Highlights
- The safest way to ensure that you’ll hire experienced, trustworthy professionals for your relocation is to get recommendations on movers.
- Ask around in your social circle – or use the social networks – to get feedback about moving companies from friends and acquaintances who have recently moved.
- Read online moving reviews to learn about other people’s experiences with different moving companies.
- Check movers’ ratings and research moving companies’ online profiles.
When you buy a product, you want it to be the best in its category. When you pay for a service, you want it to be provided by the best professionals in the field. So, when hiring movers for your relocation, you’ll, of course, want to choose among the best moving companies in the country.
But how can you find the most reliable and highly experienced professionals in a competitive industry where everyone claims to be the best? How can you be sure that you’ll make the right choice and hire competent, trustworthy movers who will take good care of your items and will bring your relocation to a successful end?
The fail-safe way to ensure that you’ll be working with skilled, dependable moving professionals is to get recommendations on movers – references and testimonials from previous customers, ratings from consumer reports, online reviews of moving companies, professional organization credentials, etc. A mover who has an excellent track record, largely positive moving reviews, and high ratings is very likely to do a good job with your relocation – recommended movers are a safe and wise choice.
Researching your options and getting recommendations will help you stay away from incompetent movers, avoid moving scams, and ensure a smooth and successful relocation. The only remaining question is how to find reliable references.
Here are some of the best ways to get recommendations for movers:
Look for Personal References
The best recommendations for movers you can get is by word of mouth. There is no better way to find unbiased opinions and genuine feedback about moving companies than talking to people who have recently used professional moving services – they will be more than glad to share their experiences and vent their frustration, anger, or satisfaction with the movers they worked with.
So, ask around in your social circle – there will certainly be someone who has moved in the not-so-distant past (or, at least knows, a person who did so) and can give you some useful information – you’ll be able to learn about the cost of the move, the kind of services the movers provided, their attitude and competence, and anything else that might interest you.
It will be best if you can get this information from trusted friends or family members who won’t manipulate the truth in any way and will genuinely want to help you. Coworkers, neighbors, and other acquaintances can also provide you with valuable information, but you may want to double check the facts – people are prone to exaggerating the truth and being overdramatic when telling their stories.
You should start asking for recommendations well ahead of time – several months before your desired move date – so you can hear as many opinions as possible, make an informed decision, and book your chosen movers early enough. (See also: How far in advance to book movers).
If possible, talk to your friends and acquaintances face-to-face – over a cup of coffee (at home, at the local café, at the office, etc.), during a walk, or at any other convenient time. Ask about the name of the moving company they used and get as many details as you can about their experience with the moving professionals:
- What kind of estimate the movers provided (See also: Types of moving estimates);
- What kind of insurance they offered (See also: Types of moving insurance);
- Did they require a deposit (See also: Moving company deposits);
- Was all the paperwork in order (See also: Understanding movers’ paperwork);
- Did the movers show up on time on moving day (See also: What to do if movers are late);
- How efficiently they worked;
- How careful they were when handling household items and personal possessions (See also: What to look for in a moving company);
- What extra services the movers provided (See also: How to save on additional moving services);
- How they handled difficulties and unforeseen obstacles;
- How soon was the shipment delivered;
- Were all the goods in good condition;
- Was the final moving cost the same as stated in the initial quote (See also: Hidden moving costs and fees);
- Were there any problems or disputes with the movers and how did they resolve the issue (See also: How to make claims against movers), etc.
You need to understand what exactly your friends liked and disliked about their chosen moving company and why they would or would not recommend it to others.
Good to know: Another effective way to get movers’ recommendations is to use the social networks – post something like “I’m moving in a couple of months. Can somebody recommend a good mover? Any advice will be highly appreciated.” You’re sure to get a lot of responses – and end up with the names of a few recommended home movers who can be trusted to perform your relocation in a safe and efficient manner.
I love your advice for hiring a moving company. My family is moving this summer, and I really don’t want to move all of our stuff myself. I’ll be sure to get recommendations from friends and get as many details about them as I can, like you said.
One of the things I found I like when it comes to selecting an international moving company is that you should look for personal references especially when you have friends or family that have attempted a long-distance move in the past. One of the reasons for this is that they already know who to look for and who to recommend, having used the service just recently, and if they’re impressed with the moving service they’d hired previously then they would definitely recommend it to anyone else looking to move. If I had the chance to move overseas, I’d have to plan everything carefully since this is a big decision to make.
Thanks for explaining how a lot of movers have big social media presences. Checking to find out their past clients reviews would also be really smart. My husband and I are looking for a moving service, so we’ll have to check them out on social media first.
Thanks for explaining that we can ask real estate agents for recommendations, since they’ve probably heard a lot of stories about different moving companies from their clients. My husband and I will be moving to a larger home soon and need to choose a moving company that I’m comfortable trusting with our belongings. I’m glad I read your article because I wouldn’t have thought to use our real estate agent as a resource without your advice.
Last night, my brother told us that the custom home they bought last year is finally ready for them to move in. Since it is about two hours away from their current home, I think that it would be good for them to hire movers. Your information that getting personal references for an idea on who to hire because they can tell you about the cost, kind of services, and their competence is very helpful.
I liked what you said about finding recommended movers. My cousins are going to be moving into a bigger apartment. They would really like to get a professional to help them move.
I like your tip about looking at reviews. It makes sense that we would want to hire a moving service that has a good track record, as well. I’ll be sure to remember this when I need to hire movers next.
I agree that moving revies are your next best bet when you’re trying to find a good mover. Online reviews are usually brutally honest, so you’ll know if there’s anything wrong pretty quickly. On top of that, seeing how they handle the negative reviews will give you a good idea of how they’re going to treat you.
My aunt and uncle are looking at moving to a smaller home because all their kids have moved out. Because they have lots of important antiques, I think it would be important to hire a moving company. They’ll have to follow your advice to look for word of mouth because it’s the best way to get recommendations.
That’s good to know what details to ask for to figure out which moving company to hire. My husband and I need to relocate and we’ll need to have movers help move our hot tub. We’ll need to make sure to find a company that can do that.
Thank you for your tip to start asking for recommendations for moving companies as early as several months beforehand. My brother is going to be moving at the beginning of next year. I’ll tell him that he needs to start looking for moving companies now.
I had been relocated to Hawaii, and so far I’m still struggling with how will I be able to have my piano transported. Therefore, I’ve decided to look for an international moving company. I’ll keep in mind to look for recommendations and check if what type of insurance do they offer.
I found that it was helpful when you suggested considering the testimonials of a moving company before we would hire them. That seems like a great way to gauge their quality before we would hire them, so I appreciate that you mentioned it. We are close to buying our next home, and we will need help with moving because I have a bad back and won’t be able to do it on my own. When I look for a moving company to help us out, I will be sure to consider their testimonials.
I love that you mentioned that we could learn more about a moving company if we are to check their reviews. My brother has been talking about finding one to help him move this spring when his contract is over, and it will be important for him to know that he could find the right one for his needs. To be sure of that, I will consider their reviews.
I think that it will be helpful for us to consider the tip that you gave to analyze the cost estimate from a mover before we would hire them. My brother is looking to hire one for when he moves to a new home later this month, and it will be important for him to know that they will be affordable. To be sure that they will be good, I will recommend checking the cost estimate.
I liked that you said how customer reviews can describe any misunderstandings of companies. My wife and I are wanting to move in the summer and we have a big piano that we can’t move on our own. I’ll be sure to call a moving company and see how much they will charge to move our bigger items, like the piano.
I liked your suggestion to ask real estate agents for recommendations. My sister is moving and has been wondering where to start looking for professional movers. I’ll have to share this with her since I don’t know if she’s thought to ask her agent yet.
My brother informed us last night that their custom house, which they purchased last year, is now ready for them to move in. It is roughly two hours distant from their present residence, therefore I believe hiring movers would be a fantastic idea for them. Your advice on obtaining personal references is beneficial since it will give you an idea of who to hire and what to expect in terms of price, type of services, and expertise.
I liked how you pointed out that you should get references to find movers. We’re thinking about hiring someone to help with our move. I’ll be sure to keep this in mind while we look for the right help.
All of my aunt and uncle’s children have moved out, so they are considering downsizing to a smaller house. I believe it would be vital to employ a moving company because they have several priceless artifacts. They must heed your instruction to seek suggestions from others because this is the most reliable method.
I thought you made a good point when you talked about it is a good idea to get references from family or friends when looking for a moving company. You could probably prevent a lot of stress by working with someone that your friends and family are comfortable with. A move would probably go more smoothly if you are able to prevent a lot of stress.