Moving Companies - Movers Directory

You've decided to use a moving company to make your move from your existing home to your new one. That was an easy decision. But what do you look for in a moving company? How will you know which one to choose? There are a few things you will want to look for that will make your move smooth from start to finish.

A good moving company will have standards for customer service from the first meeting. Likely, your first contact with the moving company will be over the phone. Make sure you have a pleasant, helpful and respectful representative helping you through your questions and potential contract. You want to feel comfortable asking questions, no matter how trivial they may seem.

During your initial conversation, the representative will either conduct a room survey over the phone or set-up at time for an in-home survey. The purpose of the survey is to give you an accurate estimate for your move. For example, they will look at the square feet of the house you're moving from, how many bedrooms, family rooms, additional rooms there are, as well as if there are any big ticket items such as pianos.

Each room will be given a box estimate (how many boxes it will take to pack up the room) and how many individuals items there are i.e., beds, dressers, tables, chairs, etc. Once all the areas of the house have been surveyed, the representative will be able to tell you how many movers it will take to move your belongings and how long it will take them. Most moving companies will require a two- to three-hour minimum for their services. This ensures that if they are done sooner than they anticipated, they will still receive their minimum hourly fee.

Final contracts will need to be signed before the day of the move. There are typically three types of moving company contracts: binding, non-binding and not-to-exceed. Binding means that the quote is guaranteed and may change only slightly. Non-binding means that the moving company is basing the estimate on their years of experience and the quote may vary greatly. However, there are government regulations stating that it may not exceed 10 percent of the initial quote. Finally, not-to-exceed means it's a final quote; the bill can't be higher than the estimated cost.

You should feel comfortable calling two or three different companies and asking for quotes. The surveys and quotes should be free of charge. Once you can look at all the quotes side-by-side, you will likely see what moving company will work best for your move.

Checking Out Your Moving Company

If you want additional peace of mind that you are using a reputable mover, contact the Better Business Bureau in your area, www.bbb.org. They will be able to tell you of any discrepancies or complaints against the company. Also, the Department of Transportation requires that your moving company provide you a copy of the U.S. DOT publication, "Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move." If this is not provided when you inquire, you might consider calling another moving company.

Also, the moving company should have a registration number with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), called a USDOT number (US Department of Transportation Number). If a moving company travels only within one state, than they may not be registered. You can check online with www.fmcsa.dot.gov.

Below are some sites that contain user reviews of Allied Van Lines Agents:

Below are some sites that contain user reviews of North American Van Lines Agents:

Finalizing Details

Working with a moving company should provide you with a sense of security that your belongings are in the hands of a respectable company whose mission it is to provide a good moving experience to the customer. Once you've achieved that feeling of security, you focus on the other priorities that go into moving your home.