By Julie DeLong, A-1 Freeman Moving Group
Moving soon? Join the club--last year over 3 million Americans moved to another state to a new home. A portion of those moves were across the country and others may have been across the street, but every single one of those families had to pack everything they owned, put it onto a truck, and hope for the best. If you are thinking about a move, there's no question you have been online to research moving companies and have gone down the path of horrific move anecdotes on different websites. How do you handle your residential move so that you are not preyed upon by moving fraud, and that your belongings arrive at your new house in Oklahoma City safe and secure?The first thing to do is to learn the lingo of the trucking industry. It's a ton easier to make good decisions if you understand the language of the business and the diverse business models of moving companies. This glossary of terms, found on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration website, aids you to familiarize yourself with Mover-talk so that when you hear words like storage-in-transit, valuation and linehaul, you’ll comprehend what they mean.
The FMCSA website is a terrific starting point in general, as it also depicts the rules of the road, if you will, that licensed carriers follow. Any transportation provider you're pondering should be registered with the US Department of Transportation, and possess a Motor Carrier and DOT number. You can view any issues lodged against a company on that website. The ones on Yelp and Google are more fascinating, but any issues filed with the DOT usually have a higher level of truth than complaints that are likely the result of the customer just not paying attention.
In an optimal world, you would hire movers several months ahead of time, and unhurriedly pack, manage the family, and be 100% prepared when the guys on the truck show up. Reality is not so simple, and that is what moving scammers bank on when they are promising you the moon—you're scattered and worrying about a million things, so they appeal to your sense of urgency—here is a ballpark estimate and a handshake and we'll handle the details later. This is a sure way to never see your furniture again, unless you want to buy it back from Craigslist.
Instead, ask your realtor for a suggestion of a moving company. Or, if you are acquaintances with anyone who has moved recently, ask them for recommendations. National moving companies usually have locations all over the country, so go ahead and ask your friend in Iowa who they used, even if you live in Texas. Use the FMCSA website to look up movers registered for interstate moves, and Google them. Once you've reduced down the list to a few options, schedule a time to get written in-home estimates.
Make sure to read the FMCSA publication, "Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move". When hiring a professional mover, it is a federal law that you're given this 25-page brochure (or a link to it) that spells out your rights, protection, and industry regulations.
It is crucial that you recognize a dishonest mover BEFORE they have your household goods. Remember, not all movers have your best interest in mind. So, keep these RED FLAGS handy as you are interviewing your potential mover.
Be wary of movers who:
It's better to be safe than sorry. So, be sure and check out your moving company before they load your belongings onto their moving truck! Remember that if it seems too good to be true it probably is, and since you're trusting the movers with what is effectively your life, do your investigation and hire a reputable moving company, like A-1 Freeman Moving Group, who will take good care of you when you move to Oklahoma City.
