Make Sure you Don't Get Scammed by a Moving Company

Have you ever heard of people getting scammed by their moving company? You don’t want to find yourself in this nightmare. Moving is already a stressful time and you want a professional moving company that you can count on.

Most companies would try to help make the process a smooth one, but you may come across a company that is out to scam you. Watch out for cheap ads on Craigslist, book a company early and thoughtfully, and be sure you know what to do in the event that you are in a bad situation like this. Take a look at some ways to avoid being scammed on your upcoming move.

Warning signs to watch for

A good place to start is to make sure you are as organized and rested as possible, in order to avoid being taken advantage of while you’re feeling frazzled and vulnerable. Look for warning signs and be on guard for the possibility that they come up.

Look out for deals that are too good to be true, such as a Craiglist offer that sells moving services for way too cheap. Many times a scam will occur when the price is offered too low and then a contingency comes up causing a price increase, such as stairs or a long loading route. When you have to make an agreement verbally rather than on paper, you may find yourself fighting with the movers at your destination with your belongings being withheld from you without further payment.

How to spot a winner of a company

Avoid any signs of a bad moving company and trust professional movers with a great reputation in town or online. Look for online reviews with great credibility and positive feedback, while being realistic if you think a company looks too good to be true with a perfect rating.

When you choose a company that seems trustworthy, call them for information on handling your upcoming moving. You should get to work with a moving coordinator or a manager that will oversee the move. While some issues could come up that can’t be avoided, your move coordinator should be your point person to help when an unforeseeable situation comes up.

Having a coordinator means that someone is being updated when an issue pops up, such as not having a key to get into the new home or furniture not fitting through the door. If a company offers this service, you can likely feel at ease, while one that doesn’t offer this service should make you remain watchful for any red flags.

Tips for prevention

While being scammed by a moving company can happen to anyone, it’s helpful to take a few precautions. Along with seeking out a company with good reviews and a great reputation in town, watching out for offers too good to be true, and considering avoiding any companies that don’t provide moving coordinators, consider booking early when there are still many choices available to you. You won’t fall for deals too good to be true and you’ll have time to build a relationship with a company before it’s time to move.

If you get a bad feeling from a company or find communication is lacking, it may be time to look for someone else. Does the company live up to promises, such as getting you a timely estimate and contacting you when they said they would? If you hire this company, remember that they will be handling your precious belongings and you’re trusting them with the safety and efficiency of the process.

While you may have to pay a deposit for the move, watch out for companies that ask for full payment in advance or a really large deposit. A small deposit lost by moving to a new company is worth it if you feel uncomfortable with a company, but a large deposit or full payment would show signs of a company not worth dealing with.

If you find yourself in a scamming situation, make sure you have a manager’s name and contact information that you can reach if something goes wrong. Sign a contract that lists the minimum value protection for you the customer, and a way to declare the value of your items. Then if something were to happen, you could take them to court with documented proof, as well as talk to the Better Business Bureau. Of course, a social media blasting will make this company look bad and will warn others to avoid them.

Don’t get scammed by a moving company if you can avoid it; use these tips to know what to look for.

What Should You do Before the Movers Arrive?

The movers are arriving in a few weeks and it’s time to get serious about preparing for the move. Not only do you need to take inventory of all of your stuff, but you need to start purging, disposing of, and pre-packing some of your items.

You’ll need to get the appliances ready to be moved and you’ll have to start handling some of the essential boxes yourself, such as the stuff you’ll need to access on the first week of your move that shouldn’t be put on the moving truck. Then you’ll have to find a space to put things that aren’t meant to be packed, such as plants and hazardous items.

Take a look at this guide to get a better idea of how to prepare for the movers to arrive.

Start purging and disposing

You are likely not going to be taking everything to the new house. It’s a great time to start purging your home and getting rid of useless items that the packers shouldn’t be packing. If there are items that you don’t need to have transported by professional movers because you don’t really want them in the new home, it’s time to sell, donate, or dispose of them. This could be furniture that doesn’t fit in the new home, extra clutter, or kitchen items you wanted to replace. Consider what you can start purging of before the movers arrive.

Then, make sure you dispose of things you don’t want packed, such as old food, chemicals and cleaning supplies, flammable items, paint, and trash. If you don’t want to take your plants to the new home, find a friend to donate them to.

Take inventory and work on must-have boxes

Now it’s time to take inventory of your possessions so that you can track where things get packed and make sure it all arrives safely at your destination. Take inventory to make sure you can check everything off for arrival and to ensure it hasn’t been damaged, and to make sure you can easily file an insurance claim in the event that something happens to an item and proof is needed it was moved.

This will also help you to see how much stuff you are taking in case you want to pare down on your belongings, and to get a better idea of what will be packed together for separating items by room. Then, take some photos in case you need to show them later.

When you arrive at your destination and haven’t gotten around to unpacking yet, it will be important to have a few boxes with the essentials to get you started. You won’t be able to wait for a few weeks to locate your shower curtain, bath towels, or prescription medicines. Make sure you’ve packed an “open first box” that you can keep with you for getting your kitchen, bathroom, bedrooms, and kid’s items play area.

Determine what won’t be packed and prepare the family

Next, you’ll want to choose an area to place items that aren’t meant to be packed and to talk to your family about staying safe during this process. Put a note on anything that isn’t mean to be packed by the movers, such as your plants, valuables, electronics, and first-week essentials.

Keep it all in one room and make this the meeting room for prepping your family on safety measures during the move. This will be where pets can stay or phone calls can be taken during the time the movers are there.

Prepare appliances and pre-pack

Lastly, start pre-packing things that you prefer to handle yourself, such as high-value items or a collection of magnets or ornaments. This will make it easier for the movers to pack quickly if you’ve handled all of the small pieces yourself. Then prepare your appliances for the move by unplugging things like washing machines and dishwashers.

When the movers are scheduled to arrive soon and the house needs prepared, use this list to make sure you’re ready for a swift and efficient move.

Why You Need an "Open First" Box When Moving

When you’re packing up the house for the big move, the last thing you are probably thinking about is what it’s going to be like the first time you need to cook a meal or how your morning routine will go in the new place.  That’s because you are likely more focused on completing your packing duties, anticipating the moving crew, and thinking about all of the changes going on in more of the long-term state of mind.

The problem with forgetting to think about the short-term is that you are going to find that you may have some difficulty getting settled in when you first arrive at your new home. The solution to this is packing a box labeled “open first” in order to make the transition a smooth one.

Having a box ready for week one at your new house will make you feel at home much sooner, make it easier to get settled, and it will allow you to take your time on the boxes that aren’t as urgent. Don’t let yourself struggle to find your cookware, shampoo, and dog bowls; pack your “open first” box now.

What to include in your “Open first” box

The best way to handle this box is to think about the items you use most often in each room of your home. How does your day normally begin? You likely start the day with a workout, a shower, getting dressed, and preparing breakfast for the family.

This means that you’ll need easy access to your favorite workout gear, your shower supplies, work clothes, and cookware for preparing breakfast and dinner. Don’t forget that your day actually began in bed, which means a set of sheets is your very first essential. Perhaps an alarm clock, phone charger, and bathroom linens would be a great idea too.

When you get ready each morning, what items do you mindlessly grab that you’d be lost without during week one in the new house? Don’t forget items like your toothbrush, your hairbrush, cosmetics, deodorants, and lotions. If you take any medicine, be sure to include that too. Then make sure you have items like a bath mat, shower curtain, shower gels, and shampoos, as well as toilet paper and hand towels.

When it’s time to cook each morning and evening, you’ll want to be sure you have a few of your main kitchen supplies, like pots and pans, spatulas, plates, and cups. Make sure you bring your essentials seasonings and oils to be able to prepare eggs in the morning or a dish for dinner.

Bring cutlery, serving spoons, mugs, scissors, and containers to put leftovers in. You’ll probably regret forgetting the coffee maker or your favorite tea and be sure to grab a sponge and tablecloth to keep your new kitchen looking great.

Other essentials

Along with your bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen essentials, there may be a few other items that would fit perfectly in a box for your arrival at the new home. While you get ready to set up your utilities or locate your lamps, make sure you have a flashlight ready at first. You’ll also want a few of your basic tools, candles, matches, some trash bags, and batteries handy.

When it comes to your kids and your pets, you’ll want to consider their essentials as well. Would your son be lost without his favorite stuffed bear? How will you feed the dogs without their daily food and water bowls? Bring items you would use on a daily basis in your routine now knowing that you’ll be establishing your routine at the new house.

This may also mean you need to pack some games for the kids while you work on setting up your cable TV, your reading glasses and a favorite book, important documents and a list of emergency contacts, and cash available to order a pizza or tip the moving crew.

The most important thing you can do during your residential move is to label your boxes well in order to locate items more easily in your new home. By packing the essentials in a box labeled “open first,” you may find that it’s easier to unpack the rest now that you have your daily essentials right at your fingertips and already in place in the new house. Make sure you grab each family member’s essentials, including the kids, Fido, and of course, yourself.