Moving to a new home or office is already stressful enough without having to worry about whether you’ve hired the right moving company. With so many businesses listed in most locations, making an informed decision can become overwhelming fast.
To make the process easier on you, watch out for these three red flags that will let you know that the local moving company you’re considering isn’t the right choice.
They’re Not Licensed or Insured
Working with an unlicensed, uninsured moving company is hardly a good idea, but it’s not always easy to figure these things out. Much of the time, a shoddy moving company will lead potential customers to believe they’re fully licensed and insured even if that isn’t the case.
If you ask a local moving company for their business license number, they should be willing to provide it. The same is true when it comes to providing basic insurance information.
To verify whether a business is legitimately licensed, visit the Secretary of State’s website and search for the company by name. If you’re moving beyond state lines, you should also request the moving company’s DOT number to verify that the business holds a DOT license.
They Aren’t Very Professional
If you contact a local moving company to ask questions or request a quote, the person you communicate with should be polite, prepared, and professional.
Again, picking up on unprofessional behavior isn’t always straightforward, but if the representative you contact does any of the following, take it as a sign that this person is not very professional.
- The representative seems annoyed or bothered by your call.
- The representative takes a long time to retrieve information.
- The representative provides you with incredibly vague answers.
- The representative seems unfamiliar with even the most basic details involving the company he or she represents.
- The representative is blatantly rude, dismissive, or defensive.
One special red flag to note is that, unless the representative is brand-new to the company, he or she should be able to provide you with the company’s address, contact information, and references.
For extra security, look for reviews, both on the company’s website and on third-party websites to gauge the experiences other customers have had with the local moving company you’re evaluating.
They’re Not Upfront About Costs
A legitimate moving company should be able to provide potential customers with a cost estimate. However, to provide an accurate quote, the moving company should perform an in-person/virtual inspection of your belongings or collect information about the nature of your move before quoting a price.
If the moving company presents you with a lowball estimate without an inspection, or they’re only willing to offer non-binding estimates, you’ve got a problem. Without a binding estimate or binding not-to-exceed estimate, moving companies can double or even triple their service costs, then hand you an absurdly high bill at the end of your move.
If you’re moving in and around the Rock Hill or Charleston, South Carolina areas, reach out to Smooth Move. We provide an array of moving services, and our team has years of professional experience. Visit our website to request a quote, check out our rates, or view our FAQ page.