The White Glove Moving Guide: How To Identify & Avoid Common Moving Issues or Scams

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Unfortunately, the moving industry had gotten a bad rap in the last few decades. There are horror stories about moves going bad. Moving is one of the most stressful things a person can go through. Unscrupulous movers can really complicate an already stressful situation. 

So the next question is, how do I find a reputable moving company? Having performed thousands of moves for happy clients since 1988, White Glove Moving and Storage wanted to illuminate on some ways to make sure your move goes smoothly and there are no surprises or issues on your next move.

Do your research!

The first defense in guarding against an issue on move day is to do your research. A thorough investigation using the proper sources will uncover a lot of useful information. 

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration published “Your Rights and Responsibilities When you Move”. This booklet is required to be given out by every moving company to consumers. It is a fantastic place to start your research and understand the jargon potential moving companies may use. 

So the next question is, how do I find a reputable moving company? Having performed thousands of moves for happy clients since 1988, White Glove Moving and Storage wanted to illuminate on some ways to make sure your move goes smoothly and there are no surprises or issues on your next move.

Do your research!

The first defense in guarding against an issue on move day is to do your research. A thorough investigation using the proper sources will uncover a lot of useful information. 

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration published “Your Rights and Responsibilities When you Move”. This booklet is required to be given out by every moving company to consumers. It is a fantastic place to start your research and understand the jargon potential moving companies may use. 

You may use the Department of Transportation – Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Safety and Fitness Electronic Records  (SAFER) System to look a company up by name or DOT number. It will advise if the company is up to date on it’s licensing as well as easily navigate to check on the company’s insurance status. 

It’s also important to check a company’s online presence. No moving company is going to have perfect reviews, but looking for a company with a lot of reviews spanning over a larger period of time is a sure sign the company is established. Look at how the company responds to reviews and the company’s overall rating. Check at a number of review sites whether Yelp, Google, Angie’s List

Most importantly, ask your friends and family for recommendations. If you are using a realtor, as your realtor if they have any experience in dealing with local reputable moving companies. 

Get a visual estimate!

If you are moving more than a select few items, it is important to have a representative do a visual inspection of the home being moved. It allows the mover more perspective and insight into the logistics of your move and actual size and weight of your pieces. It will also allow the mover to review things like carrying distance, doors and access to the home, where to park the truck, and a number of other factors that an experienced mover will do to avoid an issue. White Glove Moving and Storage will take a detailed inventory list during a visual estimate and provide that list of items to the client. 

Estimates based on weight or cubic feet.

If you were asked how much all the goods in your home weigh, would you have any idea how to answer? Even those that have been in the industry for a lengthy amount of time would have a difficult time answering that. 

Many companies will provide an estimate based on a set weight of your shipment. Once the truck is loaded, they bring it to a weigh station and if the weight is increased, your price is often increased as well, sometimes significantly. That additional money is then demanded prior to unloading the truck. This is often the case when you hear of a moving company “Holding Someone’s Goods Hostage”. 

White Glove Moving and Storage avoids this issue altogether by providing binding long distance quotes based on the inventory. Our estimators take a detailed inventory list and based on that list and the destination, provide a written binding estimate. At the end of the day, no matter how much the truck weights or how much space the items take up in the truck, if the inventory list matches your estimated list, your price will not change. 

This can also be very helpful for budgeting and deciding if there are any items that you should get rid of. White Glove Moving can tell you how much a particular item would add to the estimated cost or would potentially remove. Our clients that find this particularly helpful when moving across the country. They may have a queen bed that is 10 years old and soon in need of being replaced. Understanding the cost to ship it across the country may sway my client to leave it behind and get a new one at delivery. It is the most transparent way of getting a binding estimate. 

Companies requested a large deposit

Reputable moving companies may ask for a small deposit to secure a move date. This is often more to have the client feel secure in booking a mover as well as guard against any last minute cancellation costs. 

Brokers often ask for a large percentage of your move upfront, often times non-refundable. Understand what your mover’s cancellation policy is prior to giving a deposit, and be weary of any company asking for payment upfront, or a certain percentage of your move cost prior to doing any work for you. 

White Glove Moving and Storage charges a deposit no more than $500 to secure a move date and asks for 60% of the estimate upon completion of the pickup (in the event of a long distance move), and the balance upon arrival at destination. For a local move, to avoid issue, White Glove Moving only takes payment upon the moving teams arrival at the delivery location. 

The average American will move 11 times in his/her life and over 40 million Americans move every year. Doing your research and thoroughly reading all the paperwork and contracts provided by a moving company will help make sure your move is completed without issue. 

White Glove Moving and Storage prides itself on honesty, integrity and transparency. We don’t want to just move you, we want to be your mover for life. 

Call the no issue mover – White Glove Moving & Storage.  

Getting You One Step Closer to Home

201-653-1511

info@whiteglovemoving.us