When it comes to moving your valuables to your new home or business, nothing is more important than the trust that your belongings will get there safe and sound.
At ANC Movers, we take this trust seriously. When we partner with you to move your belongings, you can trust that you’ll be taken care of. Unfortunately, this is not the case with all moving companies in Portland and Vancouver.
Read on to learn 9 warning signs of an untrustworthy moving company.
1. Not locally owned
Local companies like ANC Movers are always going to do a better job than big corporations when it comes to moving. Why is this?
Locally owned companies make their bones on the reputation they have in their community. If they do a bad job, they know word will get around and their reputation could be ruined. This incentivizes them to do a good job. They know if they don’t, there may not be another house or business to move the next day.
Moving companies from out of state (there are lots) do not rely on this sort of community engagement. If they do a bad job moving your home, there will be many more in Des Moines, IA and Albuquerque, NM that will never hear of your horrible experience. Big box moving companies know this and know their livelihood does not require 100% satisfaction.
2. Bad online reviews
Along the same lines, you can determine the quality of a local business through a company’s online reviews. Online reviews (along with word of mouth referrals) should be one of the first places you check before hiring a moving company.
If a company has done a poor job, it will become obvious when scrolling through their reviews on Google. It’ll also give you a good sense of how they work and what you can expect.
3. Not a real company
This may seem like an obvious one, but we hear all the time about homeowners hiring a friend of a friend, or someone advertising “moving services” on Craigslist, which inevitably ends poorly. These stories usually result in scuffed up walls and floors, damaged furniture, and the mover not being held responsible.
Professional movers are good at their job and have experience doing exactly what you’re paying them to do. They also have a reputation to stand behind and are not just there for the money, but to grow their business through customer service and a job well done.
4. Not licensed and insured
While you may think that these “Craigslist movers” are the only ones who are not licensed and insured, you’d be surprised. You should never work with any mover who is not licensed and insured.
If the mover you hire is not insured and qualified to move your belongings, there is likely a good chance that any accident or items broken during the moving process will not be covered. This lack of liability protection will leave YOU on the hook for any damage incurred.
And let’s face it — mistakes happen. But with a mover who is licensed and insured, anything that’s broken by the moving company during the moving process will be covered and replaced fully.
5. Day laborers over employees
We believe strongly in accountability at ANC movers. Part of this is that we’ll never send a day laborer to your home or business. Anybody we send to work on your project will be an employee and trusted member of our team.
This allows us to have MUCH better quality control and we believe provides a much better experience for our customers. We know our team will do a good job and know they understand how to do what we’re sending them to do.
6. Require you to supply materials or a truck
When you pay a moving company to move your home or business, you should not be expected to pay for and procure supplies. This includes boxes, trucks, dollies, and everything in between. Why should you have to deal with finding and purchasing these items when you are not the expert? It just doesn’t make any sense!
Professional and reputable moving companies have trust in certain equipment and supplies and will provide them as part of their quote and fee. Of course, if you prefer to use a specific type of packing materials or anything else, we are always happy to accommodate special situations and requests.
7. Not flexible
Any moving company you work with should offer the flexibility to provide you with a moving solution that works for you. Whether that’s moving a large object like a piano, offering just a single service (such as physically moving, but not packing), or offering temporary storage if there’s a gap between when you move out and when you move in, you deserve flexibility.
Don’t jam a square peg into a round hole. Work with a moving company that will work with you on a solution that fits your needs perfectly.
8. Charge surprise or hidden fees
Many moving companies will try to sneak in some hidden fees after you’ve already agreed on a price for your moving project. Whether that’s extra cost for mileage, an extra fee for certain cities or neighborhoods, or “peak time” fees, only pay for what you agree to.
At ANC Movers, the quote we give will be what you pay. No hidden fees. No ifs, ands, or buts.
9. Don’t offer free quotes
No matter who you hire to move your house, make sure they offer a free quote for your moving job. You should always know you’re getting yourself into financially before you shake hands on a deal, and hiring a moving company should be no different.
At ANC Movers, we offer free quotes and everything else you should expect from your moving company
Contact us to get your free quote and get started on your moving project today. There is never any obligation to move forward with your project and we’ll be available to answer any questions you have about your move.
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