When it comes to hiring a company to assist you with your move, you can’t mess around. There are many relocation companies just waiting to scam you – and you must be a discerning consumer to avoid them.
Jennifer Saranow Schultz, a blogger for The New York Times, learned the hard way. “The last time I picked a mover, I remember doing a quick search online and then signing up with the first mover I called. I naively agreed over the phone to pay the movers by the hour. The job … ended up taking at least 10 hours and costing my husband and me more than a thousand dollars, much more than the initial estimate.”
Unfortunately, Schultz’s experience is all too common. Some of the most frequent complaints received by the U.S.’s Better Business Bureau include those regarding damaged or lost goods, higher final prices and relocation companies that held belongings until consumers paid outrageous prices.
It’s important for you to do your research so you don’t end up with a dud. Here are some basic points to research:
- Ask relocation companies if they are licensed and registered within your province or country. Check local government resources to ensure they’re telling the truth.
- Only engage movers that will give you a written, in-home estimate. This is the only way for a company to see exactly what you have to move and be able to give an estimate based on your specific inventory.
- Check online reviews. A company will always put its best foot forward when discussing its accolades with you. Do your own research and see what other customers have to say about specific relocation companies.
Once you have found at least three reputable relocation companies, compare them based on the following factors:
- Services offered. Some companies are smaller and only have the manpower to load and transport your belongings. If that’s all you need, great! But if you’re in need of more extensive services – such as car/boat transit, packing and unpacking, assembly/disassembly, and more – then you will want to find a larger company.
- Experience. When your belongings are at stake, it’s important to find a company that knows what it’s doing. Newer relocation companies may offer lower prices, but remember what you are paying for – inexperience.
- Cost. Of course, cost is always going to be a concern. Be wary of companies that quote you an estimate that’s far below the rest – some do this to rope you in, then hide extra fees that add up.
For a company that will bring you the best in services, experience and cost, consider North American Van Lines. Contact us today for a free quote!
