One of the biggest reasons for moving anxiety is a sense of complete unfamiliarity with the process and equally the companies who are doing it. People are hoarders by nature and are not comfortable with letting complete strangers handle their belongings. This being said…. how do you tell if you are dealing with a moving company you can trust?
When using the internet to research moving companies, you are guaranteed to find more than one option. Here are a few basic questions to keep in mind:
1. What is the Difference Between an Asset-Based Mover and an Internet Broker?
The easiest way to distinguish between a mover and an online broker is to check with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Also, check and see if they belong to the American Moving and Storage Association (AMSA). These are two important and easily verifiable credentials for any mover. Movers are federally regulated, whereas online brokers have no rules or regulations. Movers must follow DOT compliance, have a motor carrier number and applicable insurance. Movers also have an arbitration board that hears and settles disputes. Brokers are not held responsible to any of these.
2. Does Their Webpage Look Professional and Clean?
Have you ever heard the saying “what you see is what you get?” Or “if it looks like a duck, sounds like a duck, it’s probably a duck?” Well… if a moving company’s website looks unorganized, uninformative and roughly put together, that is probably a good indication about the kind of care they will put into actually moving your belongings.
Also, be wary of “customer testimonials.” These are largely unverifiable opinions and really say nothing about the types of moves or what kind of service and experience a mover has.
3. Do They Service the Area you are Moving to and from?
All moving companies have a square mile radius their rates apply to. When viewing a moving company’s page, you should make sure they are located within no more than a 50-mile radius of where you are moving to or from. If you’re not sure, use Google maps to find out the exact mileage between your moving agent and the location you need them to service. Always be sure to double-check with your moving agent to ensure their rates include your locations so as not to be blindsided by “extra mileage fees,” for operating outside their radius.
4. Does Their Webpage Explain their Process and Experience in the Moving Business?
Transparency is always the best. When looking at a moving company’s website they should have the ability and willingness to detail what types of moves they service within the industry, how long they have been moving people and/ or goods, and what their process and policies are for their company. If the site is vague and uninformative that is another good indicator that could very well reflect on their overall moving service
5. Is the Moving Company Charging You by the Weight or by the Cube?
When looking at a mover’s rate process, make sure you are getting rates by the pound, as opposed to the cube. The average consumer does not know what 200 cube looks like or feels like, so why would a moving company charge you based on this? If they insist on quoting you by the cube.. RUN! Then… give Royal Hawaiian Movers a call so that we can set up a no-cost, no-obligation survey of your goods. If you are serious about your move to or from Hawaii, you owe it to yourself to obtain, at the very least, an estimate so that moving companies can access your goods, and quote accurately.
If you remind yourself to ask these five questions when viewing a moving company’s website you will be better equipped to begin the process of elimination.
