Remember, before you hire professional movers the first decision you have to make is how to find reputable moving companies. Just spending a small amount of time researching this subject can really pay off. The first thing to do is get referrals which will give you the best leads right from the start. Getting referrals on moving companies is a lot safer than just picking one out from the yellow pages in your phone book.
The second thing you should know is that moving companies are regulated by the federal government and by state and local laws. If you are going to move out of state then you will need to make sure they have the proper licensing from the Department of Transportation (DOT). Local movers do not need licensing by DOT. Local moving companies may be required to have certain licenses in certain states. Also, the moving companies should be bonded and insured. The legitimate moving companies are bonded and insured for financial stability.
Next you should find out if the moving companies have had any complaints filed against them. You can use the U. S. Department of Transportation website where you can find links to look up individual moving companies. You can also use your Better Business Bureau to research your movers. If there are any complaints pay attention to how the company resolved the issue.
Professional movers will come to your home and give you an in-home estimate. Some movers can give you an estimate over the phone or internet nowadays too. However unless the movers actually take a physical inventory don’t count on the estimate being accurate. You should always get a few estimates from different movers and make sure you request an in-home visit. You’ll also get a better feel for the way the movers conduct business this way too. Price is also obviously very important in selecting movers. Other factors to consider are safety and reliability. You should be wary of extremely low estimates because this can be a sign that the movers are either inexperienced or untrustworthy.