14 Ways to Avoid A Long Distance Moving Scam and Hire The Best Movers
Most people who inquire about state to state moving services have no idea how to hire a long distance moving company. This lack of knowledge can lead to hiring an unreliable mover or even a moving scam. But with the right information, you can take control of your moving process and ensure a smooth transition.
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The good news is that not all moving companies are shady. Even though it might not seem like it, there are many genuine long distance moving companies you can trust. By knowing what to look for in reliable movers and what to avoid in a fly-by-night company, you can empower yourself to make the right choice.
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This article will guide you in finding the best long distance movers for your relocation needs and budget, ensuring you can make your move with peace of mind, without worrying about choosing the wrong moving company.
Is Your Long Distance Moving Company Legitimate and Genuine?
Are your long distance movers honest and capable of providing you with a reliable moving experience? Follow these 14 simple steps to ensure that you're choosing the best moving company for your long distance move:
1. Years In Business
American National Movers supports smaller businesses, but a moving company that has been in business for less than five years can indicate a potential problem. We are not saying a new relocation company indicates a scam, but it can indicate communication and reliability issues with your movers.
Overall, it would help if you put your valuable possessions first over rolling the dice on hiring a pop-and-shop moving company. That said, investing in a long distance mover who has been in business for at least five years is best for the best results.
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2. Long Distance Moving Estimate Seem Too Good To Be True?
Did you get a quote that sounds too cheap to refuse? Watch out. Make sure that your estimated volume is accurate to ensure that your long distance movers are attempting to do a bait-and-switch moving scam.
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A bait-to-switch moving scam is when a cheap long distance moving company offers you a low quote and doubles the loading day costs.
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3. Reviews and Reputation
We probably scared you with the above bait-and-switch example, but it does happen. For instance, a moving company might offer a low quote, load your belongings onto the truck, and then demand a much higher price before unloading. You can avoid this and weed out some of the worst moving companies by doing a business name search online. It's easy to spot scam-like moving companies these days. All you have to do is Google their name.
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4. BBB Rating
Are your long distance movers on the BBB? It's a good idea to check and avoid any business with a rating less than a B at all costs. A moving company's reputation is a reflection of its past performance and customer satisfaction.
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A legitimate business constantly tries to find new ways to gain the consumer's trust. It is our job to ensure that our moving business is trustworthy so that we can earn your business. If a long distance moving company does not take pride in its reputation, it won't care about your furniture.
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Choosing a moving company with a good reputation can help ensure that your move goes smoothly and your belongings are handled with care.
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5. Website
Professional movers for state to state moves take pride in having a clean website with details about their services and business. When visiting this website, ensure that their domain names match the email address they use to send over the long distance moving quote. Many fly-by-night moving companies have shady-looking websites that do not match their email address.
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Signs of a shady website include poor design, spelling or grammatical errors, lack of contact information, and suspiciously low prices. If a website raises any of these red flags, it's best to look for another moving company.
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6. Pushy Sales People
Did a salesperson use several tactics to get you to reserve your long distance move immediately? Shady moving companies try to pressure consumers into booking the move immediately to stop them from doing enough research. Remember, always research your moving company before hiring them.
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7. Avoid Moving Companies With Limited Information
Are you having trouble finding reviews or anything about the mover you are considering? This is a major red flag. Any reputable long distance moving company will make it easy to find their website, reviews, and business information. Trust me, it is in our best interest to do so.
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8. Non-Binding Estimate
If you sign and agree to a non-binding long distance moving quote, you agree to potentially being charged more at the last minute. A non-binding estimate is an approximation of the final cost, which can change based on the actual weight of your belongings and other factors. A mover offering you a non-binding quote does not always mean they are scamming you, but it would be best to ask for a flat rate. A flat rate guarantees long distance moving costs and avoids hidden fees and bad experiences.
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9. Long Delivery Windows
This doesn't necessarily mean scam, but imagine paying thousands for a long distance move and waiting close to 21 days for delivery. Is hiring movers to go the distance with a delivery window that long? Probably not.
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10. Poor Communication
Moving companies that are scams likely will provide you with a poor customer service experience. This scam-like behavior includes missing phone calls and taking too long to respond to emails. Even if your mover is legitimate, a poor customer service experience will surely make you feel like you're being scammed.
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11. Fake Reviews
Pay attention to the dates of the reviews you're reading. Some moving companies might pay customers or another entity to inflate their reputation. Several reviews posted in a short time frame, especially if they all sound overly positive or use similar language, could indicate that the long distance moving company is not as reputable as it seems. Additionally, look for reviews that provide specific details about the customer's experience, as these are more likely to be genuine.
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12. Several 1 Star Reviews
If several customers are complaining about hidden fees, delayed delivery, or scams, choose another moving company. American National Movers has been in business for seven years, and we can confirm that negative reviews can be avoided. Negative reviews are usually posted when a customer is genuinely upset and the movers are unwilling to work with the customer. Other times it can be due to an service issue, which shows that the long distance movers lack in reliability.
13. Non-Refundable Deposit
You can pay a deposit to a long distance moving company for an out of state move. Just make sure the deposit is refundable. If the deposit cannot be refunded, look for a moving company that offers refunds if you need to cancel.
14. Follow Your Gut Instinct
While the previous tips offer objective criteria for evaluating movers, it's equally important to trust your gut. If you feel uncomfortable or uneasy about a company, even if they seem to check all the boxes, don't hesitate to move on. Your belongings and peace of mind are worth more than potentially saving a few dollars. Choose a mover that makes you feel confident and secure about your decision.