By Julie DeLong, A-1 Freeman Moving Group
Moving to a new state? Join the club--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 may have been across the street, but every single one of those families had to uproot everything they owned, load it onto a moving truck, and hope it reached their destination. If you are planning a move, there is no question you have been trying to find moving companies and have gone down the rabbit hole of terrible move stories on different websites. How do you supervise your residential move so that you're not preyed upon by moving scammers, and that your belongings arrive at your new residence in El Paso safe and intact?The first thing to do is to learn the vocabulary of the transportation industry. It is a ton easier to make sound decisions if you grasp the language of the business and the different 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 cubic weight, accessorial charge and bulky item, you will comprehend what they mean.
The FMCSA website is a good starting point in general, as it also outlines the rules, if you will, that motor carriers abide by. Any moving company you are considering must be registered with the US Department of Transportation, and possess a Motor Carrier and DOT number. You can view any issues lodged against a company on that site. The ones on Yelp and Reddit are more fascinating, but any grievances filed with the DOT tend to have a higher level of truth than complaints that are probably the result of the consumer just not paying attention.
In an ideal world, you would hire movers a couple of months ahead of time, and unhurriedly pack, take care of the family, and be completely on the ball when the guys on the truck show up. Reality is not so simple, and that is what moving scammers count on when they are promising you the moon—you're busy and focusing on a thousand things, so they appeal to your sense of urgency—here is a ballpark estimate and a handshake and we'll handle the paperwork 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 suggestion of a moving company. Or, if you are friends with anyone who has moved recently, ask them for recommendations. National moving companies usually have agents all over the country, so go ahead and ask your Uncle in Oklahoma who they used, even if you live in Texas. Use the FMCSA website to search moving companies registered for interstate moves, and Google them. Once you've reduced down the list to a few options, get written in-home estimates.
Make sure to look at the FMCSA publication, "Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move". When hiring a professional mover, it is a federal law that you are supplied with this 25-page brochure (or a link to it) that contains your rights, protection, and industry regulations.
It is crucial that you spot an untrustworthy mover BEFORE they load your household goods. Don’t forget, not every mover has your best interest in mind. So, keep these RED FLAGS on hand as you are talking to your potential mover.
Be wary of movers who:
It's better to be safe than sorry. So, make sure and check out your moving company before they load your stuff onto their moving truck! Remember that if it seems too good to be true it probably is, and since you are trusting these people with what is effectively your life, do your research and hire a reputable moving company, like A-1 Freeman Moving Group, who will take good care of you when you move to El Paso.
