HOW CAN I PICK THE BEST MOVER?

Because moving costs can be very expensive, it is wise for you to investigate different companies to determine the best company for you. Of course, one of the determining factors will be to compare the services of different companies and how much they charge for those services.

Visit the company’s business office to see if it is run professionally. Are the vehicles and warehouses clean? Is the staff cordial and polite? Are they willing to answer your questions? Do they have testimonials from people they have previously moved? Do they have their policies and methods for determining costs in a professional brochure that is clear and easy to understand? What must you do to file a claim if necessary? How does the company handle claims against it?

Check with the Better Business Bureau to determine if any major complaints have been filed against the company. What were the complaints? Were the complaints determined to be authentic? How did the company handle those complaints? Has the company had to pay for the same mistakes over and over again?

Does the company submit both binding estimates and non-binding estimates? A binding estimate will cost you more but it will protect you from underestimates. However, if you decide that you will include some additional items that were not included in the original estimate, the driver will have to contact the dispatcher to determine any additional costs. This may cause a considerable delay.

A non-binding estimate offers the approximate cost of the move. Part of the total cost of the move is attributed to the distance to be traveled. The other major factor is weight. After the moving van is loaded, the driver will drive to a scale to weigh the loaded truck to determine the weight factor used in determining the total cost of the move. If the actual moving cost exceeds the estimate, you will be required to pay no more than an additional 10% of the original estimate. You will be given 30 days after delivery to pay any outstanding balance.

Finally, check with recent arrivals to ask if they were satisfied with the service they received from the company who moved them. If they were dissatisfied, what were the specific complaints against the company? How did they handle the complaints?