Hiring a Moving Company? Avoid costly mistakes
Each year, the FMCSA (Federal Mover Carrier Safety Administration) investigates moving companies for a wide range of safety and ethics violations. In 2008, they fined over 300 moving companies. Predatory business practices and safety violations were the most common reasons for these fines. In many cases, operators of moving companies sacrifice ethics for dollars, and in the worst cases, they sacrifice the safety of their customers and workers. So how do you find a good moving company? The good news is that you can take steps to weed out the bad ones and find ethical movers.
First things first - do your homework on choosing a suitable mover. Picking the wrong movers could result in major financial losses due to bait and switch tactics, as well as damage to your precious personal treasures - not to mention potential theft. Prior to engaging a moving company, you will want to see if there are complaints against them at the Better Business Bureau. Also, check out this new website called www.movingscam.com, designed just for monitoring bad moving companies.
The Department of Transportation reports that there are specific signs that your moving operator may be less that ethical:
1. The mover doesn't offer or agree to an on-site inspection of your household goods and gives an estimate over the phone or Internet sight-unseen. These estimates often sound too good-to-be-true. They usually are. 2. The moving company demands cash or a large deposit before the move. 3. The mover doesn't provide you with a copy of Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move, a booklet movers are required by Federal regulations to supply to their customers in the planning stages of interstate moves. 4. The mover claims all goods are covered by their insurance. 5. The company's website has no local address and no information about licensing or insurance.
Long time moving company owner in Los Angeles, Stan Korski, says, "Many moving companies prey on last minute movers - most legitimate companies require weeks of advance booking, so when a last minute mover calls, some movers take advantage of the situation." An integral part of a low cost move is clearly advance planning.
Planning at least 7 weeks ahead in any season is beneficial according to Kukoba. If you have time to check out and negotiate with multiple operators, you will more likely avoid unscrupulous moving companies and get a good price. In some cases, you may need the time to work on special arrangements for long distance moves.
Experts recommend avoiding a move during the summer months. Often movers, moving vans, and moving trucks are in very short supply during the busy season and predatory business practices are at their peak. Most violations reported by the FMCSA were higher proportionately last summer than at other times during the year. It also helps to avoid weekends - this will often lower the cost of the move because of decreased demand.
Most moving companies charge additional fees for special requests sometimes not totally disclosed, so be sure to be thorough when they arrive at your home to provide a quote. Ask about extra costs, insurance policies, license numbers, and mileage that may or not be included in the move.
When it comes to moving, planning pays off. There is enough stress in a move - there's no need to add to it with a bad experience by choosing the wrong moving company. Research and choose wisely.
First things first - do your homework on choosing a suitable mover. Picking the wrong movers could result in major financial losses due to bait and switch tactics, as well as damage to your precious personal treasures - not to mention potential theft. Prior to engaging a moving company, you will want to see if there are complaints against them at the Better Business Bureau. Also, check out this new website called www.movingscam.com, designed just for monitoring bad moving companies.
The Department of Transportation reports that there are specific signs that your moving operator may be less that ethical:
1. The mover doesn't offer or agree to an on-site inspection of your household goods and gives an estimate over the phone or Internet sight-unseen. These estimates often sound too good-to-be-true. They usually are. 2. The moving company demands cash or a large deposit before the move. 3. The mover doesn't provide you with a copy of Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move, a booklet movers are required by Federal regulations to supply to their customers in the planning stages of interstate moves. 4. The mover claims all goods are covered by their insurance. 5. The company's website has no local address and no information about licensing or insurance.
Long time moving company owner in Los Angeles, Stan Korski, says, "Many moving companies prey on last minute movers - most legitimate companies require weeks of advance booking, so when a last minute mover calls, some movers take advantage of the situation." An integral part of a low cost move is clearly advance planning.
Planning at least 7 weeks ahead in any season is beneficial according to Kukoba. If you have time to check out and negotiate with multiple operators, you will more likely avoid unscrupulous moving companies and get a good price. In some cases, you may need the time to work on special arrangements for long distance moves.
Experts recommend avoiding a move during the summer months. Often movers, moving vans, and moving trucks are in very short supply during the busy season and predatory business practices are at their peak. Most violations reported by the FMCSA were higher proportionately last summer than at other times during the year. It also helps to avoid weekends - this will often lower the cost of the move because of decreased demand.
Most moving companies charge additional fees for special requests sometimes not totally disclosed, so be sure to be thorough when they arrive at your home to provide a quote. Ask about extra costs, insurance policies, license numbers, and mileage that may or not be included in the move.
When it comes to moving, planning pays off. There is enough stress in a move - there's no need to add to it with a bad experience by choosing the wrong moving company. Research and choose wisely.
About the Author:
Sydney Welkinson is a blogger and consumer advocate currently researching Los Angeles Moving Companies and recording his personal moving stories on his blog.
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