How to evaluate moving companies

So, you’re moving house and have made the sensible decision to enlist the help of professional movers. Knowing that your relocation will be handled by experienced professionals will certainly help reduce the stress and anxiety associated with the moving process, but to get a peace of mind, you need to be confident that your move will be in good hands – in other words, you need to be sure that you have hired qualified, experienced, and trustworthy movers who will take good care of your items and will perform your move in the safest and most efficient way possible.

But how can you know which movers are really good? There are a lot of moving companies out there and they all claim to be the best. How do you sift through them all and find the right moving partner for you – a company that will meet your needs and requirements and will provide quality service at a reasonable price?

Fortunately, there is a proven way to do that – by evaluating and comparing moving companies.

When you know how to evaluate a moving company, you will be able to quickly find out whether you’re dealing with reliable and experienced professionals or not – and whether the movers have what it takes to perform your move in a safe and efficient way. Then, it will be easy to choose the best movers for you.

Read on to find out how to evaluate moving companies and ensure the success of your relocation endeavor.

Evaluate moving companies based on estimates

Since the cost is likely to be the decisive factor in your choice of a moving partner, the first criterion to consider when evaluating moving companies should be the price quotes you receive from them. You will undoubtedly be looking for the lowest estimate, but choosing a mover based on the price alone can be a severe mistake.  

Different moving companies have different rates, but there is a standard in the industry on how much moving services should cost – so the estimates you receive should be around the same average price. If you get a quote that is considerably lower than the others, you should raise your guard – lowball estimates are red flags of moving fraud. It is common practice for unethical movers to offer low prices in order to lure unwary customers – and then vanish with the deposit, add exorbitant extra charges in the last moment, or hold their customers’ belongings hostage until they’re paid a hefty ransom.

To avoid such nightmare scenarios, you need to either discard offers that are too good to be true or at least carefully research the company to make sure you’re not dealing with scam artists.

Good to remember: When evaluating moving companies based on estimates, you should pay attention not only to the final price but to several other important things too:

• What extra services are included in the estimate? What are their rates? Are there any special conditions?
• Is it a binding estimate or not? In the case of a non-binding estimate, the quoted price can easily change;
• Did the movers perform a visual survey of your home? Quotes given online or over the phone are unlikely to be accurate;
• Does the moving company require a deposit? Demands for huge down payments (more than a few hundred dollars) signify moving fraud;
• What payment methods do the movers accept? If a company insists that you pay in cash only, it may be better to stay away from it.

Related: What are the red flags of moving fraud?

Evaluate moving companies based on reviews and ratings

When it comes to services – and moving services, in particular – customer feedback is the most important evaluation criterion.

If people are happy with the services of a moving company, it means that the movers have done a good job. And if a company usually performs well, then there is a high chance that it will do well with your move too.   

So, when evaluating moving companies, be sure to check what the customers have to say:

• Visit the websites of different moving companies and read customer testimonials – the reviews on the company websites will all be positive, of course, but they will show you the strong points of the companies;
• Visit reputable websites such as Yelp and MyMovingReviews that contain thousands of customer reviews to learn about other people’s experiences with different movers and get an idea which ones can be trusted and which ones should better be avoided;
• Use the social networks and different local forums to get feedback from people who have recently moved house.

Get as many opinions as possible, then go to the BBB website and check the movers’ ratings. The Better Business Bureau accredits businesses and assigns them cumulative grades based on their trustworthiness and quality of service. A good BBB rating means that the company adheres to the highest standards and best practices in the industry. Lower ratings signify unresolved issues or complaints against the company.

Evaluate moving companies based on their credentials and affiliation

Your first and foremost concern when evaluating moving companies should be their legitimacy – in order to protect your move, you need to make sure you’re working with fully bonded, properly certified and accredited movers:

• Registration and license – Intrastate moving companies need a state license, while interstate movers are required to be registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. You can easily verify the movers’ licensing information by visiting your state’s government website or the official FMCSA website. (See also: How to check a USDOT number);
• Insurance – Fully bonded and insured moving companies are liable for damage – they offer different insurance plans (so you can choose the liability coverage that works best for you and get proper compensation in case any of your belongings get lost or damaged while in the movers’ custody) and provide workers’ compensation and public liability insurance (so you won’t be held responsible for any accidents or personal injuries that may occur on your property during the moving process). So, when evaluating a moving company, it is crucial to find out whether the company is fully insured or not;
• Membership in a movers’ association – Esteemed movers’ organizations, such as state movers’ associations, aim to improve the moving industry by fighting scams and promoting good business practices. Membership in any of these associations is a guarantee that the company abides by the law, provides quality service, and upholds high ethical standards – so, it will be a definite plus when evaluating movers (See also: The ProMover program);
• Awards or accolades of service – If a company has received any awards of excellence in the field, it is a sign of professionalism and quality – so, the movers get bonus evaluation points.

Evaluate moving companies based on their experience

Experience is the next most important thing to consider when evaluating a moving company. The longer the movers have been in business, the better they know their stuff – they have dealt with a great number of relocation scenarios and faced a wide variety of relocation challenges, so they have become experts in their fields and you can trust them to find the best solution in any situation.

What’s more, if a moving company has remained competitive for many years, then it probably has a great track record – and that means a lot.

As important as the company’s history may be though, there are a couple other indicators to consider too:

• Does the company have enough full-time employees to handle the moving jobs? – You need to make sure that you’ll get a professional moving crew, not temporary workers who lack experience and don’t have proper training;
• Do they have the necessary equipment? – A fleet of different size moving trucks in good condition, utility dollies and furniture dollies, moving straps, furniture sliders, moving blankets, quality packing supplies, specialized tools, etc. You need to make sure that the movers have the specialized equipment that will help them do a better job and perform any required extra services.

Evaluate moving companies based on their ability to meet your needs and requirements

Even if a company scores well in all the above evaluation criteria, it may still not be the right company for you – in regards to your specific needs. When evaluating a moving company, you need to check if it:

• has a professional moving crew, an appropriate size moving truck, and all the necessary equipment available on your preferred moving date;
• can guarantee pickup and delivery dates and times that are convenient for you – or at least offer pickup and delivery windows that suit your needs;
• offers the specialized services you need – packing and unpacking, crating, disassembly and reassembly of furniture, appliance servicing, hoisting, shuttle services, split pick-up and delivery, storage-in-transit, etc.;
• has experience with whatever specialty items you may have for moving – antique furniture, grandfather clock, piano, pool table, hot tub, aquarium, etc.

Depending on the specific circumstances in your relocation case, a company may be perfect for you – or may not be suitable at all, regardless of how good it is.

Evaluate moving companies based on their customer service

Last but not least, when evaluating moving companies, you should look into their attitude and customer service.

Is the communication with your movers effective? Do they answer emails or messages sent through contact pages? How promptly do they reply? How do they respond to your questions and requests? Do they explain things thoroughly and in detail or give elusive answers and no definite information? Do they show any concern about your move? Do they offer useful tips and advice? Are they friendly and polite or rude and disinterested?   

These small details will tell you a lot about the company – and you will know whether you want to work with these people or not.

Good to remember: Be sure to ask the movers all the important questions regarding the company and the services they provide, their rates and tariffs, their payment requirements, etc. Then, ask about the specifics of your move – costs, timeframes, expected difficulties, special conditions, etc. The answers you get will be of great help when evaluating the companies. (And if a company avoids responding to your questions, then something is probably wrong and you should stay away from it.)

So, to sum it all up: How to evaluate a moving company?

Gather as much information about the company as you can, check other customers’ opinions, check with the authorities, research the company’s track record and complaint history, see if the movers can provide all the services you need, ask all the questions you need answers to, consider the costs, and make a list of all the things you like about a company and all the things that aren’t up to your standards. Compare the lists, weigh the pros and cons of each company, and trust your gut to pick the best moving partner for you. Good luck!