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.
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Read Moving Reviews
If you can’t get personal references, moving reviews are your next best bet to find recommended movers. Specialized websites like Yelp and MyMovingReviews have countless reviews of movers and packers left by satisfied or disgruntled customers – by searching their databases, you’ll be able to learn about other people’s experiences with different moving companies and find out which of them are trustworthy professionals and which ones are dishonest and/or incompetent laymen.
Customer reviews can provide very good guidance in choosing a reputable moving company – people often leave feedback about their movers after the relocation is over, describing what the pros did right and what they did wrong and detailing any issues, problems, and misunderstandings that occurred during the move. Such narratives will give you a clear idea about the quality of service offered by different moving companies, their trustworthiness and integrity, their costs and conditions, etc.:
- A company that has over promised, under delivered, and/or over charged will have plenty of negative reviews;
- A company that has performed well and offered a fair price will be given 4- and 5-star reviews.
Based on these reviews, you’ll know which movers are safe to hire and which ones you should stay away from. You’ll know what to expect from different moving services providers and will be able to choose the right one for you – if lots of people remained happy with the services of a moving company, there’s a fair chance that you’ll be satisfied with its performance as well.
See also: How to find a good mover in 31.5 steps
Keep in mind though that not all movers’ reviews are genuine – some companies pay people to post fake positive reviews about their services in order to boost their reputation and lure more customers. To avoid being misled by such fraudulent attempts, be sure to visit only trusted customer review platforms and look for moving reviews of the same company on several different websites. (See also: Moving fraud prevention guide – protect your move)
Good to know: The country’s leading websites for consumer reports and testimonials on professional moving companies, like MyMovingReviews, have advanced multi-level filtering algorithms that ensure only authentic moving company reviews and ratings are present on the site and customers are provided with reliable information.
You can find hundreds of reliable long distance moving companies’ reviews here.
To sum it up, the more reliable moving reviews you read, the better informed you’ll be and the easier it will be to make the right choice of a relocation partner – one of the top rated moving companies in your area that suits your particular relocation needs, preferences, and available budget.
Check Forums and Social Media
People like to share their experiences online – to talk about their mishaps and successes, to express their anger or satisfaction, to give warnings and advice, etc. You can, therefore, find a lot of useful information – and recommendations for long-distance movers – on moving-themed forums. The process may take plenty of time as you’ll need to filter through biased opinions, speculations, and comments, but you can find information there that you might not be able to get anywhere else. Just keep in mind that forums are never fully accurate and use them as guidance only.
Social media can also be of help when looking for recommended interstate movers – not only can you learn about other people’s relocation experiences from their social media accounts, but you can even check the moving companies’ social media pages and see how many “likes” and “dislikes” the movers have. Researching the movers’ websites is worth a shot too – you can find plenty of valuable information (the company’s USDOT number and contact information, its tariffs and conditions, membership in reputable moving associations, awards or accolades of service, customer testimonials, etc.) that will help you find the best mover for you.
Ask Real Estate Agents
Whether you’re looking for local or cross country movers’ recommendations, real estate agents will likely have plenty of useful information for you – they hear stories of successful and not-so-successful moves actually every day and have regular dealings with moving companies. Chances are they can point you to the most reputable moving companies in the area (or in the country) – and warn you off scam artists as well.
Do not take agents at their word though – they might have received false information, might not be aware of all the relevant facts, or might have something to gain from deliberately manipulating the truth. Ask them for recommendations for movers, but be sure to double check the information you get before making a choice.
Check Moving Company Ratings
Checking the business ratings of moving professionals does not actually qualify as getting recommendations for movers but it’s a great way to find the best interstate moving companies in the country.
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has strict standards for business accreditation aimed at enhancing customer trust by ensuring transparency and accountability in business practices. The Bureau’s rating system uses 7 major rating elements that reflect the most significant aspects of a business practice, including the company’s legitimacy and complaint history. Each rating element brings points that determine the final Letter Grade Rating of the company.
BBB assigns ratings from A+ (the highest one) to F (the lowest one) to show the trustworthiness of a business. A BBB-accredited mover with letter ratings of A+, A, or A- is guaranteed to be a properly licensed and highly reliable carrier of household goods.
So, when looking for recommended moving companies, you’re strongly advised to visit the official BBB website and take a look at the movers’ ratings. Any of the best rated moving companies will be a good choice of relocation partner. Needless to say, you should steer clear of moving companies that are not BBB accredited or have low BBB ratings.
There is no doubt that getting reliable recommendations for movers is the best way to find dependable and experienced moving professionals. Yet, you should always take one step further and thoroughly research the movers you consider hiring for your relocation – verify the company’s USDOT number, check its credentials and insurance information, call the FMCSA’s safety violation and consumer complaints hotline to ask about complaints against the mover, request an on-site binding estimate, interview the moving company representatives who come to make a visual survey of your home, read the mover’s paperwork very carefully, and make sure all your requirements are satisfactorily met.
Even if you can’t get reliable movers’ recommendations, though, or don’t have the time for a thorough background check of various moving companies, you can still find good recommended movers for your relocation – all you need to do is fill out our free moving quote to get in touch with pre-screened moving companies that are properly registered by the U.S. Department of Transportation, have predominantly positive moving reviews, and rank among the best relocation professionals in the country. Your move is guaranteed to be a success!
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More about the author
Jessica is an experienced moving expert and author of informative relocation articles and useful tips. Writes for MoveAdvisor, formerly MyMovingReviews.com.
Martin is a moving expert and online marketer who’s been involved in the moving industry since 2004. Writes for MoveAdvisor, formerly MyMovingReviews.com.
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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.
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 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.
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 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.
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 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 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 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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.