Everyone in Nashville has heard horror stories of moves that have ended up going horribly wrong. The vast majority of those stories start with a homeowner hiring movers with no research and no personal interaction with the company before the day they arrive.
In some cases, particularly for people making the first move, hiring movers can seem like a very simple activity that requires little in the way of research into the moving company. While there is no need to spend hours and hours online, getting a general understanding of the quality of service, customer care and professionalism of the moving company is necessary work before making a final choice.
For those new to hiring movers, there are three big red flags or big stop signs you should be looking for. Ideally, staying with the larger, well-established local, national and international moving companies is always the best option, and they are often very competitive in their prices and may offer additional services that smaller companies will not.
Cash Only
One of the first and biggest issues to watch out for are movers and moving companies that only accept cash. No reputable moving company will demand cash only payment and most will accept all major credit cards, bank drafts, certified checks and even personal checks.
A cash only request is typically made from movers who either don’t have the money on hand to pay for the cost of moving your items, or companies with constant problems with getting customers to pay. This occurs because of poor service, late arrivals of trucks or with significant issues with damage during the move.
No Address
Some movers will only operate a few weeks or months a year, usually during the busy summer moving season. These companies typically use rental trucks and equipment, and they operate from a computer or a cell phone and not a true business office.
If the moving company won’t provide a physical address, doesn’t have a real street address on their website or is vague about this information, keep looking for a more reputable company.
No In-Home Survey
The best movers in Nashville want customers to have a good understanding of the cost of the move. They will come to the house to complete a free, no-obligation in-home survey. This allows the moving company to not only know what type of moving truck and crew to send, but they can also provide a very accurate binding estimate.
Any movers indicating a home move can be estimated over the phone or through an online checklist should be avoided. A small apartment with minimum furniture may be a practical option for this type of survey, but a full home is not. These surveys never result in a binding estimate, which means the final price may be significantly more than the quote.
