Picking the Right Mover Should Be First on Your List

Despite the slow real estate market, millions of people are hiring movers, packing boxes, loading up the truck and getting on with their lives.

"The most important thing you need to do when you're preparing for a move is to put your to-do list together," said Linda Bauer Darr, president and chief executive of the American Moving and Storage Association. The hard part is figuring out how much stuff you're trying to move and how long it will take you to get it all together, she said.

"People lose perspective, and they get excited about their new house, and they think about the house they're leaving. Hiring a mover is at the bottom of their list," she said. "The first thing I'm going to do is figure out the mover I'm going to hire. It might not be sexy or glamorous, but it's important."

If you hire a moving company, "ask your friends or family for movers with which they have felt comfortable," said Steve J. Bernas, president and chief executive of the Chicago region of the Better Business Bureau of Chicago and Northern Illinois. "Then, get a listing of our accredited moving companies online. Do your own research and ask around."

There's no easy way to pick a good mover, he said. Finding a company that won't rip you off requires some serious homework.

"The Internet is a good tool, but consumers need to realize that just because a company's on the Internet doesn't mean it's a good company," he said.

Darr said you should check out a moving company in person. "The company's office will mirror the kind of service you can expect and will help you identify whether or not the movers are a real company."

Moving companies must be licensed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Check out your mover online at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov. You can learn from the site whether a company is licensed, bonded and insured.

Bernas recommended that you ask how long the business has been operating, which you can check online with the agency that regulates businesses in your state; whether it has the proper insurance (ask to see a certificate); how personal goods are handled; what type of wrap is used; whether climate-controlled trucks are used; whether storage facilities will be climate-controlled if your items are being stored between moves; whether you can speak with clients who have used the service; whether employees' backgrounds are checked; and whether the workers who will move your furniture are employees or independent contractors.

Moving experts recommend that you get estimates from at least three moving companies. The best estimates come from a visit to the home, where the mover can assess how much you have and predict how long it will take to pack it onto the truck and unpack it at your new home.

"It is a hassle," Darr said. "Each one can take an hour or two, but it's well worth it."

While the movers are there, you should ask how much they charge for supplies. Then compare their prices to the cost of buying moving supplies at stores like Staples, Office Depot and Costco.