Looking for a new place to live in New York City? Want to find the best neighborhood for your family? Do you not want to go through the painful process of moving?
Relocation in New York City can be very convenient and super friendly if you choose the right moving company to work with. Residential moving services in New York with the right moving company can make your move as easy as ABC.
While there are plenty of movers in NYC that you can find, if you really want to make sure your items arrive at their destination unscathed, you should take the time to do some research. Professional New York City movers might cost more than your friend or a man with a van, but your belongings are better protected. When researching your local residential movers, these tips should tell you whether the company you’re hiring is legitimate.
Moving Inventory
A reputable company will take inventory of all your belongings, either in person or virtually. That way, they can provide you with the most accurate quote. Not only does it make them less liable for potential complaints, but it also allows you to budget all of your moving expenses appropriately. Sure, it’s easy to go with the cheap movers in NYC, especially considering how expensive moving already is, but many ‘cheap’ options often have hidden fees.
Step-by-Step Moving Inventory Checklist
| Inventory Task | Details / Tips |
|---|---|
| Room-by-Room List | Create a list of all items in each room to ensure nothing is forgotten. |
| Take Photos | Photograph all valuable and fragile items to document their condition before the move. |
| Virtual / In-Person Inspection | Have movers inspect your items to provide accurate estimates and reduce surprises. |
| Label Boxes Clearly | Use color-coded or numbered labels to identify rooms and fragile items. |
| Identify Fragile Items | Mark delicate items clearly and specify handling instructions for movers. |
| Check Furniture & Appliances | Note any pre-existing damage and measure large items to ensure they fit in the moving truck and new space. |
| Final Review | Walk through each room one last time to make sure nothing is missed. |
Once you get the estimate, don’t be afraid to ask questions and to clarify certain things if they don’t make sense. Always ask if the quote includes additional fees, such as carrying items up and down the stairs. Some companies will charge extra.
Large Deposit
Professional movers will not demand cash or large deposits before the move. After all, they haven’t delivered a service yet! While some companies might require a small deposit up front, in general, you shouldn’t pay anything until after the move. If you have someone trying to get you to pay for a lump sum upfront, walk away. They are most likely trying to scam you.
Once you do pay for your move, make sure to pay by credit card instead of cash. This way, you can protect yourself from potential fraudulent activity and can track exactly when you paid. Again, if your movers demand cash payment, find another option.
Name Switches
Some scam companies avoid detection by the Better Business Bureau and review sites by switching up their name once they get enough complaints. While it’s not always super obvious when a name switch happens, a good indicator is checking out the year the company was registered. If it’s relatively recent, you probably want to proceed with caution. Not all new moving companies are bad, but it’s a good idea to really do your research.
When looking up the company, make sure that it has a local address and information about its licensing and insurance. Employees should answer the phone with the full name of the business. As well, you should see if there are any other names the company does business as with their state and federal license numbers. With that information, you can do an online search to look for customer complaints.
References
Don’t trust the customer feedback on a company’s site. There’s no way to verify if they are real or not. Instead, you should first ask friends and family what moving companies they have used in the past and their opinions. If no one has moved within the past 3-4 years, you can do a couple of things:
- You can look up reviews online on Yelp, the Better Business Bureau, Google, or the Yellow Pages. If you don’t see any reviews of the company, you might want to look elsewhere.
- You can call up the company directly and ask for three references. If they are reputable, they should be able to provide a list of references who have moved within the last three months. It might be weird, but give them a call and ask them directly about their experiences.
References Verification Checklist for NYC Movers
| Step | Details |
|---|---|
| Request References | Ask the moving company for at least 3 recent customers (within the last 3 months). |
| Verify Contact Information | Call each reference and confirm the date, service, and satisfaction level. |
| Ask About Experience | Inquire about timeliness, professionalism, handling of items, and communication. |
| Check Online Reviews | Cross-reference references with Yelp, BBB, and Google reviews for consistency. |
| Look for Red Flags | No verifiable references, vague answers, or inconsistent feedback may indicate poor service or a scam. |
Most jobs won’t hire an employee without references, and the same should be true for movers. If the mover in NYC you contact cannot provide you with verifiable references, there’s a good chance they are either scamming you or just providing bad service. Either way, you want to avoid hiring them.
Cost-Effectiveness
Everyone wants to save money on their move, but at what point does it become suspicious? While there are certainly affordable moving companies in New York City, if the deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. If you have done your research and found three to four moving services, you should be able to get a quote from all of them. Some companies might list an affordable price on their site to entice potential customers. Just remember that the price can only be finalized if they actually do a walk-through of your apartment.
Professional vs Cheap Movers: Comparison Table
| Criteria | Professional Movers | Cheap Movers |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Higher, transparent, includes fees | Lower upfront, may have hidden costs |
| Insurance | Full coverage for belongings | Minimal or none |
| References | Verifiable, recent customer feedback | Often unavailable |
| Equipment | Trucks, dollies, packing supplies | Limited or personal vehicles |
| Reliability | On-time, professional staff | Unreliable, poor communication |
| Service Level | Packing, loading, unloading, special items | Basic loading/unloading only |
You should also consider how much work you personally want to do when it comes to the move. If you have a busy schedule, you might want to spend the extra money to have the movers pack your belongings. Of course, that will take more time and money, but if you’re a busy banker or lawyer, it might make more sense to eat the extra fees so that you don’t have to worry about getting boxes and organizing your items. On the flip side, if you don’t have money to burn, you will have to consider the cost of getting all of the necessary packing supplies and tools, as you will need to properly wrap, pack, label, and disassemble your furniture.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a professional moving service in New York City, might we suggest ourselves? Great Movers are professional and super friendly residential movers providing services in New York and the surrounding areas. We are an experienced moving company serving the tri-state area for almost a decade. Our Fixed Rate estimates make your residential move affordable and transparent. To handle all your moving needs, Great Movers has all the necessary equipment and fleet, which enables us to deliver as committed.
Before you choose us for your residential move, within New York City or outside the city, go through our reviews at Yelp and yellow pages. If you have any questions or concerns, you can get back to us via email: info@nycgreatmovers.com, or you can give us a call at (718) 407-4137
