Careful with cheap movers – beware of moving scams!

All people want to reduce the cost of our move as much as possible. This is perfectly understandable. You’re starting a life in a new place, so you will need all the money you can save. However, this is not the reason to hire very cheap movers just because they are cheap. Service is equally important as the price if not more. You wouldn’t want to hire cheap movers only to discover they don’t have the best moving insurance that covers damage done to your items. In some cases, it’s cheaper to hire medium price-range, but reliable movers, than to hire cheap movers and risk having to pay for the damage to your things. All in all, you should avoid cheap movers as much as you should avoid really expensive ones. There are many reasons a moving company can be very cheap and none of them are very pleasant.

Do your research to avoid moving scams

One way to avoid fraud is to take special care. If you do your research well and get good referrals, you could find an affordable mover with a good reputation. However, make sure you’re ready to compromise. It’s better to pay a little more for the movers than to risk damage to your items. Apart from this, most low-cost movers don’t have the right training to handle some items. They might not even have the proper equipment to move your items. Your precious grandfather clock can end up in the hands of an inexperienced or fraudulent mover. Better to know who you’re dealing with! So, come to the table prepared. Gather as much info on your movers as possible before you decide to hire residential movers. Remember that your items might be in danger if you hire low-cost movers.

Cheap movers may not have a proper address

Do you want to know how to avoid moving scams? Do the research. Most cheap moving companies are also frauds. They are only looking to take your money or items. For this reason, it is really important to protect your money and belongings. First things first, find all the necessary information about your potential moving company. This would include the following.

• The phone number and email address
• A moving company’s address – the moving company should have its own address not under a personal name
• Licenses – all reputable long-distance movers should have a license issued by the FMSCA while local movers should have a license issued by the local government
• Business card   

In addition to this, visit your potential moving company. Check the condition of their office and company. Pay attention to their employees. Do they wear a uniform? Do they seem professional? 

Moving reviews and referrals

The best way to avoid moving scams is to ask your family and friends for recommendations. You know they will not try to scam you. In addition to this, when you come as a referral, you can get a discount. However, sometimes, you have to find a good moving company online. If you do not have another option, search for moving companies on the Internet. When you find a couple of companies that you like, it is time to read moving reviews. People like to leave comments, especially in this day and age. For this reason, find a couple of moving reviews and see if people are generally happy with moving services provided. Try to not fall for overly positive reviews. Even cheap moving companies can fake reviews. Therefore, if you read repetitive reviews about the same moving company, consider those fake.   

Moving quotes and estimates

There must be a reason why a certain moving company offers such moving quotes. Is it because they are frauds? Sometimes, moving companies can be cheaper because they offer discounts at the moment. This is the only situation where you can hire cheap movers. In addition to this, pay attention to estimates. What type of estimate your movers are offering? Do they offer both binding and non-binding estimates? Most fraudulent movers offer only non-binding estimates. The reason is simple. A non-binding estimate is not an official agreement. Therefore, movers can change your moving costs quite easily under the pretense of additional costs. You will most likely end up paying much more than you hoped for. For this reason, find a moving company that offers a binding estimate or not-to-exceed estimate. In both cases, you will not pay more money than initially said. 

Moving contract

You should not let movers take your items if you did not sign a moving contract. It is very important that you receive a copy of your contract before your moving day. For this reason, read carefully your moving contract. Ask for clarification if you do not understand some parts of your moving contract. In addition to this, your moving contract should explain the entire moving process. This means movers should list all the services provided, the weight of your items, delivery date, insurance, your personal information, policies regarding filing a claim, and the price of your move. Check if your moving contract has all the information listed above. If not, then ask movers to add them. Do not sign a half-empty moving contract or believe movers when they say you will work out the details later. You should work out those details before the moving day. 

Get insurance when dealing with cheap movers

Since the moving business flourished, there have been more and more moving scams. The best way to avoid them is to hire respectable movers. However, it can be difficult. The best thing to do then is to delay your move, but this is not always possible. So, sometimes you need to settle for a moving company you’re not 100% sure about. So, since you’ll want to move as cheaply as possible, you might decide to hire a low-cost moving company. Then, get some additional insurance for our items. Getting additional insurance should be a thing normal for any relocation, but it’s especially important when you’re hiring cheap movers. So, make sure you prepare your moving budget to cover additional insurance costs. The insurance should be against scams, but it also should cover any damage to your items. Since you’re hiring cheap movers you’ll need to be prepared for everything. 

Be present during the move if you choose cheap movers

Even though you might just end up getting in the way, you should be present on a moving day. Not only will this reduce the chance of getting scammed, but it will also make your movers work harder. It will be hard to dilly dally when the person who hired you is watching. You can also offer to help your movers. For example, clearing the path so they will not trip over moving boxes, press the bottom for the elevator, and similar. However, make sure you’re fair to your movers, as well. Don’t push them too hard, and allow them to do their work. Remember, you’re there to make sure they don’t try to scam you. In addition to this, you can offer refreshments and food to your movers, especially during hot summer days.  You can clear up one corner where movers can take a breath, rest for a couple of moments, and return to work. 

How do you feel about the representative?

One of the most important ways to notice scam when you’re hiring low-cost movers is to pay close attention to their representative. You can learn a lot about the company by looking closely at the man they chose to represent them. Any cheap mover can get someone to be the rep, but only those who are reputable will take care of who they choose for the job. First, pay attention to their clothes. As mentioned, movers should have an official uniform. If they wear casual everyday clothes, be suspicious. Then, especially pay attention when you’re bargaining with them. You’ll need to keep your eye on their offer as well as their actions. This may prove hard to do, but with the help of this psychological article on how to avoid getting ripped off, you might be able to do it!

Should you hire low-cost movers?

In the end, it falls down what you need to move and how soon. Affordable movers can be good for short distances, but risky on an interstate move. While some more experienced may be too costly for the relocation you had in mind. All in all, instead of going for the cheapest mover, consider trying to find a good moving company online. Asking your friends and family for recommendations is always the best option, but if they cannot help, ask Google. You can still find affordable movers who are reputable and reliable. These are the people you can count on. Do not get discouraged because they are many reliable moving companies who value their customers and want to help them with their relocation.