing is that it’s easy to spot scams when you first be clear on what you want and then search for ‘movers near me.’
Scammers tend to lure customers with cheap price estimates. They may also lack proper documentation like licenses and insurance. Before you make a deal with any moving company, watch out for these red flags.
They don’t have licenses
The last thing you should do is to hire a moving company without a valid license. For interstate movers, they should have a US DOT number. Local movers do have the DOT number. They need to follow the local licenses provided by the local government.
They don’t have an insurance cover
If a moving company isn’t insured, it can’t pay for your property in case of any damage. A professional company has to have insurance cover. It will protect itself and the client from lawsuits. Hire an unlicensed company and regret later when the company fails to pay back for damages.
They give false estimates
It is dangerous if a moving company provides favorable estimates without visiting your home. Though estimates are reasonable, they should only occur after a physical assessment.
Valuation coverage
A legit moving company should provide the clients with valuation coverage. It protects their property on the move. The valuation coverage is different from the insurance cover. The valuation coverage holds the company responsible for paying at least that. The interstate moving companies offer two liability options. You will need to choose from: released value and total value protection.
Negative reviews
You can’t avoid bad reviews on a company, especially online, but the frequency matters a lot. Be keen on the internet reviews and comments about the company. Your friends and family can also have a personal experience with the company. In case you find the negative reviews outshine the positive ones, then that is a red alert.
You can also get reviews from trusted online sources. They include Better Business Bureau ratings and google. The two sites will provide detailed information on all companies in existence.
Unprofessional staff
It would be best if you used your common sense as you hire a moving company. Be cautious if they have a physical address, business email, business card, and moving truck. Apart from these all, a moving company should have the proper documents.
Be keen on how the staff handles your situation when you visit their office. A good company will not have rude staff without uniforms and driving unmarked trucks. These are the red alerts that rogue movers use to hide their identities.
Demand expensive upfront payment
A moving company that demands an upfront payment, it shouldn’t exceed 20% of the total estimates. Good companies will not even request payment until they deliver your property. If you see a company insisting on high price estimates to pay, then you can’t use it.
No communication when they are transporting your property
You need to communicate with the driver all the time when goods are in transit. A professional company will have a good communication channel.
They don’t have references
If a company doesn’t have anybody to defend it publicly, it’s a scam of a poor vehicle. A good moving company will also send a list of customers to learn from their business.
Conclusion
Choosing a good moving company and avoiding the red alerts, is of great importance when relocating your place. Use the above tricks to aid you to choose the right movers.
