Hiring moving assistance can be harder than one might think. If you are planning an upcoming relocation, you should beware of fraudulent moving companies and make sure to hire the most reliable one. There are many signs of potential moving scams, but most people don’t see them before they happen. Whether you are planning a local move or a long-distance one, keep reading the following guide. We made a list of the essential information you should know before hiring professional moving assistance Los Angeles. Take a look at how to compare moving companies, check their background, find the best moving service and so much more. Keep reading and you’ll learn how to choose the best moving company near you and avoid fraudulent movers.
Plan a long distance move ahead of time
Planning a relocation is never the same process. However, if you are planning to move long-distance from LA, you should make sure to make a moving plan as soon as possible. One of the first things that you’ll need to do is to plan your moving budget. Depending on how much money you have for spending on the moving process, you will choose whether to hire movers or not.
Although it’s recommendable to hire moving assistance when moving long distance, you should be aware of, and try to avoid fraudulent movers. In case you are moving on a tight budget, you should make sure not to pay too cheap for the moving service. More often than not, movers who charge very low (and unrealistic) prices for their service is not the most reliable ones. If you are looking for long distance moving services, you should look for more than one moving company and compare companies with each other. Here are some of the things you will need to take care before moving long distance:
- Making a moving budget
- Considering the size of your inventory
- Looking for potential storage unit
- Getting packing supplies
- Calculating all moving costs in advance
Look for more than one moving company
One of the best ways to avoid fraudulent movers is to not hire the first company you find. You might be the lucky one and find perfect moving assistance in a day. However, you should make sure not to fall for false advertisements and promises. There are many unreliable moving companies who charge too cheap for their services while planning to scam you after the move is over. In order to avoid them, you should look for more than one moving company and compare those companies with each other.
When looking for reliable LA movers, this is what you should be looking for:
- Movers with a license and years of experience
- Professional approach and honest conversation
- Transparent display of their services
- Easy-to-understand moving contract
- A moving company that will provide all the necessary equipment and supplies
Discuss all the details of your move
If you are not sure whether you should trust your movers or not, there is an easy way to check. One of the ways to avoid fraudulent movers is to discuss all of your needs and requirements in advance. In case the company’s representative doesn’t seem truthful and honest, you should stay away from that company. If you don’t understand your costs in advance, or you’re asked to pay everything upfront, the moving company might be fraudulent.
After the initial talk is over, you should look for a free estimate of your moving costs. A reliable moving company will offer you a free quote. This will help you adjust your budget and calculate all the moving costs.
Signs of fraudulent moving companies
Since there is no easy way to recognize the best moving companies, take a look at some of the signs of fraudulent ones:
- Large down payment
- Unrealistically low rates
- Lack of basic information like the address, license number, etc.
- Bad online reviews
- Lack of moving contract or offering a confusing one
- Bad communication with clients
- Failing to discuss all the details of your move
Check the company’s background
Once you are familiar with how to avoid fraudulent movers, it’s time to learn how to check the company’s background. If you are searching for moving companies online, this process shouldn’t take a lot of time. The first thing you should do is to check if the company has an official website presence. If it does, you should be able to see all their services, reviews and special moving services that the company offers. Also, all of the services should have a short description which will help you choose the right one.
Whether you are moving locally or long distance, the company should offer you a flexible moving service that will fit within your budget.
Read the moving contract in order to avoid fraudulent movers
In the end, you should pay special attention to the contract a moving company offers you. If your movers are licensed, which you can check on websites like Better Business Bureau, you should be able to understand all the terms and conditions stated in the contract. In order to avoid fraudulent movers, you shouldn’t sign the contract that you can’t understand. Also, you should make sure that everything stated in the contract matches your agreement with the moving company. By checking the moving company’s background and taking the time to explore your options, you will avoid fraudulent movers for sure.