Questions To Ask Before Hiring A Mover
Published by Chris Townsend
Questions To Ask Before Hiring A Moving Company
Before you hire a moving company, there a few important questions you should ask them to make sure they’re properly licensed, are who they claim they are, and how their business operates. The five questions listed below will help you to best determine whether or not a company is a good fit for you and your moving needs based on their answers.
Are You Licensed Through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)?
Moving companies are required by law to be registered with the U.S. Department of Transportation, as well as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), which is a wing of the U.S. DOT. By asking a mover this question, you can ensure that they are a properly licensed moving company and request their USDOT number as well as their MC/MX (motor carrier) number. With this information, you can confirm that they have operating authority, determine whether they’re a broker or carrier, find safety information, and find out where their main office is. In order to research moving companies after they’ve given you their licensing information, you can use the FMCSA’s Company Snapshot database to find official information from the organization that regulates the industry.
Do You Operate As A Broker Or Carrier?
Some moving companies operate as a broker, which is essentially a middle man that only arranges your move on your behalf, rather than executing the move themselves. The companies that do the actual moving are known as carriers, which is an important distinction. While brokers have a place in the moving industry since a lot of carriers don’t have the time or resources to arrange the logistics on their own, some customers prefer to work directly with the company that will handle the move. If you have this preference as well, you can quickly figure out which type of company you’re dealing with by asking them this direct question.
Three Movers provides local, long distance, and cross country moving services for individuals, families and businesses throughout the U.S. No matter where you’re moving to or from, we’re here to help with reliable moving services at a fraction of the cost of our competitors! If you’d like a FREE price quote, contact us today at (888) 202-0036 or use our online cost estimate form if you’d like an instant quote online! No payment or obligation is required—just tell us what you need and when and we’ll respond with a FREE estimate!
Do You Provide Binding Estimates?
There are two types of estimates in the moving industry: binding and non-binding quotes. A non-binding quote provides movers with some wiggle room when they give you an estimate, meaning they can actually charge you a higher price than you’re quoted (up to 10% more). By contrast, a binding estimate means that you’ll only be charged what you’ve been quoted by the company, without any overages. If you expect to get a binding estimate, most moving companies will want to visit your residence to assess how much work and what size truck they will need to execute the move so that they can get a more accurate idea of how to price it.
What Is Your Process For Handling Complaints & Damages?
How a moving company handles complaints and damages can indicate their level of professionalism and how committed they are to making sure their customers have a good experience. Every mover must carry insurance that protects you against loss or damage, but how they arbitrate that process can be different from one company to another. If they are forthright and fair about how they handle the process of claims against them, that generally speaks to a more professionally run outfit. If they are unclear or won’t provide details, it’s advisable to move on to another company.
Do You Offer A Discount Program?
Not all movers offer a discount program, but there are many that do. In a lot of cases, however, the companies that do offer discounts do not heavily advertise this information. If you take the time to ask about discounts, you can often times save money instantly on the cost of your move. Common discounts include military discounts, AAA discounts, and multiple service discounts. You never know if they’re available, so be sure to ask before you get a cost estimate!
