Top 7 Red Flags When You’re Picking a Moving Company
Moving is already a pain in the neck, right? Involve a sketchy moving company, and suddenly you’re living out a bad reality show. There are good movers out there, don’t get me wrong—they’ll treat your grandma’s China like it’s the crown jewels, wrap your weird lamp collection like precious artwork, and even give you a self storage unit if you’re between places. They’ll label every box like they’re prepping for a rocket launch, and let you decide what goes where. But then there are the duds.
Check Out How You Spot the Wrong Mover Before They Run Off with Your Stuff
- No On-Site or Virtual Estimates: Any legit Packing and Unpacking Service will want to see what you’ve got, either in person or over video, before throwing numbers at you. Make them come over or FaceTime you, then get it in writing.
- Ridiculously Cheap Quotes: If the Commercial Movers quote you a price so low it makes you wonder if they’re joking, they probably are. These folks love to lure you in, then jack up the price later when your stuff is basically held hostage. Do yourself a favor: Get a few quotes, and if one looks like a clearance sale, walk away.
- No License or Insurance: If they can’t cough up proof of a license or insurance, what are they hiding? In the US, interstate movers need a USDOT number. No paperwork? No deal. Ask for receipts—literally. Don’t just take their word for it.
- Huge Upfront Deposits: Some office movers ask for a little upfront to hold your date. Fine. But if they want a fat wad of cash before doing anything, it’s sketchy. Most honest companies get paid once your stuff arrives safely. Rule of thumb: Don’t give more than 20% up front. Even that’s kind of pushing it.
- No Real Address or Website: If their only “office” is a P.O. Box, or their website looks like it was built in 2002 by someone’s nephew, beware. Real businesses have real addresses, decent websites, and more than just a burner phone. Stalk them online. Check reviews, find their office on Google Maps, whatever it takes to identify them.
- Unmarked or Rental Trucks: If the moving crew shows up in some sketchy, unmarked van or a U-Haul, that’s a big nope. Legit movers have their own trucks with logos—none of this witness protection stuff. Just ask what kind of truck they’ll use. If they dodge the question, you’ve got your answer.
- Bad (or Zero) Reviews No reviews: Don’t fall for a wall of suspiciously glowing testimonials—some residential movers get creative, if you know what I mean. Check places like Yelp, Trust Pilot Reviews, Google, BBB. Look for patterns, not just a couple of random reviews.
Moving is stressful enough without some fly-by-night operation making it worse. Watch for these red flags—super low prices, no papers, shady trucks, radio silence online—and you’ll save yourself a world of headaches. And hey, maybe you’ll even get all your stuff to your new place in one piece.
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