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How to Spot Shady Moving Companies

If you find yourself having to move down the street, across the city, moving from one district or another, or moving across the region, or better yet, moving across state lines, you don’t want to scramble for a moving company. You don’t want to put yourself in a situation where you’re asking around desperately to be told about the right moving companies. That’s too late.

You have to be a little bit more proactive. You have to have at least some rough idea of what kind of moving services you are looking for because let me tell you, there are tons of moving companies and services out there. People would tell you what they think you need to hear. They would tell you about stuff that you think you want to hear. And at the end of the day, it’s all too predictable. You either would feel that you did not get your full money’s worth, or worse yet, the unthinkable happens.

Whether its stuff getting stolen, or broken, or misplaced, or stuff getting rerouted, you end up with a tremendous headache on your hands. The worst part to all of this is that it did not have to happen. You did not have to take this route. Things could have been handled so much more smoothly.

This is where proper company selection comes in. Moving companies are not created equal. There are many different people in that industry, like any other industries. Most people are professional. Most people want to provide solid value for the value of your money. In other words, most people are on the up and up.

Unfortunately, it’s the tiny fraction of unscrupulous and highly unprofessional people that give the rest of the other moving companies a bad name. If you don’t know what you’re doing and you don’t know what to do and when to do it, chances are quite good that you might be doing business with those wrong moving companies. This can then open many months of ordeal. This can lead to all sorts of headaches and problems and yes, it can lead to you losing a lot more money than if you had chosen to use the right moving company in the first place.

The bottom-line is simple. Finding out how to do things right early on is the right way to go. Everybody is going to agree on this. This is not open for negotiations. This is not an opinion. This is just a plain fact. With that said, finding out how to do things right is harder than looking for problems. This, too, is obvious. Because if you aren’t looking to do things right, you basically would have to come up with a solid bulletproof game plan from day one.

Using a Moving Company

If you are like the typical American, you are a very busy person. You have a lot of other things that you’d rather be doing. You have a lot of things that you have your mind on, and the last thing that you want is to come up with some sort of bullet proof plan so you can safely move from point A to point B.

Thankfully, there is a better alternative. Look for problems. Believe it or not, knowing the right red flags can save you a lot of headaches and time, both immediately and down the road. What makes it all work is the fact that it’s easier to look for red flags than coming up with a plan to pick out the very best.

When you’re trying to figure out what the very best is, there are also some issues because hey, let’s face it, ultimately, “the best” is subjective. It really is a judgment call. What is the best for you might not be all that good for me. In fact, what you think is awesome might be flat out disappointing to me and vice versa. However, if we were to flip the script, we make things so much easier for ourselves because we’re just focused on the red flags.

We then look through many different companies and figure out how many red flags each of them has, and then we pick out the company that has the least amount of red flags. Ideally speaking, the company should have no red flags at all. Again, it’s easier to look for red flags than picking out the very best, so you need to keep your eyes peeled for the following red flags.

Red flag #1: Extremely flexible pricing

You might think that this is a good thing. You might think that when you pick up the phone and you are given a verbal quote for a moving price that is a little bit higher, then you show up, you work out a deal, and then the person would verbally agree to a lower price. You might think that this is awesome, but it can actually work against you because by the time they provide a service and everything is said and done, they whip out a written bill that is very different from your verbal agreements.

You then are forced to either fight it out in small claims court or just avoid the unnecessary drama and headaches and fork over money that you originally didn’t think you’d have to spend. Do you see how this works? Talk about a letdown.

Red flag #2: They won’t commit to anything in writing

If you notice that the company insists on doing anything verbally, this should tip you off. This should make you worry. At the very least, this should make you think why they won’t commit to any sort of documentation.

It should be quite obvious. They’re trying to dance around commitment. In other words, they don’t want to box themselves in because they probably would try to get a few more dollars out of you. Well, if you notice this sign, stay away. Seriously. You don’t want to hassle with having to feel like you’re pulling teeth later on to figure out which costs are justified, which costs are agreed on, and which costs are basically just rip offs.

Red flag #3: No uniforms

This should be quite obvious. If you’re dealing with a company that claims to be a professional moving company, the least that they can do is provide their staff with some sort of uniform. A uniform can go a long way in telling you how serious the company is in doing business.

If they can’t even be counted on to provide uniforms for their staff, it’s anybody’s guess as to what their actual protocols and procedures would be. It can be very chaotic. It can be extremely improvised. And at the end of the day, you’re the one who’s going to hold an empty bag. You’re the one who’s going to be suffering due to that lack of professionalism and standardization.

Red flag #4: Only one sized truck

Insist on asking about their trucks. If they tell you that they only have big trucks that should be a red flag. What do you think happens to the empty space left over on those trucks? That’s right, you would probably be paying for that empty space.

It costs money to have a huge fleet of big trucks. Now, if you’re dealing with a company that has many different sized trucks so they can send the right truck to match the size of your moving project, then you know you’re dealing with a professional. At the very least, you gain some peace of mind in the fact that you won’t be paying for extra truck space that you don’t end up using.

Red flag #5: Limited number of trucks

If the company only has one truck, this should be enough for you to turn around and check your mobile phone to look for another service provider. If the company has a very limited number of trucks but they claim to service your whole state, something doesn’t add up. It has no way of adding up. You’re dealing with somebody that’s trying to pull the wool over your eyes. Something’s going on, and it doesn’t smell right.

Red flag #6: Zero moving equipment and tools

This is a very big red flag. If you’re dealing with a  company that has zero moving equipment and doesn’t properly equip their personnel, not only would you have a problem moving because it would take longer than necessary, you might also be exposing yourself to all sorts of legal liability.

If people get hurt during the moving process or get hurt at your premises before the moving process, you might be on the hook. At the very least, getting off the hook can rob you of tie effort and energy. Who has the time? Don’t put yourself in that situation. Insist on the proper moving.

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8 Signs You Need the Help of an Austin Moving Company

Usually, when people think about moving, the first thing that they think about is the cost. This is why there are so many self-help moving companies. You just rent a truck, and you are ready. For the most part, this works for most Americans. If you are just moving from point A to point B, and you are not moving all that much stuff, the typical self-service moving arrangement would be enough for you.

However, there are certain situations where you need professional help. In these situations, you need to get in touch with an Austin moving company. Make no mistake about it. In many cases, trying to do things on your own might end up creating more problems than it solves.

Do yourself a big favor and pay attention to the eight signs below because ultimately you cannot do it all. In many situations, it does not even make sense for you to try. You might end up wasting a lot more money later if things get misplaced, broken or even stolen. If you notice that the eight signs below are present in your situation, you might want to consider looking up moving companies Austin TX residents trust with their moving needs.

The good news is that there is a tremendous amount of Austin moving companies that can help you with your particular needs. You just have to be clear as to what those needs are. However, to get to that point, make sure that the following signs are present in your particular situation. Now, keep in mind that you do not have to insist that all eight signs need to be existent. If you have more than four, then you probably would need professional moving help.

Signs For Moving Company Quality

Sign #1

You do not have Time to Plan Your Move

If you are a very busy executive, and you are basically traveling all over the place for business, you probably do not have time to plan your move. Unfortunately, you need to move quickly. So, how do you reconcile these two competing issues? Very simple. You hire a professional mover. You instruct them to plan the move for you; you ask them to track everything; and put together a service package. You then pay for the service. This maximizes your peace of mind. Thankfully, this is exactly the kind of service many Austin moving companies provide.

Sign #2

You Need to Move Quickly

If you need to move from point A to point B speedily, you might not have the luxury of time to do it yourself. Maybe there is just so much stuff to be packed. Perhaps there is just so much stuff to move around. Maybe you cannot find family and friends to help you with your move. Whatever is holding you back, you can easily solve these issues by just hiring professional Austin moving companies.

Sign #3

You have Tons of Stuff to Move

Even if you have a buddy who could help you with your move, that may not be enough because if you have a lot of stuff to move, it would simply be too much of a headache to try to do things yourself. You have to remember that professional movers are in the business of moving stuff as quickly, safely and efficiently as possible. They can run circles around whatever it is you are trying to do. So, if you are feeling frustrated regarding the amount of stuff you have to transport, seek professional moving services.

Sign #4

Your Items Need Special Packing

Let us face it. A lot of homeowners suck at packing. You really do. There is no need to be ashamed of it. You just have to acknowledge it. I am sure you are pretty good at other things, but you may not be all that competent when it comes to learning how to pack fragile or sensitive materials the right way. If you have a lot of items that need special packing and require particular attention, you may need professional help. They know what to do; they have the proper protocol, and they can ensure that your materials will get to where they need to go in one piece.

Sign #5

You are Shorthanded

If you are going to be moving, and you cannot find enough people to help you, do yourself a big favor and stop banging your head against the wall. Stop being frustrated. Just pick up that phone, contact one of the many Austin moving companies so you can get the professional help that you need.

Sign #6

You Do Not Want to Make Several Trips

Depending on how much stuff you have, and depending on the particular logistical details of your move, it may not make sense for you to make the move in one trip. In many cases, it might not even be physically possible. Whatever the case may be, if you find yourself in a situation where you have to make several trips, you might want to fix the problem once and for all by hiring a professional moving company. They know what it takes just to make one trip. They have the right equipment to ensure that your move only takes one trip.

Sign #7

Even after Storage, You would still have Excessive Stuff

If you noticed that even after you have put a lot of your stuff into local storage, you, nonetheless, have stuff to move; this might throw a monkey wrench in your do-it-yourself moving plans. This is a serious problem because if you have abundant stuff that you have to move, and that you cannot store, doing stuff yourself might lead to certain issues. Stuff might get misplaced. Items may get lost or even broken.

Do yourself a big favor and prioritize the stuff you really need to move. This is not stuff that would be nice to move. This is not material that would be a luxury to move. Instead, this is material that you need to move. If you noticed that there are a lot of items that fall under that heading, you might need a professional moving assistance.

Sign #8

You Do Not Know how to Move Sensitive Items Efficiently and Effectively

Even if you are super competent in many areas of your life, chances are quite good that you are rather inefficient when it comes to moving. Hey, no need to beat yourself up. You cannot do everything. The best plan of action is to acknowledge your shortcomings and limitations and get professional help. Sure, anybody can stuff boxes. Anybody can put those boxes in a truck, and most people can drive a truck.

The problem here is whether you can do all of that efficiently and effectively. You have to remember that if you are like the typical person moving from one point in the United States to another point, time is at a premium. You do not have the luxury of waiting around. You do not have the luxury of learning the ropes so things would speed up rather than slow down.

Do yourself a big favor and hire one of the many Austin moving companies. Insist on working only with moving companies Austin TX residents trust with their transfer. Make no mistake about it. Austin moving companies are not created equal. You have to keep your eyes peeled when selecting among the many different service providers out there. This way, you can increase the likelihood that you have a solid company and a solid experience.