Written by: Kate Becker
Date:

If you decided to hire movers for your upcoming relocation, you’re definitely going in the right direction. But, unfortunately, not all moving companies are good. So, in order to avoid fraudulent ones, you should do a background check on a moving company just in case. Also, a background check will not only keep you away from the moving scam but also help you gather some important pieces of information to make sure a certain team is your right fit. There are a lot of benefits to doing some research before the relocation, and Verified Movers are here to show you what these benefits are, and how to perform a background check. So, stay tuned, and let’s get into it.

Why should you do a background check on a moving company?

Well, we briefly mentioned in the introduction why background checks are so important, but let’s get into more detail. If you’re, for example, moving from or to El Paso, TX, you need to make sure that you hire only the top movers in El Paso. This isn’t possible without some research. You might end up with great movers, but you can’t be sure of it. Research allows you to be 100% sure of your choice. Fraudulent moving companies are all over the place, and doing a background check will help you recognize them without any issues. They are easy to spot when you know what to look for.

One woman showing to another woman how to do a background check on a moving company.
Make sure to do a background check on a moving company as it will help you avoid fraudulent movers.

But, there are more benefits to doing background checks. Each and every relocation is different and every person has different wishes and needs. When it comes to your needs and wishes, not all moving companies can give you everything you’re looking for. Even though they might be legitimate and trustworthy, they might simply not offer the services your move requires. So, if you’re moving from, say Nashville, the largest city in Tennessee, it takes time to find top movers in Nashville who are tailor-made for you. Once again, this problem will be solved by doing a background check.

Checking the licenses is the best place to start

A background check requires several steps, but checking the licenses is as good of a place to start as any. Every moving company has to obtain licenses from certain authorities. This has become a huge business nowadays, and any carrier company is regulated in accordance with state or federal laws. If the company didn’t bother to obtain these permits, there’s instantly something very suspicious about them. More often than not, it will be a case of a fraudulent moving company that’s looking to take advantage of you and other people. Needless to say, these movers need to be avoided. And, to do so, checking the licenses is simply a must.

Where to find out if certain movers are licensed?

Finding a place to check the licenses depends on the nature of the company. Let’s say you’re moving to or from Columbus. You’re obviously going to look for some of the top movers in Columbus to relocate with. However, these movers might operate locally, on long distances, or even across the country. Local and long distance relocation companies are regulated by their respective states. So, that means that the agency to contact, or visit, is the one assigned by the state within which movers are operating in. But, finding out which institution is that won’t take long. It will be done in a matter of minutes by using your web browser.

A man sitting in a white moving van.
All reputable moving professionals have obtained the permits required to transport people’s belongings from one place to another.

When it comes to cross country movers, it’s a different story. They are exclusively regulated on the federal level. Here, we can point you exactly in the right direction. If you’re moving across the country and want to find out if the company is licensed, go to the website of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. There, you can check the company by name, or by their unique USDOT number. This number is given to every licensed moving company in the USA upon registration at the U.S. Department of Transportation. It should be visible on the company’s website. If it’s not, dig a little deeper, or ask the company for it after you get in touch with them.

After making sure the company is licensed, start looking at reviews

The second step of doing a background check on a moving company, and in most cases, the last one you need, is checking the reviews. The importance of reviews is often neglected, but they are truly essential. Moving reviews can help you understand everything there is to know about one company. Whether they are good or bad, they will give you an idea of what to expect, and that’s priceless. Previous clients of certain movers have decided to share their experiences for a reason. It’s to either encourage you to go with the moving professionals in question, or to avoid them.

A man showing a thumb up
If the movers are good, then they’ll have many satisfied clients who will speak on their behalf.

Now, these reviews can be found on multiple websites. However, if you don’t want to jump from one website to another, Verified Movers reviews is the platform where you can find all these testimonials at one place. You can scroll through countless reviews and make sure that the company you’re considering is truly right for you. And, of course, since these reviews are so important, it would be great if you shared your own experience once your move is done and dusted.

Don’t neglect the background check and ensure the safety of your move

So, as you can see, there are many benefits of doing some research before contacting movers. That’s why we strongly advise everyone to do a background check on a moving company and ensure they’ll end up in the safe hands of the finest professionals in the business. Don’t neglect this because your belongings are too valuable and important to be put at risk. We hope this doesn’t take you too long and we wish you a safe move!