When it comes to moving, the most popular choice by far is to hire professional movers to get the job done for you. This is for good reason, considering that a high-quality mover will have access to state-of-the-art equipment, innovative moving techniques, and a world of other important resources to make your project a breeze. 

However, this is only true if the movers you hire are professional, licensed, and trusted movers. Unfortunately, moving scams are more common than you might think—and finding a good mover can require a bit of research and investigation.

At Blackhawk Moving and Storage, our expert movers are always ready to help our customers avoid moving scams. In this article, we’re going over some important tips to use when searching for moving services. By following these tips, you can find a great company to work with while staying away from the bad ones.

Moving Scams 101

The key to avoiding moving scams is research. Researching companies in your area will help to get you closer towards a great choice, and further away from the bad ones. To help you with your research, we have put together some of the most common scams these companies use.

  • Estimate Without an In-Home Inspection: If the mover is providing a moving a guaranteed estimate without checking out the premises and your belongings, this is a major red flag. The estimate you receive is likely to be too good to be true. Plus, homeowners tend to underestimate how much they need to move and neglect to consider the actual weight of their belongings. If the movers won’t check your property out in person, then you’re likely to pay for it when it comes to the actual loading and unloading.

  • Lazy Walk-through: A lazy inspection is almost as bad as no inspection at all. If the mover won’t actually inspect your home properly, judging your total cost with just a quick glance—it’s possible you won’t be getting much of an accurate estimate at all. In addition to making sure your mover actually investigates, be sure to provide as much information about the move as you can. 
  • The Deposit: No reputable company will demand cash or a large deposit before moving you and your belongings. Payment is usually upon delivery, or in some cases, a small deposit upfront. Choose a different company if they insist on a large, upfront payment. If you do have to pay anything, use a credit card. The credit card company will help you if fraudulent activity occurs.
  • Name issues: This is a time when verification of the company is important. While good BBB ratings are important, they can be worked around by using different names. When researching, verify there is a local address, licensing and insurance information available, proper phone greeting i.e. full company name, and references. If the company can’t provide these items, then it’s time to say goodbye. Also, consider the number of years they have been in business. If the company says they have over 15 years of experience but only 1.5 years of verifiable moving history, then that’s a red flag you shouldn’t ignore.
  • No Contract (or Misleading Ones): This might seem obvious, but read your contract through before signing it. Every single thing promised verbally should be in writing. The estimate, extra fees, delivery dates, and other information should be right there on the contract. In addition, all items in your inventory should be accounted for. Besides the inventory reported on the contract, verify it by actually observing said inventory being packed up and loaded.

Ultimately, your Fox Valley and Chicago moving company should be both transparent and thorough with their service. If you feel like they’re not sharing everything or are cutting corners, then you’re probably right and should consider moving with a different moving company.

Trusted Moving with Blackhawk Moving and Storage

At Blackhawk Moving and Storage, we have been in the moving industry as a trusted agent for United Van Lines for over 30 years. Our highly rated company is proud of our never-ending commitment to our customer’s satisfaction with personalized service and top-quality moving solutions. 

If you’re ready to get started planning your next relocation with trusted movers from Blackhawk Moving and Storage, we’d love to speak with you. Give us a call to speak with one of our agents about our moving services or fill out our online form to schedule your free, in-home assessment.