There are so many unqualified people posing as professional movers. Here’s how rogue moving companies operate. They never ask to visit your house to do an assessment of the items you have. Come move day, they load the truck then remember, “Oh, there’s a cost we’d forgotten to add on the quotation”, then hit you with absurd additional costs. You can do nothing but pay because your goods are in their possession. Some do something worse. They make a break for it with all your goods.

The best ammunition you have against these rogue companies is to recognize them before you even give them business. So, here’s how to recognize a professional mover and shield yourself from a rogue one.

1. Table of Contents

   Toggle

   Brand Presence

This refers to the extent to which a brand is recognized by potential customers, and is correctly associated with a particular product.

Can you identify the movers of that company if they are put in a line up? Do they wear uniform? Do their packing boxes and crates bear the company logo? These are some of the things you should look out for.

 

2. Reviews

These are the client testimonials. Apart from what appears on the company website, look for reviews on their social media pages. Go further and ask about them in online forums. You’ll be surprised just how helpful this can be. Always be wary of companies with generally poor reviews online.

 

3. Payment terms

Do they ask for money upfront before even rendering the service? Run!! And do not look back. Seriously, run!

 

4. Documentation

Professional movers ALWAYS have documents that clearly outline the rights and responsibilities of both the customer and the movers. When choosing a mover, always ask about these documents. If the company makes light of them and says they are not necessary, strike them out of your list and move on to the next one.

 

 

5. Clear explanation of moving costs

Rogue moving companies give you a blanket cost that they cannot justify. You need to know how the cost is arrived at and how it is calculated. If this is not stated in your quotation, you need to be afraid. Very afraid.

 

6. In home estimate

If they do not insist on a survey of your home before giving you the quotation, just ditch them even before they get to ask how high you want them to jump. Reputable and professional movers should be willing to come to your home and do a complete walk-through in order to give you a proper estimate. A house survey is essential as it helps the company identify the volume of goods being moved and their nature. If they are only comfortable with an online survey when your house is bigger than a one bedroom house, just know that that is a red flag that is being waved furiously at you.

 

7. Physical address

This is a no brainer. If they do not have an office, you need to be very wary. Any serious business has a physical location where clients can pop in and ask questions. Being a moving company, they should also have storage facilities that are secure and free of bugs and rodents. Make sure you confirm the existence of these facilities before hiring them. You can never be too safe.

 

8. Insurance cover

Are the movers insured? If not, what happens if some tragedy happens and your goods are lost in transit? These are some of the questions you need to ask yourself before you commit yourself to any moving company. A professional company always has an insurance cover for cases like this. If your goods are damaged during a move and it is the fault of the movers, then you should be compensated. Always ask for the insurance company’s name and the policy number so that you can look it up and confirm.

 

9. Customer service

Professional movers know the value of good customer service. Before committing to a mover, call their official line and pay attention to how they answer your questions. If they are sketchy and don’t have the answers you seek, cross them off your list.

 

10. Proper moving tools

Professional moving companies do not compromise on quality. You have the right to inspect the items that will be used to handle your goods if you so wish. Even as you inquire about the move, the customer care agent should explain to you how the items will be handled and what will be used to handle them.A professional moving company also respects and gives priority to the safety of its movers.

 

Always ask questions. This is the only way you will know who are for real and who are looking to make a quick shilling out of you.

Can you think of any other signs? Comment below and let us know. Don’t forget to share.