Relocating This Summer? Hire a Reputable Moving Company ASAP

Remember when you could move your household with some friends and a van? Now, looming larger than a triple-length moving truck: a relocation that involves a boatload of furniture, enough boxes to fill a small warehouse, a piano, and so, so much junk—how did we get all this stuff? So, like most grownups, you’ll need to hire mover, and don’t wait to do it. The best companies book up quickly, especially during the summer months.

A top company should take care of your possessions and your spaces and respect your time. Bay Area Consumers' Checkbook’s ratings of area moving companies will help you find a business that will do a good job. Until August 20, Patch readers can access Checkbook’s ratings of area moving companies for free via Checkbook.org/PatchSFB/Movers.

Think first about what services you need. You’ll save a lot of money by doing some or a lot of the work yourself, especially packing—on most local moves, paying a moving company to box your belongings will double your costs.

For whatever help you need, be sure to get prices from several companies. Estimates should detail the services to be performed and include an inventory of items to be moved; otherwise, on moving day you may get into a dispute with a mover who wants to charge extra for work you thought the estimate included.

Checkbook’s undercover shoppers collected prices for three local moves and three long-distance moves, and for each job found dramatic company-to-company price differences. For example, prices quoted to pack and move the contents of a four-bedroom house from Fremont to Union City ranged from less than $1,935 to $5,000. And to move 9,000 pounds of goods from Pacifica to Seattle, price quotes ranged from $5,700 to $16,000.

To get a good price and reduce the chances of subsequent hassles, request written estimates from several movers for your job. Make sure each estimate describes what you want moved. Also make sure the estimate specifies the number of crew members on the move, the hourly rate for the crew, and, for longer moves, the rate per mile per hundred pounds.

If you need storage services, or if your goods will be placed into storage while awaiting transfer during a long-distance move, get prices for it and obtain documents indicating where the goods will be stored and check on the charges. If possible, inspect the storage facility. Also get proof that insurance will cover your belongings against theft, fire, and other risks while in storage, because insurance for goods in transit won’t cover them during long-term storage.

During your move, be on the scene—and attentive—when your belongings are loaded and unloaded. Make sure the moving company prepares an inventory of your belongings. Carefully read the bill of lading before you sign it. Later, as your goods are unloaded, check the condition of each item. Focus on inspecting cartons containing especially fragile or valuable items. Don’t sign the inventory or any other paper without first noting any damage that has occurred. Signing a document that does not note damage will make it hard to collect for damage later.

If you find damage after the movers leave, notify the company promptly; and keep the broken items and packing materials as you found them in the box, so the mover’s claims representative can check them.

Beware of brokers, many of which operate online, often disguising themselves as local moving outfits. These companies do not own or operate any trucks or employ movers; they simply collect a deposit and arrange for a moving company to handle your move. The problem with such arrangements is you have no control over who actually performs the work. Since the broker chooses the mover, you may get stuck with an inferior outfit. And because the broker typically collects its fee upfront, it may be uninterested in mediating disputes with the mover.

The moving industry is also plagued by scammers who take advantage of people who are in a rush and don’t know how to find a reputable mover. The crooks advertise heavily on the internet to get prime placement on search results. A quick online search is not enough to verify that a company is legitimate. Because moving scams are so lucrative, criminal enterprises have created sophisticated operations masquerading as legitimate businesses. They claim to have an office in your area, but these are typically virtual offices or mail handling services. They also tend to change names frequently, which makes it difficult for consumers to get reliable information about them. If you hire one of these crooked companies, there’s a good chance your goods will wind up lost or stolen, or that the company will charge exorbitant fees for the return of your stuff.

Checkbook’s ratings will help you identify a trustworthy local outfit if you’re moving within the area. Many good local companies handle long-distance relocations, or work with national networks to coordinate them. For long-distance moves, avoid companies that are not registered with the U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, which regulates interstate and international movers. Use the FMCSA’s database to check if an interstate mover is licensed and insured (as required), and to see its complaint history.

Pay with a credit card if possible, so you can initiate a chargeback from your card issuer if the company doesn’t do the job properly and won’t make things right. Also be aware that most peer-to-peer payment apps, such as Zelle and Venmo, do not offer the fraud protection of a credit card, so this is a risky way to pay for goods and services.

Kevin Brasler is executive editor of Bay Area Consumers’ Checkbook magazine and Checkbook.org, a nonprofit organization with a mission to help consumers get the best service and lowest prices. It is supported by consumers and takes no money from the service providers it evaluates. Patch readers can access Checkbook’s ratings of moving companies free of charge until August 20 at Checkbook.org/PatchSFB/Movers.