Finding Movers Who Won’t Break Your Heart (And Your Belongings)

People are understandably skittish when it comes to hiring movers. Many ne'er-do-wells get into the business hoping to make an easy buck off their own labor. Unfortunately, this means that people get into business without the first clue of how to run one.

While these companies usually don’t last very long, they are disproportionately numerous and they leave a bad taste in the mouths of their clients. Here are some simple tricks that will tell you if you’re dealing with one of these terrible companies or if you’ve found some good people.

Look To The Representatives
The people who answer the phone for the local movers give you your first chance to evaluate the company. If a polite voice answers the phone with the company name and a chipper, “How may I help you today?” you know you may be on the right track.

If, on the other hand, you get a gruff, “Hello?” and a person who barely comprehends why you’re calling to waste their time, you know it’s time to look somewhere else. You may think this is an exaggeration, but these types of “businesses” exist, and they are typically made up of some guy in a garage who happens to own a truck big enough to do the job. You can do better. A lot better.

Look for Reputation
Word of mouth advertising has long been known to be the most powerful way to get your company’s name in the minds of the people. There’s a good reason for this. Normal people don’t have a reason to lie about the service they received.

The same will go for movers. Ask around. See who people used in your neighborhood and what they thought about the experience. Go with a company that has a good local reputation and has been in business for a while.

Nail Down The Price
A lot of movers (and other contractors) like to play silly games when it comes to giving you a price. They don’t always mean harm—sometimes it just comes down to simple incompetence—but it can be frustrating and there’s really no reason to put up with it.

There are enough companies out there that can give you a straight answer about their rates without trying to decipher the codes and doublespeak the lazy scammers will put you through. If a company can’t tell you up front how much they are going to charge you—putting it in writing—then don’t hire that company. It’s that simple.