Reprinted from The Courier Times 5/15/18
BBB offers tips during National Moving Month
RALEIGH, N.C. (May 15, 2018) —
According to reports from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration (FMCSA) some 35 million Americans will move in 2018. With
one third of consumers hiring a professional moving company to assist
with their relocation, Better Business Bureau serving Eastern North
Carolina (BBB) is here to help find a trustworthy company.
Moving companies are one of the most searched categories on bbb.org. In 2017, BBB received over 6,000 complaints nationwide against moving companies. Common complaints included damaged or missing items, bills that were higher than estimates, late deliveries and in some cases, goods held hostage for additional payments.
“Moving can be extremely stressful”, says Mallory Wojciechowski, president and CEO of BBB serving Eastern NC. “With May being National Moving Month, we want to bring to light some tips that consumers can use when making the important decision of who hire.”
BBB offers the following tips to help prepare for your move and find a trustworthy moving company:
RESEARCH REPUTABLE COMPANIES.
You can start your search by heading to bbb.org. We have over 20,000 business profiles on moving companies. Move.org is also a great resource for finding useful tips and advice.
GATHER ESTIMATES.
Show your mover everything that needs to be moved and get a written in-home estimate. BBB suggests getting estimates from three different companies. Be weary of unusually high or low estimates and know the difference between binding (guaranteed price) and non-binding estimates (estimator’s best guess).
SIGN A CONTRACT.
Make sure to have a contract between you and the moving company. Read everything and keep a copy of the signed contract including the bill of lading, which is the detailed receipt of all the items that will be moved.
Be cautious of unusual requests. If a moving company says it won’t return your items without an additional payment, contact BBB or local law enforcement.
PROTECT YOUR POSSESSIONS.
Make sure you pick the right protection to cover any loss or damage done during the move. Some options include limited liability, added valuation or full-value coverage. Also, double check your existing homeowner’s policy to see what it will cover.
TAKE AN INVENTORY.
In the weeks prior to your move, take an inventory of your belongings. Document with photos that include a timestamp. Be sure to take all cash, jewelry, photographs and important documents with you.
Moving companies are one of the most searched categories on bbb.org. In 2017, BBB received over 6,000 complaints nationwide against moving companies. Common complaints included damaged or missing items, bills that were higher than estimates, late deliveries and in some cases, goods held hostage for additional payments.
“Moving can be extremely stressful”, says Mallory Wojciechowski, president and CEO of BBB serving Eastern NC. “With May being National Moving Month, we want to bring to light some tips that consumers can use when making the important decision of who hire.”
RESEARCH REPUTABLE COMPANIES.
You can start your search by heading to bbb.org. We have over 20,000 business profiles on moving companies. Move.org is also a great resource for finding useful tips and advice.
GATHER ESTIMATES.
Show your mover everything that needs to be moved and get a written in-home estimate. BBB suggests getting estimates from three different companies. Be weary of unusually high or low estimates and know the difference between binding (guaranteed price) and non-binding estimates (estimator’s best guess).
SIGN A CONTRACT.
Make sure to have a contract between you and the moving company. Read everything and keep a copy of the signed contract including the bill of lading, which is the detailed receipt of all the items that will be moved.
Be cautious of unusual requests. If a moving company says it won’t return your items without an additional payment, contact BBB or local law enforcement.
PROTECT YOUR POSSESSIONS.
Make sure you pick the right protection to cover any loss or damage done during the move. Some options include limited liability, added valuation or full-value coverage. Also, double check your existing homeowner’s policy to see what it will cover.
TAKE AN INVENTORY.
In the weeks prior to your move, take an inventory of your belongings. Document with photos that include a timestamp. Be sure to take all cash, jewelry, photographs and important documents with you.
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