Moving Scams

Everyone has heard horror stories associated with unscrupulous movers.

Some of the most common scams include; Having your belongings held hostage until you pay an exorbitant fee 2-3x your original estimate for one. Taking 4 hours to drive 10 miles thus increasing your hourly estimate substantially is another common ploy used by the more devious movers. Low balling accompanied by a huge price increase at your drop off is another.

How can you protect yourself from moving scams and still keep your expenses reasonable?

Beware the company whose estimate is suspiciously lower than all the others. There might be good reason why company C is a hundred or even more dollars lower than company A or B. He/she just wants their foot in the door to take advantage of having the consumer 'over the barrel' with no recourse but to pay a markedly higher bill.

Insisting on a written estimate is mandatory. Careful reading of the estimate is very important to make sure everything is spelled out. Be sure to check that there are no hidden charges. Common examples being additional mileage fees, padding (usually obligatory), excessive heavy handling fees (everything's bulky?). On larger moves such as 3 or more bedroom houses and interstate moves an in-home estimate in writing is a great safeguard.

Insurance

Proper insurance can be a confusing issue unto itself. Particularly on local moves as most local movers carry only the required .60 per lb per article. Generally speaking, local movers are not insurance brokers. Adequate coverage through an Insurance company (policy) can be prohibitively expensive, oftentimes doubling the move price. Local consumers are encouraged to look to their Homeowners or Apartment renters policies for a much more cost effective "rider". Caveat Emptor: carefully read any additional policies offered in addition to your move to be certain of what your paying extra for is worth it to you. When moving long distance most Van Lines offer more comprehensive coverage policies. Long distance movers are also required by law to carry Cargo Insurance Certificates which cover your goods in transit.

Exercise care in choosing your company.

Word of mouth is still the best advertising. Full page ads and flashy marketing might possibly be some reasons for company D to charge more. References should be made available on request. Agencies such as the BBB and the States Attorney are also great sources for information regarding your movers service history. Most good movers will receive an occasional complaint, valid and not, but how they deal with them is the mark of a mover with integrity. Fly by night companies come and go. A mover with a good reputation and a long service record knows how to get the job done competitively and has the references to prove it.

The importance of an accurate quote.

There's the other side of the coin too. As most movers are honest and hard working folk, they can feel at a disadvantage sometimes as well. Making certain all the items and conditions they will encounter are included on the estimate. To ensure the best price, the estimator should be made aware of the behemoth 400lb dresser/armoire, the 300 lb vintage sleeper sofa and the football field sized walk needed to negotiate the load to the truck. Some apartment complexes do have 4-5, or even more, flights of stairs. If these things are not factored in the original estimate, they most likely will incur extra charges on move day. If made aware of these conditions beforehand, the extra costs are usually much less than the "same day" surprise. This helps to ensure a seasoned crew is dispatched on move day too.

We only solicit quotes from the most highly regarded moving companies in Maryland.

As in all things, cheaper isn't always better. Sometimes the cheapest turns out to be the most expensive and can also bring the most headaches in the end. A good quality mover may not be the cheapest, but will be competitively priced and offer a quality service. At Baltimore-movers.net, our job is to match you with the best mover at a most competitive rate.

These are opinions of Baltimore-movers.net based on decades of experience in the moving industry. Baltimore-movers.net implies no warranty or responsibility for third party services rendered. Baltimore-movers.net is an advertiser driven moving quote and information resource.