Between the tricky logistics and the physical demands, moving can be very stressful. To alleviate some of that stress, consider hiring a Dallas-Fort Worth mover. But before you hire a professional mover, do some homework first to avoid fraudulent and unprofessional companies. Use these moving tips as a checklist to help make your next move easy.

Moving Tip #1: Research Is Key

Give yourself plenty of time to research Dallas-Fort Worth moving companies prior to your move so you don’t have to make a rushed decision. A good rule of thumb is to get estimates from three moving companies, which will highlight any obvious pricing differences.

Most importantly, make sure your mover is registered in the state of Texas and insured. Movers are required to register whenever they transport household goods for compensation, regardless of the weight. This means if your mover doesn’t have a Texas DOT number, don’t use them! And don’t just take their word for it: Ask your prospective movers to provide you with their registration number, and then enter it into the U.S. Department of Transportation website to verify the registration is valid and not inactive. You can also review any complaints against the company. This will also show their insurance status, amount of insurance, safety rating, and physical location.

In addition, the Better Business Bureau can also give you sense of the business based on their complaint history. While this approach isn’t foolproof, it’s helpful to know if a dispute reached a point that required a third-party mediator and whether it was resolved successfully — a business having a complaint isn’t necessarily a cause for concern, but an unresolved complaint is.

Moving Tip #2: Reviews Matter

When choosing a moving professional, it’s important to check out reviews online. Resources like Google, Facebook, Yelp, and Angie’s List can be helpful resources for finding out what customers think about a business’ services. Be sure to check the total number of reviews as well: three five-star ratings suggests less authority than 100 five-star ratings. How a business interacts with customers and prospects online can tell you a great deal about their customer service standards, resolution efforts, and overall satisfaction.

Moving Tip #3: Ways to Avoid Moving Scams

There are a number of ways to spot fraud from a moving company. Consider it a potential red flag if a company does any of the following:

• Requires a deposit up front.
• Gives a quote over the phone or online without seeing the item(s) being moved.
• Fails to provide you with the “Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move” booklet as mandated by federal law.
• Claims that all goods are covered by insurance.
• Has a generic rental truck and no uniformed personnel.
• Has no verifiable contact information (such as address or phone number).

While anyone can rent a truck and claim to be a mover, these moving tips will help ensure your move is handled correctly, professionally, and on budget.

Image Source: Flickr/Ross Chapman

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