Are you moving out of your current location? There’s a big chance you will have to hire local movers near you, right.
Moving companies are constantly moving stuff from one place to another. It’s their job to make the moving process easier. However, you should know not every moving company is reliable and professional.
And on that note, here is a list of six common signs that you’re dealing with a bad moving company:
Charge Extra Fees
A big red flag to look out for in a moving company is the extra fees. Moving services have standard rates that change depending on the size of your moving load and location. But on the contrary, you will find some companies charging extra fees for moving supplies. Other companies will also increase moving quotes by asking for additional fees for packing services and materials, moving dollies, or fuel when a moving service should cover these expenses in the first place.
Non-Professionalism
Look out for moving companies with professionalism in their approach to doing business. For instance, a reliable company should respond to complaints and inquiries as soon as possible. This must be a standard for every moving company, and if one takes too long to respond, it shows the company lacks professionalism and urgency.
In addition, moving companies usually provide their clients with access to free moving quotes. If they are hesitant to give this kind of information, you should be wary because moving quotes should be accessible to everyone.
Questionable Quotes
There are moving companies that offer too good to be true quotes. If moving companies you reached out to offered you very low quotes, know that the ultimate cost may not be as cheap. Other movers will quote a lower rate to get business from you and then make up for it by charging hidden fees. There are even those that set extra charges for services included in the quote. So to avoid being taken advantage of, do your research and take some time to compare before hiring a moving company.
Negative Reviews and Low Response Times
If you are researching any moving company you are considering hiring, you can certainly learn a lot from reviews and comments of previous clients. Negative reviews or feedback show the moving company has a poor track record in service delivery.
If you also find a moving company with lots of complaints and low response times, consider this as a red flag. Also, keep in mind, when a moving company does not respond to reviews or comments, it shows lack of professionalism and that’s something you should stay away from. To avoid such inconveniences, don’t hire the services of these types of moving companies.
Lack of License or Insurance Cover
A moving company should have all the licenses to operate. These include moving permits, tax registration certificates, and liability insurance among others.
When you are moving out into a different country altogether, this condition becomes even more critical. If you don’t see proof of these documents on your moving company’s website, ask for them.
If a moving company has no moving permits or registration, then they are operating illegally. When you use their services, not only will your property be at risk if damaged in transit, but you could also have to deal with injuries, and medical bills should an accident occur during the moving process and that’s something you don’t want, right?
By law, moving companies should have a moving bond. This is to protect you should the moving company go out of business suddenly or become unable to complete your moving job. At that point, you can file moving bond claims for any damages incurred during the move.
Lack of Physical Address
A moving company should have a physical address and telephone number. These details should be available on their cars, social pages, and websites.
If a moving company doesn’t have a physical address, the chances are that they are not a legit moving company at all. It could be a group of individuals offering moving services to earn extra cash for themselves. Don’t hire such a company because they may lack experience, training and are likely to put you through a terrible experience. Besides that, it will be difficult for the authorities to trace the company if you have a claim without knowing their physical address.
Final Remarks
Moving companies might be a little similar to Craigslist- there are so many. However, not every moving company is legit and right for you. Some are scams that will do more damage than simply losing your possessions. So when choosing a moving company, look for the signs mentioned above to avoid headaches during this process.
