What’s The Best Way To Find A Moving Company?

Finding a trustworthy moving company is a difficult process. The last thing you need when making an international move is to get stuck in a scam. It might seem like a trivial decision, but a lot can go wrong when moving internationally.

Here are some of the best ways to find a moving company and how to ensure they are trustworthy and will take good care of your belongings, especially if you’re moving around the world.

How to Choose an International Moving Company

When moving internationally, you cannot afford to lose your things. It’s expensive enough as it is to move around the world, let alone dealing with the cost of replacing stolen, lost or damaged property.

Here are a few ways to choose an international moving company that you can trust:
• Ask for referrals from friends, family and coworkers.
• Ask at least three different companies for an estimate, so you can compare prices.
• Ask your real estate agent (if you have one) for referrals.
• Look online for the ‘best international moving company near (your city”).
• Check for positive reviews, social media presence, but avoid any advertisements that show a general truck or image without showing logos.

Overall, your goal is to find a company with a proven track record of quality, secure, and on-time moves and reasonable prices.

When to Hire Movers

You should start looking for a professional moving company a few months before your move and ideally select your moving company by four to eight weeks before the move. When moving internationally, it’s especially important to have plenty of time but also most good movers get booked out months in advance, so if you’re looking last-minute for a mover, they might not be the highest quality for your move.

How to Confirm a Global Moving Company is Legit

It’s hard to find a legit global moving company that won’t charge you extra and will ensure your stuff arrives safely to anywhere in the world it needs to go. Here are some things to check for and red flags to avoid when hiring a global moving company.

First, you should confirm that their prices are reasonable. On average, it costs from $300 to $1,500 to hire a professional moving company, but the cost varies depending on your destination and the amount of stuff you have. Long-distance moves can cost up to $2,400 to $5,000. You can use moving cost calculators like this one to get an estimate. If you get a quote from a moving company that is out of this price range, like ridiculously low or high, you should think twice about hiring them.

Additionally, if you get quotes from multiple different professional moving companies then you can compare pricing to make sure it is reasonable. Plus, then you can ask them to compete against each other, allowing them to offer you the best price for their services.

Do not pay cash or a large deposit. Professional moving companies will not charge a cash deposit or large deposit (like anything over 20%) before the move. If you get asked to pay movers before they move you, it’s likely a scam. Do not use the company because you will not have control over what they do with your belongings.

Pro tip – when you do pay for your move, use a credit card that has fraud protection, if you can. That way, if something does go south you at least have some protection from your credit card company.

Check for the companies’ licensing and insurance. Every moving company should have licenses and insurance to move. The U.S. Department of Transportation requires a U.S> DOT number for licensed interstate movers. You can verify the license2 through this site: https://www.protectyourmove.gov/. If a company doesn’t offer that or refuses to answer whether or not they are licensed and insured, then they are likely a scam and you should not use them.

Ask about their professional accreditations. Most trade associations will vet companies before they receive accreditation or membership. In the U.S. the moving professional accreditation is the American Moving and Storage Association. They have a website at Moving.org where you can check for their approved companies.

Check the Better Business Bureau for the companies track record. Most companies are registered with the BBB and if past customers have filed any complaints against a professional moving company, they would show up there. If a company isn’t listed on the BBB, or has a poor rating, consider going elsewhere for your global moving needs.

Finding a professional international moving company is not impossible, but it can take a little time and research to find the best fit for your needs and budget. However, if you’re in the Washington DC area, then you’re in luck.

Select a One of the Best Professional Moving Companies In the Washington DC Area

The right international moving company can make or break your moving experience. As a reliable moving and shipping company, we help to ensure the process goes smoothly and with as little stress as possible.

With almost 40 years of experience shipping and moving internationally from the DC area, 1 Stop Pack N Ship is Montgomery County’s premier packaging and shipping center and one of the best local international moving companies. But we also offer residential, commercial and domestic door to door shipping services from Maryland MD, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware and Washington DC.

As far as destinations, 1 Stop Pack N Ship has custom packing and crating with pick up, packing and shipping to anywhere in the world.

Our services and pricing vary depending on your budget, destination and time frame so contact us today for a free quote on moving and shipping your things internationally. We guarantee that your move will be satisfactory because you are in good hands with one of the best international moving companies in the Washington DC area.