Moving is a time of great emotional stress and upheaval. You have to say good-bye to the place you've lived, sometimes for many years, and head off to a new destination. Frequently, this change is accompanied by a new job, new home, and a new school for the kids, not to mention new friends, new town, and other changes.



Given all this change, it's no surprise that the choice of hiring a moving company can be fraught with difficulty. After all, this moving company will be handling all of your most valuable possessions. You want those possessions to be unharmed and in one piece as your relocate and set up house again.

But how can you make sure your moving company can be trusted? Are there any secrets for looking into their reputation? The key to protecting your possessions is doing lots of research. Read on to find out more!

Start with the Web

Most reliable moving companies will have a web site advertising their services. This is a great place to start your research. Use the web to come up with a list of potential companies, based on price, location, and services. A good moving company website will also include contact information for the company.

Next, do a web search for each company on your list. Look for user reviews, both good and bad. Have other people used the company? How have they felt about the services?

Word of Mouth

Now that you have a list of movers in your area and a few ideas of other users' experiences, try asking around locally. Most people have used a moving service at some point, and they will have either good or bad things to say about the company. Ask neighbors, co-workers, even your child's teacher or the clerk at the grocery store.

Research, Research, and More Research

By now, you probably have a revised list of movers. You've scratched off any company that has bad online user reviews or received negative assessments from your local friends and family. Now it's time to learn more about these companies.

The next step is to contact the Better Business Bureau. If there have been any grievances filed against the company you are considering, the Better Business Bureau will have a report. Most companies have a few unhappy customers, but if the grievances were resolved quickly and satisfactorily, the Better Business Bureau will have that information in their report as well.

Next, call the US Department of Transportation to ensure the company has registered properly. Your chosen moving company should have a Department of Transportation number.

Red Flags

Even after you have thoroughly researched a company, you may have a few lingering concerns. If you see any of these red flags, more on to the next company on your list:

- There is no contact information on the company website, and there is no local address for this mover.

- Rather than answering phone calls with the company name, the representative uses general terms to refer to the company. Worse, there isn't a receptionist that answers, just a recorded message.

- The moving company only accepts cash and requires large up-front fees or deposits.

- The moving company claims that their insurance will cover all of your household goods.

- Rather than agreeing to a pre-move inspection of your goods, the mover agrees to move your possessions without seeing them.

- When the moving truck arrives, it is not marked with the company name.

Trust Your Instincts

The biggest factor in making a decision about a mover is your own gut reaction. If something just doesn't feel right to you, go with that initial reaction and move on to another company. There's enough stress involved in moving without having to wonder if you made the right choice in moving companies.