When you spend money to hire professional NYC movers, you expect a certain level of professionalism in their attitude, services, and, most importantly, results. After all, hiring expert movers means that you don’t have to worry about anything besides potentially packing and disassembling some furniture. However, not all movers are created equal. Yes, there are experienced movers that you can trust, but there are plenty of other shady companies that will provide you with subpar service.
Most of the time, people end up hiring incompetent movers because they are looking for a bargain. That’s not to say you can’t find good and affordable city movers, it just means that you need to do a bit more homework instead of hiring the cheapest movers in New York City. So how do you know if the people you’re hiring actually know what they’re doing? There are several things you should look for.
They Are Properly Licensed
All professional movers are required by law to be registered and authorized by both the United States Department of Transportation to perform moving services. In addition to the standard license from the USDOT, many states require moving companies to register for a state license.
An expert moving company in NYC will proudly list both license numbers in an easy to find place on their website. If you can’t find it, you can always call and ask for their license numbers. Most will be happy to provide it. From there, you’ll need to enter the number on the FMCSA site to make sure that the license is still valid. You’ll want to look for the following fields:
- Out of service – this should say NO, which means the license is still valid
- Household Goods – this should say YES, which means they are licensed to move household goods
- Safety Ranking – this should say SATISFACTORY, which means that they are probably following safety procedures and using the equipment properly.
They Offer Insurance
You know you’re choosing a trustworthy moving company when they have their own insurance policy. All moving companies are required to assume liability for any item they move. That way if an item is damaged at any point during the move, the company will reimburse you. Of course, not all liability coverage is created equal.
Most moving companies offer the basic protection also known as Released Value. This protection comes at no charge, but it does only reimburse you for $0.60 per pound, per item and it doesn’t allow punitive damage claims. While the reimbursement might seem reasonable at first glance, remember that it’s $0.60 per pound. That means if your 15 pound flat screen TV gets damaged, you’re only getting reimbursed $9.
Luckily, most reputable moving companies also offer full value protection, but it’s not free. With that said, if you own a lot of valuable items, it might be worth the extra cost for some peace of mind. As the name suggests, Full Value Protection means the movers will assume the full cost of repairs or replacement value of any goods that have been damaged or gone missing while in their custody.
In addition to protecting your belongings, you should also make sure the company has both worker’s compensation and public liability insurance. Both will protect you against potential injury claims should a mover or passerby sustain injury during the move. Instead, the moving company will take full responsibility.
They Have a Good Reputation
Thanks to the internet, it’s now easier than ever to quickly see whether a company is reputable or not. Barring review bombing, most people who leave reviews for companies either do so because they had a great or horrible experience. Sites like Yelp, Google and the Yellow Pages serve as excellent references on the company and give you an idea of what to expect. Of course, even the best companies might get a bad review, but you can tell the mark of an expert moving company because they will respond professionally and work to rectify the issue as soon as possible.
You can also check more professional sites like the Better Business Bureau which keeps track of complaints lodged against a company. Generally speaking, the BBB rating and the user reviews tend to line up. However, there are companies who post and/or buy fake reviews. If you notice a discrepancy between the amount of complaints on the BBB site and user reviews, then you probably want to avoid using that moving company.
They Answer Your Questions Clearly
When you’re looking for a moving company, it might seem like they are at an advantage, but you have all the leverage in the beginning, so make sure to take advantage of it. There are hundreds of inexpensive movers in New York and you want to make sure you’re choosing the right one for you. That means you need to take the time to ask them important questions such as:
- How long have they been in business
- Do they have the appropriate tools and vehicles for the move
- Do they have experience with your particular move (ex. Moving a piano, moving into a high rise)
- What extra fees do they charge (long carry, stairs, etc)
If they’re having a hard time answering these questions, it means that they are either scammers or bad movers. Remember, even if you asked for a quote, it’s non-binding and you’re able to move on if you don’t like what you hear. If you’re ready to work with a moving company, make sure that they provide all the required documents like order of service, Bill of Lading, valuation addendum, inventory lists, receipts, etc. and read them over very carefully to confirm all the details. If something isn’t clear or not included, do not sign!
They Have Experience
How long has the company been in business? The longer the movers have been around, the more experience they have dealing with different obstacles, circumstances, requirements, and challenges. A company that has a long tenure also means that they provide service that enough people find satisfactory to remain open. So, before you sign that contract check to see how long the company has been open. Sure, not all new moving companies are scams, but many scammers tend to start new companies when their old one gets flagged in the Better Business Bureau or gets a lot of negative reviews on Yelp.
Speaking of experience, if you own large furniture items like a piano, antique furniture, pool table, etc. you should make sure the company has experience moving them. While these items might be heavy, they are also quite delicate and require certain care and treatment to make sure that they remain undamaged. It’s also important that the movers also know how to deal with different building situations. Again, experienced NYC movers will know the various requirements of buildings and will be able to provide important documents like a certificate of insurance should a building require it.
Conclusion
Finding an expert moving company in NYC isn’t impossible, but it does require some planning and research. You might not get the most affordable packers and movers, but the extra cost means you’re getting a trustworthy moving service.
Even if everything seems to line up, if you just have a bad feeling about the company, trust it. You might not be able to pinpoint the exact reason why the company is setting off alarms, but it’s important to go with your gut. Doing so allows you to stay in control of the situation, which can be the difference between having your belongings arrive safe and sound in your new home.
FAQ
Is NYC Great Movers Licensed?
You bet. Our license numbers are as follows: US DOT 2180117 / NYS DOT 39493/MC 919428
How long have you been in operation?
We have been around since 2011 and have only grown in size and reputation since.
Do you move special items like pianos?
We can move pianos. For other large items, you should contact us directly to provide more information on the item. Please note that we only offer basic disassembly, so for anything that requires special tools (ex. Murphy bed), you will need to do it yourself or hire a handyman.
