| Listed below are the five most important things | | | | are a new service which provides a storage |
| you can do to protect yourself from the growing | | | | container delivered to your home. You are allowed |
| threat of becoming victim to a moving company | | | | to pack at your own pace while the box stays |
| scam. The moving industry was deregulated in the | | | | near your home safe and secured. Once you are |
| early 90's and has been a shambles ever since. | | | | finished packing your moving pod can be delivered |
| Scam movers have taken over the industry and | | | | to your new home in the same city or another |
| the honest movers canhardly compete. Still over | | | | state. If you're not interested in loading or driving |
| 15% of Americans move each year for a total of | | | | a truck maybe you would prefer to hire a truck |
| over 40 million people. That's a lot of moving and | | | | and driver with you pack and load they drive |
| packing for these bad movers to rip people off. | | | | moving services. Packing supplies and services add |
| By following a few simple steps you can have the | | | | quite a bit to your move cost. Save money by |
| advantage over your movers and protect | | | | packing your own stuff and ensure it was safe |
| yourself, your family and everything you own. | | | | before you packed it. Beware, scam movers like |
| 1. The most important thing you can do to | | | | to blame you for damages to items already |
| protect yourself when hiring a moving company is | | | | packed. |
| to hire only licensed movers as regulated by the | | | | 4. Loading and unloading are the most dangerous |
| Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration | | | | times for you and your things. Packing your own |
| (FMCSA). By dealing with licensed moving | | | | things is the safest way but if you use a moving |
| companies you are entitled to certain Rights and | | | | service to pack your things is sure they use |
| responsibilities When Moving as outlined in this | | | | quality packing materials and supplies. Some |
| Federal Brochure ( You should be given a copy of | | | | moving companies have special rolls of tape that |
| this document by your moving company before | | | | are shorter and cheaper than regular rolls. They |
| you. Be certain you are dealing with an actual | | | | use cheap moving boxes which may not support |
| moving company and not moving brokers. Moving | | | | your stuff and they may under pack boxes in an |
| brokers are licensed and regulated by the FMCSA | | | | attempt to use more boxes and space on the |
| but are not required to have trucks. Most brokers | | | | truck. Moving blankets, hand trucks and wheel |
| are nothing more than a sales force booking deals | | | | dollys are all tools of the trade for a professional |
| for companies with trucks. As soon as they have | | | | mover but foreign objects to scam movers. Don't |
| your money they are no longer interested in you | | | | let them bust up your furniture and have them |
| or your stuff. You can read more about the | | | | pack and load your things properly. Most movers |
| horrors of the moving broker scam at | | | | will not be qualified to do things like setup your |
| 2. The best place to find a moving company is | | | | electrical equipment or some appliances. Take |
| through your local resources like the newspaper, | | | | care of these things yourself in order to make |
| yellow pages or by word of mouth. Ask local | | | | certain your home is safe from any potential |
| friends what movers they have used. Once you | | | | harm. |
| find a moving company you should ask for | | | | 5. After your mover has unpacked and delivered |
| referrals. Don't trust the junk you read on | | | | your goods you should check for any obvious |
| someone's website. Ask for a phone number to | | | | damages immediately. By law you have 90 days |
| the last 3 clients. If they won't produce a phone | | | | to file a claim with your mover but it's always |
| number than ask that they call you instead. If | | | | best to do so right away. Offer photo of video |
| they are unwilling to do so then you can expect | | | | evidence of the contents of your home before |
| their service wasn't so spectacular. Make certain | | | | and after the move as evidence of any damages |
| you get a written binding estimate based on 400n | | | | or items missing. Missing or stolen items should be |
| tariff weight and not cubic footage. Paying for the | | | | reported to the police right away. No matter what |
| actual weight of your household goods can save | | | | the movers say you have the right to complain |
| you money. Why let a crooked moving company | | | | about your items not arriving as they were |
| pack your stuff in boxes when they are charging | | | | supposed to. File any complaints with your |
| you by the cubic foot? They love the full service | | | | movers right away and follow through, if they |
| pack and move jobs because they charge more. | | | | resist then take it up with the FMCSA. Obviously |
| Be armed with knowledge like that available to | | | | this is not a complete list of things you should do |
| you at and know your rights. | | | | before you hire a moving company. Good sense |
| 3. The safest way to move your stuff is to | | | | and judgment should be used whenever you hire |
| move yourself. Self service moving has become | | | | any company to perform a service for you. |
| quite the rage in recent years and companies that | | | | When they are packing up everything you own |
| offer various self move services are fast | | | | and stuffing it in a truck for a cross country trek |
| becoming industry leaders. Moving trucks and | | | | you take extra precautions. Please review the list |
| drivers are as popular as ever with over 1 million | | | | of resources below for more information on |
| moving trucks rented per year. Moving containers | | | | moving and relocation services. |