By Julie DeLong, A-1 Freeman Moving Group
Moving across the country? You are not alone--last year over 3 million Americans moved to another state to a new residence. A portion of those moves were across the country and others might have been across the city, but every single one of those families had to uproot all their stuff, load it onto a moving truck, and hope it reached their destination. If you're contemplating a move, there's no question you've been researching moving companies and have gone down the rabbit hole of horrible move stories on review sites. How do you supervise your residential move so that you're not duped by moving scammers, and that your things arrive at your new residence in Killeen safe and sound?Start by learning the vocabulary of the trucking industry. It is much easier to make sound decisions if you comprehend the language of the business and the diverse business models of moving companies. This glossary of terms, found on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration website, helps you familiarize yourself with Mover-speak so that when you hear terms like storage-in-transit, accessorial charge and linehaul, you will understand what they mean.
The FMCSA website is a terrific commencing point in general, as it also spells out the rules of the road, if you will, that licensed carriers follow. Any transportation provider you're considering must be registered with the US Department of Transportation, and carry a Motor Carrier and DOT number. You can look for any complaints against a company on that site. The ones on Yelp and Facebook are more amusing, but any issues filed with the DOT usually have a higher level of validity than complaints that are likely the result of the consumer just not paying attention.
In a perfect world, you'd employ movers a couple of months prior to your move, and casually pack, supervise the family, and be completely prepared when the moving van shows up. Reality isn't so easy, and that is what moving scammers rely on when they are promising you the moon—you're sidetracked and focusing on a hundred things, so they appeal to your sense of urgency—here is a rough estimate and a handshake and we will talk about the details later. This is a definite way to never see your furniture again, unless you want to buy it back off of Craigslist.
Rather, ask your realtor for a name of a moving company. Or, if you are acquaintances with anyone who has moved not too long ago, ask them for recommendations. National moving companies normally have locations all over the country, so you can ask your Uncle in Oklahoma who they used, even if you live in Connecticut. Use the FMCSA website to look up movers registered for interstate moves, and Google them. Once you've reduced down the list to a few options, schedule a time to get written in-home estimates.
Make sure to review the FMCSA publication, "Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move". When hiring a professional mover, it is a federal law that you are provided this 25-page pamphlet (or a link to it) that outlines your rights, protection, and industry regulations.
It is crucial that you spot a rogue mover BEFORE they have your household goods. Don’t forget, not every mover has your best interest in mind. So, keep these RED FLAGS closeby as you are interviewing your potential mover.
Be wary of movers who:
It's better to be safe than sorry. So, make sure and verify your moving company before they load your belongings onto their moving van! Remember that if it seems too good to be true it probably is, and since you're trusting the moving company with what's effectively your life, do your investigation and select a reputable moving company, like A-1 Freeman Moving Group, who will take good care of you when you move to Killeen.
