Moving is a major undertaking for most families. To make it easier, you may be looking to hire a moving company Northwest Arkansas residents can trust to help with packing, moving and even unpacking. However, be careful. Choosing the wrong mover can cost you a lot of money and hassle that you don’t need in the middle of a move.
Why You Need to Be Careful Selecting a Mover
Not all movers are the same. Most companies you find out there are experienced and professional. Unfortunately, there are a few that do not have these qualities. Some of them are inexperienced, some are uninsured, and some are downright criminal.
Fortunately, there are certain red flags for which you can watch to filter out the bad and ensure you are going with a reputable mover.
- Refuses or does not offer an on-site inspection. Doing an estimate without looking at the contents of a home is a major red flag. There is no way the estimate is accurate.
- Demands a large deposit or cash payment up front.
- Asks you to sign incomplete documents. With your signature, you are agreeing to anything they put in the blank spaces.
- Does not provide a written estimate. Estimates in the moving industry should always be in written form.
- Does not provide informational booklets from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. These booklets are required by federal law.
- Does not have a local address or cannot provide insurance or registration information.
- Says they will determine charges after loading. Once loaded, they can hold your items until you pay whatever they want to charge you.
How Can You Protect Yourself from Fraudulent Movers?
You can take steps to ensure that you select a professional insured moving company Northwest Arkansas residents can trust.
- Get at least three estimates. Getting more than one will help you weed out an abnormally high or abnormally low estimate. An abnormally low one is an indication that a mover is trying to low ball other estimates. They will likely add unexpected charges to make up the difference.
- Verify that the mover is registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. You can also call this department to get the mover’s insurance and licensing information.
- Read all documents before signing them. The mover will give you a number of documents. Read each one carefully and have them answer any questions to your satisfaction before signing.
- Understand the liability insurance the mover is providing. Movers offer different levels of coverage. Most estimates include basic liability that will pay a set amount for each pound of items being moved. But, this type of coverage may not be enough. Full Value Protection will cover the replacement cost of anything lost or damaged. If the mover doesn’t offer the option, look elsewhere.
On Moving Day
Even if you go through all the hoops of finding a reputable mover and check them out thoroughly, you may find out on moving day that the mover is trying to pull something shady.
If the mover shows up in a rental van instead of one with the moving company logo on it, don’t go any further.
If the mover starts making comments like, “You have so much more stuff than we thought,” stop things in their tracks and demand a new estimate. Otherwise, your stuff may end up on the back of the truck, and you will have to pay what they demand to get it back.
To get an estimate from the best moving company in Northwest Arkansas residents can trust, contact Winter Moving & Storage in Bentonville, Arkansas.
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