How to Avoid Moving Scams

Moving day is the last day you want to find that you're being scammed. Sometimes, movers will arrive with your furniture but demanding thousands more than what was originally quoted. As a veteran of this business, I hate to see people fall victim to scammers. So, I have written this article in hopes of saving everyone a bit of hassle and expense.Work with a Reputable CompanyMake sure  you're working with a reputable company. Check their online reputation and see what others have to say about them. Ask your friends or co-workers if they are familiar with moving companies, in case they can give you a referral. You might check the better business bureau, too. If they are members in good standing, you are probably in good hands.ContractInspect the contract you're signing. Check to make sure there is no room to budge on the price. Make sure everything is in writing, signed, and that the contract is enforceable. That is, make sure that everything in the contract is legal and in line with the laws of your state and town. If there are any discrepancies regarding the fees, make sure to discuss these prior to signing. If  you cannot fully understand the contract, then please do not sign it. Ask a friend or family member to go over it with you, particularly if they have experience dealing with legal agreements. If something goes wrong on moving day, the contract may be the only thing to save you.Moving Out of StateIf you are moving out of state, chances are that your items will be shipped separate from you. You may plan to meet the movers at your destination since the moving truck will usually move far more slowly than your family vehicle. If this is the case, get it in writing that your moving company will do all of the moving themselves – the whole way. Some companies will ?sell? your payload to other movers along the way, these unknown movers may turn around and do the same a few towns over. In order to make profit, the final company will pass the inflated price to you, claiming a discrepancy in the weight or some other issue. Avoid this sort of scam before it starts.WeightSometimes, companies will claim that your payload is far heavier than initially anticipated and then hold your belongings hostage on moving day. There can be weight discrepancies between the estimate and the actual weight, but make sure that these allowances are taken care of in the contract. This way, any additional charges can be capped before they get out of hand.