Features of a Good Cross Country Moving Company

Not sure what to look for when choosing a cross country moving company? You don’t want to get scammed, robbed, or suffer moving damage to your treasured belongings. Don’t make the mistake of choosing the wrong company. Here are some features to look for in a good cross country moving company.

Good Customer Service

You should be able to ask lots of questions and get answers, directly and accurately. If you only get vague answers, or worse, answering machines, you need to find another company. Imagine putting your items on a truck that won’t deliver for the next two weeks, and you can’t ever get in touch anyone to get information. It’s not worth the hassle or legal action if you can avoid it in the first place, by going with a company that’s responsive to its customers. 

Written Estimates

A good company will provide written cross country moving quotes to customers. Many consumers get scammed by paying fees they weren’t expecting, because they never got a written estimate to begin with. Sometimes, the estimate itself ends up being the contract if you’re using a small company, and therefore, it’s important to have the company spell out exactly what the move will cost. All services and supplies should be itemized to avoid hidden fees. You should also try to get the estimate signed prior to signing a contract.

No Unresolved BBB Complaints

You can search for complaints against a company on the Better Business Bureau’s website: www.bbb.org. All companies are vulnerable to complaints from hard to please customers, and therefore, don’t avoid a company just because there’s a complaint on record. Review the types of complaints filed, and how or if they got resolved. If you see a pattern of complaints, or if many are unresolved, keep looking for other companies. A bad company is not going to change its business practices to accommodate you. 

Good Safersys Report

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is the federal agency that grants the license to the cross country moving company you’re considering. FMCSA has a website, www.safersys.org, that consumers can search to find general company information, the status of their license and inspection reports. You can search by their name, or their Department of Transportation or Motor Carrier License Numbers. A reliable company won’t have a number of inspections that is more than the national average.

Insured and Bonded

Every moving company you consider needs to be properly insured and bonded. However, a solid cross country company will go beyond the minimum insurance requirements. It’s risky business transporting belongings across state lines, and the company should care enough to have more than enough of the right kinds of insurance to handle the job. You can find out by asking them and confirming their answer through the FMCSA.

Don’t rely on a gut feeling when choosing a cross country moving company. Do your research, so that you can avoid the stress and pain of a bad move.