Moving into a new home is one of the most exciting events in our lives. But one false move – choosing the wrong moving company – can turn that dream day into a nightmare. This U.S. News article by Geoff Williams highlights some of the red flags you should be aware of when selecting your moving company.
According to recent census records, about 16.5 million households, or 38.7 million Americans, move annually. But that doesn’t mean we’re always good at choosing a moving company. There are many fly-by-night, unlicensed movers and enterprises that either intend to con you – or are too disorganized and inexperienced to offer you a good move.
So how do you know you’re about to give money – and all of your belongings – to a crooked or subpar moving company? These three signs should give you pause.
The price is much lower than the competition. Sad but true. Everyone wants a deal, and you can’t be blamed for going to a lower-priced moving company. And while finding an affordable mover doesn’t mean you’re about to be scammed, if you feel like you’ve landed an unbelievable deal, it probably is unbelievable.
The deposit is too high. Your mover may ask for a deposit fee, and that’s perfectly normal, says T.J. Peterson, social media coordinator for Oz Moving and Storage, a company in New York City that’s been around since 1993. “None should be above 10 percent of the job cost,” Peterson says, adding that in his company’s case, the cost is a flat $50 deposit. When you get over 10 percent, start to become wary.
You know very little about the company. Like the pricing, this can be tricky, too. You might think you know enough about a moving company when actually you don’t.
