Protect Your Move From Bad Movers

The media and salespersons warn against moving industry scams, but how do you protect yourself from it if you want to hire movers? After this read, you'll be able to hire long distance movers without worrying about hiring a bad mover or being scammed.

Protecting Your Move

Don't just get a quote and hire long distance movers — follow these steps to protect yourself from deceptive business practices:

Research Movers in Advance

Don't book your long distance movers last minute. Give yourself time to vet the company so that you can ensure they are reputable and have been in business for more than three years.

Read Your Estimated Contract

Is your price binding, non-binding, or volume based? Understanding how your long distance movers calculate costs will help avoid billing disputes with movers.

Accurate Estimates

Take your time with getting an estimate — don't just rush through it. Many times, price changes stem from rushed quotes. This can be the consumer's or the mover's fault, but you should both work together to ensure a reasonably accurate long distance moving quote.

Understanding Your Service Inclusions

Not every moving company operates the same, so it's important to understand what exactly you're paying for. Whether your move is budget friendly or expensive, chances are there's a reason behind it, so be sure to ask.

Prioritizing Service Quality Over Lower Rates

Consumers that focus on hiring the cheapest long distance moving option often regret it after realizing what a cheaper price comes with. When shipping your entire life in a truck across multiple states, the last thing you want to do is prioritize moving cheaply. Don't believe me? Read all the bad reviews of the cheapest brands and you'll find these budget movers come with horror stories online.

Reviewing Your Long Distance Movers

Don't make the mistake of being an impulse buyer. Once you get a quote, at the very minimum you should check your long distance movers' reviews to ensure they are reliable and trustworthy. When checking reviews, understand that some negative experiences can happen, but it shouldn't be an overwhelming amount of complaints.

Checking Your Mover's Website

Good movers have thorough websites, bad movers have basic ones. As simple as this sounds, it's important. Some of the worst moving companies have basic websites with minimal information online. If you overlook this, don't be surprised if you have what people call a "horrible moving experience."

Understanding Your Delivery Window

Long distance movers are not legally required to deliver your items straight and quickly. In fact, many brands take an average of 13-20 days for delivery. To protect yourself from this, you need to negotiate dedicated truck services and ask for a direct delivery.

Understanding Your Pricing Structure

Is your quote volume based or guaranteed? Many long distance moving companies provide non-binding estimates. This means your quote can potentially be more if your movers underestimated your costs. Many people get caught by surprise by this — unfortunately, it's difficult for movers to truly estimate the real weight or volume until labor is being performed.

Acknowledging Potential Fees

It's not just volume you have to worry about, there are other fees consumers should be aware of. For example, shuttle fees and potential additional fuel surcharges. Knowing these exist ahead of time means you won't be blindsided on move day — and a good mover will explain them upfront instead of hiding them until the truck is loaded.

Red Flags of a Bad Mover

While the steps above protect you, it also helps to know the warning signs of a mover you should walk away from. If you notice any of these, take it as a signal to slow down:

A Quote That's Too Good to Be True

If one mover's price is dramatically lower than everyone else's, that's usually the setup for a price increase later. A lowball quote isn't a deal — it's often bait.

Pressure to Sign Fast

A mover worth hiring isn't desperate for your sale. If a company rushes you to put down a deposit before you've had time to think, that pressure is a red flag.

Vague Answers About Fees or Delivery

If your estimator dodges questions about possible fees, delivery windows, or how your price could change, that's not a mover leading with honesty. A good company tells you what you need to know, not just what you want to hear.

No Written Details

Everything that matters — your price, your inventory, your delivery expectations — should be in writing. If a mover won't commit anything to paper, don't commit your belongings to them.

Protect Your Move Before You Sign

Protecting your move comes down to one thing: don't rush, and don't let price be your only deciding factor. Take the time to research, read your contract, check reviews, and ask questions. The movers worth hiring will happily answer everything and put it in writing. The ones to avoid will rush you, dodge your questions, and lure you with a price that's too good to be true.

At American National Movers, we'd rather set honest expectations upfront than win your business by hiding the truth — because a protected, informed customer is a satisfied one.