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Before you hire a moving company for your big move, you should invest some time and effort into researching local companies. Not all moving companies are created equal. Check out online reviews of prospects and compare their price rates as well. If you play your cards right, you'll find just the right mover who'll be timely, professional and treat your valuables with the respect that they deserve.
The Website
One of the most important facets of a moving company is its web presence. Professional moving companies that are worth your trust will have a polished online presence that outlines up to date services, rates, packaging materials, contact information and USDOT, MC numbers. There should also be a wide range of positive online reviews that heap praise upon the company for jobs well done in the past. Don't trust a company without a website. In this day and age, if a moving company doesn't have a website, it likely has something to hide.
The Cost
Don't go with the first moving company that you find. Even if it has a well established online presence and positive reviews, it might not have competitive pricing. Do your research to find the best available price rate among a group of local movers. If you do your homework, you'll find out that moving companies have a wide range of price levels that can significantly differ between competitors.
Reach Out For More Information
Don't be afraid to pick up the phone and find out more about each company's moving services. If you have any special requests or would like to see their moving trucks or office, you should be able to do so. Keep in mind that phony moving companies won't have a brick and mortar office for you to inspect. Any reliable moving company should be more than willing to have you as a guest at their headquarters. Also, don't shy away from asking moving companies about the credentials of their laborers. Moving men should be experienced and they should have progressed through a training program. If the company is new to the business, find out when their personnel received their training.
Other Key Information
When you are on the companies' websites, write down their USDOT numbers. This is an important number as it can clue you in to the companies' merits. Plug those USDOT numbers into the FMCSA system and you'll be able to generate a report that indicates how reliable the companies are, the number of trucks they have available, how many drivers are on the staff and how many accidents have occurred involving each company's personnel and equipment.