No matter what time of year you’re moving during, finding the right moving company for your relocation makes all of the difference in ensuring your transition to your new home goes smoothly. If you’re looking into a professional moving company, it’s important to do your full research to avoid moving scams and potentially losing money or your items.
There are a lot of different ways to avoid moving scams and to ensure that you’re employing only honest and reliable movers to keep your things safe. Keep reading for some red flags to recognize and watch out for to make sure you’re not only getting what you pay for, but that your items are kept safe throughout your entire journey.
Moving Company Red Flags to Avoid
It might seem intimidating to have to look out for moving scams on top of everything you have to do and coordinate before your move – but don’t worry. There are many simple things you can incorporate into your regular research process to keep your money and your things safe during their journey.
Look out for the following when searching for moving companies:
- Large Upfront Deposits
This is especially a red flag if a company requires a cash deposit upfront. In most cases, reputable moving companies will not require a deposit while they assess or when they give you your estimate. At most, some will ask for a small deposit just to hold your spot during peak moving season or particularly busy times. However, if the deposit is sizable or in cash, it’s a huge red flag that you should avoid.
- Offering Quotes with No Justification
If you receive a quote from a moving company that seems a little off, but they won’t give you any info as to how this quote was calculated, run! You should also avoid companies who refuse to provide free quotes, in-home quotes, or in-person quotes. Your moving quote should be no obligation and should be conducted by a professional in person so you can see their process and ask any questions you need to along the way.
- Suspiciously Low Moving Estimates
The key takeaway from this one is that if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. If you receive a suspiciously low quote for the size or scope of your move, especially if it’s not being done in person, this is a huge sign of scammers looking to overcharge you later with a lot of hidden fees, or those looking to steal your items all together after loading them on a truck.
- Lack of Licensing
If the moving company you’re speaking to doesn’t volunteer their licensing or any accreditations to back up their reputation, it can be a bad sign. If you can find their USDOT number, look it up on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) website to see if they’re listed. If they don’t have a number or show up as unregistered in this database, run!
- Frequent Name Changes
This one can be a little harder to sniff out, but it can be done. If a business frequently changes its name or only has reviews or licensing under a former one, it can be a bad indication. Moving companies are associated with their names and reputations – why change it constantly with nothing to hide? If you notice a company has undergone this frequently, do a double-check before proceeding.
- Poor or Nonexistent Reviews
This one might seem like a given, but don’t just go off of the often-moderated customer reviews on a moving company’s website. These can easily be filtered to only show good reviews or ones above a certain star rating. Instead, look on third-party sites like Google Reviews, Yelp, or the Better Business Bureau to get a better idea of real former customers’ experiences with the company in question. If all you can find are poor reviews, or if a business doesn’t have any reviews at all, consider working with another company.
- Unclear/Inconsistent Communication
Your movers should always be clear and consistent in their communication with you; transparency is a must! Your professional movers should always make it a priority to remain attentive to your needs and to give you straightforward communication regarding the different variables in your move and its status. If they, say, arrive late to your in-home estimate or are hard to get a hold of, go somewhere else – it’s not worth it.
- Poor Customer Service
This one goes hand in hand with our past point, but if you’re not receiving a level of service that keeps you confident, satisfied, and in the know regarding the status of your items, don’t work with the company in question. You should receive professional, friendly, and knowledgeable customer service from your movers, and you should always feel like you and your items come first – because they do!
Now that you know the red flags to avoid when it comes to choosing a moving company, it’s time to get a move on! Looking for the best professional North Carolina movers? See what Excel Moving & Storage can do for you and your household items today. We’ll give you the best customer service and the most affordable North Carolina moving process possible, no matter your move’s size, scope, or budget.
