The joy and even the angst of relocating should never be made more difficult by hiring the wrong moving company or having to deal with additional costs, hidden fees, or rogue movers. By knowing the signs and vetting both reputable and non-reputable companies, you are setting yourself up for success.

Moving scams are real and if you or your clients have ever been victimized, you know how difficult the frustration and struggle is to get your property. While real estate agents are typically not involved in the moving aspect of home relocation, they can provide advice or even provide a list of potential sources to make the move a simple and scam-free process.

Once you know what to look for, spotting bad movers is not as difficult as you would think. It will require a little research but nothing too extensive. Some of the key things your clients can do to avoid moving scams are (see more below):

Online company check: Review their history, reviews, website, and even previous clients if that information is available, and make sure they’re insured.

Face-to-face quote: Always ensure moving companies come to the house and do a thorough inventory so they can prepare an accurate quote. If they will only provide a quote online or via phone, be concerned and wary!

Too-good-to-be-true quotes: Learn the LOCAL going rate by calling movers. You will find most are within 10% of each other with various options and associated fees. When you get a quote that is unrealistically low, it is often a sign the movers are not legitimate or have hidden costs or unfounded open truck/unpack fees.

Written contracts: If you want to ensure your legal options can be exercised (and won), make sure any agreement is in writing and breaks down what is and is not provided as well as all costs associated with the move. If you cannot get a written contract or the contract does not itemize the services and fees, avoid the moving company. It is that simple.

According to the “Protect Your Move” campaign by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, one in 10 consumers who move falls victim to this scam. The easiest solution to this issue—always put it in writing! The most important thing you can do to protect yourself is to have a written contract that clearly states what the mover will do as part of the terms of the contract. If the contract is vague or does not specifically identify what they are responsible for, you will need to resolve that issue before signing any moving contract. Like all home buyers, you want to save money when they move, not get caught with shady fees at the end of the moving company transaction.

Have you ever received a quote that is suspiciously low compared to other quotes? Maybe the quote offered way more than competitors are offering. Occasionally, these are legitimate; but if it looks too good to be true, it often is. Which leads me to discuss hidden fees...

If you have not seen this low quote scam, it usually involves a low quote that does not breakdown what the costs are specifically for. Before the move is completed, they provide a new list of costs for charges that were not identified in the original agreement.

Ten of the more common hidden moving fees consumers may experience include:

• Gas fees: Gas costs to pick up and deliver items (this is typically already included in the quote).
• Assembly/disassembly: Charge to take apart or put items back together (i.e. beds, electronics, wardrobes).
• Bulk items: Piano, large appliances, outdoor equipment, etc.
• Environmental: Typically seen as a disposal fee. Customers should find out if they should get rid of the packing materials, if the movers do that and it’s included in the quote, or if the movers do that for an additional fee.
• Insurance: An additional insurance charge is something consumers should not pay for. Moving companies are required to assume liability for the items they are moving. This either takes the form of full value protection (replacement) or an alternative level of liability (percentage-based).
• Packing labor/supplies: This can be costly, so consumers should understand what they are and are not getting.
• Storage fee: Delays happen. Clients should identify upfront what happens if they cannot take possession at the agreed upon date and time.
• Tips: Often encouraged, but your clients should pay what they’re are comfortable with, not a value the movers are pushing them for.
• Transportation: For international moves, consumers should understand the transport methodology and the associated costs.
• Tolls: You should never pay for the moving company’s tolls. That should be included.
• Weight-Based: This is where a company gives a low quote based on weight estimate but a new and higher price once they drive to the scale and weigh the goods. Another way these movers try to fool customers is by adding weight to the truck before weighing it. A few of the most common approaches are filling up an empty gas tank and adding items or even people to the truck getting weighed. If a consumer suspects this has happened, they should request a reweigh while they’re present.

Let me know if you want the names of companies some of my clients have used in the past. :-)