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Guide to a Smooth Move

10 Ways to Find a Local Mover You Can Trust

  1. Call the Minnesota Department of Transportation to verify that the company is authorized to do intrastate moving.
    Minnesota Department of TransportationMake sure that any mover that you are considering hiring is duly licensed and authorized to do businessMN Dept of Transportation in Minnesota. Call the Minnesota Department of Transportation at (612) 405-6060 to verify that the mover has authority to operate and to obtain any complaint records on the mover.
     
  2. Contact the Better Business Bureau.
    Check with your local Better Business Bureau about a mover's complaint record. A mover's record with the Better Business Bureau should provide an accurate measure of their safety record.
     
  3. Ask the mover if he or she carries workers' compensation insurance.
    Minnesota law requires that all movers carry workers' compensation coverage. Such insurance adds to the cost of doing business, but it legally protects you. Be wary of a very low bidder that may be cutting costs by cheating on this needed protection. Cheating on workers' comp coverage is a good sign of an unsafe mover.
     
  4. Visit the mover's place of business.
    Verify that the movers' place of business first exists and secondly that it is clean, organized, and properly staffed. A messy and disorganized home office is a good indicator of how the mover will treat your goods.
     
  5. Don't always go with the lowest bidder.
    If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Be wary of always choosing the lowest estimate—choose the mover which you are more comfortable with handling your prized possessions and goods. In the end, the mover will bill you for the actual time that it took to perform the move, regardless of the original estimate.
     
  6. Don't listen to negative comments by sales personnel.
    A high-quality moving firm with a good reputation does not need to criticize another mover in order to make themselves look better. Such tactics are a negative indicator of a company.
     
  7. Check last year's Yellow Pages.
    Was the company listed in last year's Yellow Pages? If not, the company could be a legitimate new moving company. However, it could also mean that the mover's DOT license and authority was revoked and that he or she is trying to operate under a new name.
     
  8. Talk to the Owner.
    Unless it is a larger mover, you should be able to talk to the owner of a moving company. If you can talk to the owner of the moving company, if only by telephone, you should be able to develop a feeling of confidence that he or she is experienced and capable enough to assure a professional move.
     
  9. Get a recommendation.
    Ask the mover for a recommendation from a satisfied customer. Remember, a mover is only as good as their reputation.
     
  10. Is the company a member of MTSA?
    MTSA works hard to maintain high safety standards for the household goods moving industry. To that end, we educate the moving industry on proper ethics and on the importance of safety in this industry. Participation in this association is a good indicator of a safe moving company. All moving companies listed on the MTSA Moving Guide are members of Minnesota Transport Services Association.

 

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