Moving from one home to another is regarded as one of the most stressful events in life. In most cases, the ultimate success of a residential move depends on choosing the right mover – reputable, experienced, and trustworthy.
While most house moves get completed without any major problems, some relocation instances can turn into horror stories due to dishonest or “rogue” movers that won’t hesitate to take advantage of you any way they can.
To protect yourself from possible moving fraud and keep your belongings from falling into the wrong hands, you need to do your homework and educate yourself on your viable options when choosing a moving company. Your best line of defense is thorough research and careful planning.
Follow the 10 steps below to select a reputable interstate mover and eliminate the possibility of becoming a victim of moving fraud.
1. Get written estimates from different movers
Get moving cost estimates in writing from several reputable movers in your area. These written estimates must be based on an in-home survey of your house or apartment and the household goods you intend to move.
The physical inspection of your home is crucial for getting accurate quotes that will reflect your actual moving cost. Say NO to moving companies that give estimates only over the phone or via e-mail without an actual inspection of your household items.
Must-read: How to get an accurate moving cost estimate
2. Compare the movers and their estimates
It’s never a good idea to go with the very first moving company that offers to move your belongings. You need to weigh in your relocation options carefully in order to pick the interstate mover that fulfills your requirements, meets your expectations, and fits your budget.
In the majority of cases, it’s a mistake to hire a mover based solely on the lowest estimate. When comparing moving companies and their offers, pay attention not only to the price, but also to the included additional services, online reputation, years of experience, and complaint history of the company.
See also: How to compare moving companies
3. Don’t be tempted by “low-ball” cost estimates
Be wary of any cost estimates that happen to be way lower than those offered by other moving companies. Why? A “low-ball” estimate could be a sign of potential moving fraud – a dishonest mover trying to lure you in and then increase the price drastically at the time of your move or disappear with your deposit money or your belongings.
Stay away from movers that offer you the moon. Remember that if an estimate is too good to be true, it usually is, especially when the mover in question has trouble explaining why their offered price is so low.
Read also: The red flags of moving fraud
4. Make sure the mover is licensed by the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT)
All interstate moving companies must be registered with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) in order to operate legally in the country. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires that each cross-country mover meet various insurance, safety, and financial standards before they are issued with a USDOT number.
A USDOT number is the proof that you’re dealing with a legitimate and properly licensed interstate mover. Use the FMCSA’s mover search tool to get access to up-to-date information about registered interstate movers and their complaint history.
When moving within a state, the requirements for professional moving companies vary. Check with your state, county or local consumer affairs agency, or your state attorney general.
Important: How to check a USDOT number
5. Check the movers’ complaint history at the FMCSA and the BBB
Check each moving company’s complaint history, if any, with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The FMCSA’s National Consumer Complaint Database (NCCDB) will let you examine the number of complaints lodged against any registered interstate mover in the last four years.
Also, check each mover’s complaint record with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Hiring a BBB-accredited mover with an excellent BBB rating and with few or no customer complaints is a guarantee that you and your belongings will be safe.
6. Read moving reviews and check movers’ ratings
To choose a reputable interstate mover, check their online reputation in the form of customer reviews and ratings. Good moving companies understand the importance of good reputation so they do their best to continue to offer high-quality services to their clients.
Visit a trusted moving reviews website and read how people rated the services of the moving companies you’re researching. As a rule of thumb, stay away from professional movers with an overwhelming number of negative reviews and low overall ratings.
Might come in handy: How to spot fake reviews about moving companies
7. Ask your movers the important questions
When selecting a professional moving company, asking the movers a few simple questions can help you make the right decision. After all, you want to make sure your prized possessions will be in good hands throughout the move.
The top 5 questions to ask movers are:
- How long has your company been in business?
- Can you guarantee that the moving crew that will handle my belongings are experienced packers and movers, not temporary employees?
- Do you have the necessary equipment to get the job done safely?
- How do you prevent property damage?
- What happens if any of my items are broken or missing?
Good advice: What questions to ask movers
8. Read the paperwork carefully
Read carefully any documents that the movers give you before you place your signature on a piece of paper. Pay special attention to the Bill of Lading which is a formal contract between you and the moving company.
Make sure you understand how the cost of your move is calculated and the type and rates of all additional moving services required to complete the move. If there are any conditions or sections in the Bill of Lading that you don’t understand well, ask the movers for clarification and don’t stop until every little detail is clear to you.
IMPORTANT: NEVER sign any blank documents or forms with blank sections to be filled in later by the moving company.
See also: What moving company paperwork will you need?
9. Understand the levels of protection for your belongings
When choosing a mover, you must understand your options for protecting your items. In reality, you have two options to do just that: Valuation Coverage and Moving insurance.
You’ll automatically get Valuation Coverage when you sign the Bill of Lading, but its liability is only 60 cents per pound per item when moving to another state. That basic coverage is seldom enough so you should seriously consider purchasing additional moving insurance for your household goods.
All professional moving companies should be able to offer you adequate insurance, either from them or from a third-party insurance company they work with. Either way, the mover must issue a policy or a written record of the purchase.
Good to know: Should you purchase moving insurance?
10. Know and understand your rights before selecting a mover
The final step to selecting a mover is to read Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move – a booklet prepared by the U.S. Department of Transportation that contains useful information you must know when moving from one state to another. The booklet also contains vital information about what you should do if your goods are lost or damaged during the interstate move.
Your interstate mover is required by law to provide you with a free copy of Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move. Alternatively, you can download a free digital copy of the handbook in a PDF format from the website of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
Additional info: What to know when using movers for the first time
I agree that it’s a good idea to get estimates from different movers. You want to make sure you find someone who fits within your budget and who will also give an accurate estimate. It’s good to know that they should give an estimate in person too, like you said.
I thought it was great how the article said that you should as potential movers how long they have been in the business, if they can guarantee that they will handle your property carefully, and what they do if items are broken or missing. My wife and I are going to be moving to the other side of our city but we do not have a lot of time to prepare for it. It may be beneficial for us to hire a reputable moving company to help us move.
legitimate and properly licensed interstate mover.
I like how you mentioned that looking at several movers’ estimates and the costs of their services is a good idea since it would allow you to settle for a moving company that’s within your budget. Sticking to a budget is important especially when it comes to a cross-country move since it’s much more expensive moving across the country rather than across the state so always keeping within a budget is a good idea to save money. If I had the chance to move across the country then I would have to plan long and hard for it since it would eventually cost a lot of money to move everything I have here…
I liked how you talked about asking how experienced the employees are. My friend was telling me that she was thinking about hiring movers, but didn’t know what kinds of questions to ask. I’m sure this is something that would slip my mind, but I think that it seems like a really good question so that you can be sure all of your items are going to be taken care of properly.
I appreciate what you said about comparing moving companies with their offers. Locating a reliable moving company in your area is a great choice when moving to a new city or state. If I were to move any time soon, I would make sure to find the best moving company in my area.
My sister is moving to a new house soon, and your article had some great tips she could use to hire a mover that could help her with this. I liked how you said to visit online review sites to learn about the the experience of past customers, and to avoid companies with mostly negative reviews. Thanks; I’ll share this with my sister to help her hire a moving company.
Thanks for sharing that we must read reviews and find out who has positive feedbacks and ratings so that we can hire those with a good reputation to hold. I will follow your advice now that we will be needing their services since we can finally move into our new home after it was constructed. It took three months to wait for this, so I am really excited. And I don’t want any problem on the day of our move.
I have a friend that is very interested in getting a residential moving service. It might be wise for him to know a little more about protecting her belongings. This is a great way to make sure that she is getting the best for her residential moving service.
I like the tip that you gave to choose a moving service that has a good reputation. My wife and I have been talking about finding a moving service to help us if we were to move in with her parents, and it would be important for us to know that we could find one who we could trust in. If we decide to find a moving service, I will be sure to look for one that has a good reputation.
Wow, I didn’t know that I can get written estimates from different movers. I suppose I should do that and compare their estimates and their services so I’ll be sure of who I should pick. I’ll make sure they’re licensed by the U.S. Department of Transportation to ensure that my stuff will be safe once they haul it to my new home next month.
I like the tip that you gave to choose a moving service that will offer a free cost estimate for you. My wife and I have been talking about finding a moving service if we decide to move in with my parents, and it would be important for us to know that we could find one who we could trust in. If we decide to find a moving service, I will be sure to look for one who will provide a free cost estimate.
Thanks for these tips on how to find a good moving service. It would make sense to find someone who is qualified and who will provide you with a written estimate. I’m looking for someone to help me move some of my bigger pieces of furniture, so I’ll have to check their estimates first.
I like the tip that you gave to choose a moving service that has good reviews. My wife and I have been talking about finding a moving service. If we decide to find one, I will be sure to check their reviews beforehand.
Thanks for these tips on how to find a good moving service. It would make sense to check how much experience they have before you choose them. My husband and I are looking for a moving service, so we’ll have to check their experience first.
I like the tip that you gave to choose a moving service that has positive ratings. My wife and I have been talking about finding a moving service to help us if we choose to move in with my parents, and it would be important for us to know that we could find one who we could trust in. If we choose to find a moving service, I will be sure to look for one who has positive ratings.
It helped a lot when you mentioned how you should consider the online reputation of a company before hiring them. It is always a good idea to do this so you know what their reputation is in your area and if they provide the right services for your needs. We need to move to a different state next month because of my new engineering job, so I’m glad I found your page.
Thanks for these tips on how to find a good realtor. I agree that you want to check with what the BBB has to say about them before you choose them. I’m looking for someone to help relocate me because of my job, so I’ll have to check with the BBB first.
I like the tip that you gave to choose a moving service that has a good reputation. My wife and I have been talking about finding a moving service to help us if we choose to get help with moving in with my mom this summer, and it would be important for us to know that we could find one that will be good for us. If we choose to find a moving service, I will be sure to look for one that has a good reputation.
I like the tip that you gave to choose a moving service that offers cost estimates. My wife and I have been talking about finding a moving service. If we do, I will be sure to look for one that will offer cost estimates.
Thanks for these tips on how to find a good moving service. I agree that you want to compare estimates first. My husband and I are looking for a mover, so we’ll have to check their estimate first.
I like the tip that you gave to get a written estimate before you hire a mover. My wife and I have been talking about finding a moving service if we choose to move soon. If we do, I will be sure to look for one who will provide a written cost estimate.
Thanks for these tips on how to find a good moving service. I agree that you want to compare estimates first. My husband and I are looking for a moving service, so we’ll have to compare their estates first.
I like the tip that you gave to choose a moving service who will offer a cost estimate. My wife and I have been talking about finding a moving service to help us with our belongings. If we do, I will be sure to look for one who will offer a cost estimate.
My cousin is thinking of moving to a bigger house. It could be really helpful for her to get a professional to help move her into the new home. I like what you said about asking the movers how long they’ve been in business.
I like the tip that you gave to choose a moving service that will provide a cost estimate. My wife and I have been talking about finding a moving service for if we move closer to my work, and it would be important for us to know that we could find one who we could trust in. If we choose to find a moving service, I will be sure to look for one who will provide a cost estimate for us.
I like the tip that you gave to check the reviews of a moving service before you hire them. My wife and I might need to move this fall if my boss has me work at one of our other locations, and it would be important for us to know that we could be comfortable during the moving process. If we do need to move, I will be sure to choose a moving service with good reviews.
I like the tip that you gave to compare cost estimates before you hire a moving service. My wife and I have been talking about finding a moving service for this fall. I will be sure to look for one that will offer cost estimates, so we could compare them to find the best deal.
I like the tip that you gave to choose a moving service that will offer a written estimate before you hire them. My wife and I have been talking about finding a moving service to help us with our belongings if we decide to move this fall. If we do move, I will be sure to look for one who will offer a written estimate.
I like the tip that you gave to read the moving contract before you sign it. My wife and I have been talking about finding a moving service to help us when we find a new home to move to this fall, and it would be important for us to know that we could find one that will be good for us. If we decide to find a moving service, I will be sure to read the contract before we sign it.
My sister is thinking about moving with her children after having finalized her divorced, which took over a year because she is tired of her nosey neighbors and she wants to start a new life. She has not moved in almost 25 years, and she is a little nervous about doing it now with three young children, so I am trying to find tips to help her ease her nerves. In my opinion, it is so important that you mentioned that you should never sign any blank documents to be filled out later on by anyone, and also that you check their reviews, and I will make sure to help her do that so we can choose the best option.
I found it helpful when you said to ask a potential moving company questions like how long your business has been in service. I can see how know information about the company can help you decide if it is a right fit for you. My husband and I will be moving soon and will need to find some movers.
We are looking to move this winter, so I could reduce my commute time in the snow, and I want to make sure that we could find a moving service that we could know will be a good hire for our budget. I really love that you mentioned that you should compare different moving services based off of their price and reputation. When I look for one, I will be sure to compare the prices, so we could be confident that they will be the best option for our budget.
I thought that it was very helpful when you suggested to compare cost estimates of moving services before you choose to hire one. My wife and I want to find a service to help us get our stuff to our new home. When we look for a service, I will be sure to compare cost estimates.
My aunt is moving to a nursing facility, and we need to find a moving company. I liked how you talked about choosing a moving company that will offer a cost estimate. Thanks for the useful tips on choosing a good packing service.
Thank you for stating that you should read carefully any documents that the movers give you before signing anything. My sister just got a new job in a different state that requires her to move, so she needs to find a moving company to help her. I will definitely pass along all of your great tips and information to my sister so she can find a great mover.
It is helpful that you suggested to check the history of a mover when you are looking for one to hire. My wife and I have been talking about finding a moving service to help us when we sell our home. I will be sure to look for one with a positive history.
Thanks for mentioning to ask how long has the company been in business and how do you prevent property damage. My sister is thinking about hiring experts next week because she’s contemplating moving to a new city and can’t move everything by herself. I think it’s a good investment to hire reputable professionals that can help her relocate her belongings if she decides to move.
an excellent BBB rating
These 10 steps for selecting is a good mover that helped me a lot to find the right and professional mover for me. In this article, the writer has perfectly elaborated the 10 essential steps for selecting a good mover. Thank you.
It’s good to know that you should ask them how long they have been in business. My sister was telling me last night about how she and her husband want to look into finding a moving company to help them with moving to their new home in a couple of weeks, and they want to make sure that they can find the right service to help them. I’ll make sure to pass these tips along to her so that the can know what to look for when searching for a moving company.
It is also important to read the estimate letter properly. Unfortunately, there are a lot of moving companies with hidden fees. It is often when you sign up for one price but it ends up with another.
Thanks for this important tip that I should choose a residential mover that is licensed by the U.S. Department of Transportation as this will reassure me that the service I’m hiring is a real interstate moving company that can give quality services. I’m looking this up because I might need help when I move to another city next year because of my job. There are a lot of cheap services out there so I’ll be sure now to not get tempted by them.