Top 5 Questions to Ask When Researching Movers

When it comes time to move, you should never wait until the last minute to find a moving company. Why? Because this is the exact reason why many homeowners fall victim to moving fraud, hostage loads, and movers who damage or lose their belongings. If you do not do the proper research when it comes to hiring a moving company, you could end up with a rogue mover. Even though the U.S. Department of Justice is cracking down on rogue movers, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) have been campaigning to educate homeowners or anyone moving on the moving process and how to hire the right moving company.

If you are looking to move to Corpus Christi, the BBB, the FMCSA, and our Corpus Christi movers want to make help set you up for success. Let us tell you what questions to ask moving companies to get you started.

What Questions to Ask Moving Companies

Registration number and Licenses

Depending on whether the moving company is strictly local or moves across state lines is what will determine whether or not they are registered with the FMCSA. If you are moving from one state to another, the moving company should be registered and have a USDOT number (US Department of Transportation Number). Check online with the FMCSA to make sure the mover is registered.

Subcontractors

Some moving companies will subcontract your move to a specialty mover or smaller company if needed. When coming up with questions to ask moving companies, ask if they do this and then get the information for that mover, so that you can research them and check their reviews and licensing.

Rates and Estimates

When calling each moving company that you have researched, most can give you a rate per pound that they go by. However, our local movers in Corpus Christi urge you to never use a rate over the phone as your indicator to hire that company. Make sure that the mover gives you an in-home estimate so that it can be as accurate as possible. If your move is considered long distance, a moving company may charge per pound; if moving a short distance, they may only charge per hour. Once the rate has been determined, the mover should give you the estimate in writing and it must include all charges. Then, you and the mover have to sign the detailed estimate to be in agreement.

Additional Fees and Transfers

Much like that of rates, other questions to ask moving companies is if they charge for other things, such as limited moving space at your new residence, awkward items, pianos, stairs, service elevators, etc. If you are moving long-distance, you will also need to ask whether or not the movers will have to transfer your belongings from one truck to another, increasing the chance of damage or loss.

Insurance

One of the questions to ask moving companies that you won't want to forget is if they provide insurance at an additional cost. You may also want to go outside of them and get third-party moving insurance so that you can make sure the insurance company backs you and not the mover.

Our Corpus Christi residential movers can help answer any questions you may have. Whether it's about our services, pricing, or additional questions to ask moving companies we may have not mentioned. Contact us today to learn our answers to the above questions before booking your move. We'll even include a free, no-obligation quote!