Nowadays consumers search more and more for service providers online. Using search engines to help find the best service provider however, sometimes consumers come up with rogue companies. A recent report by the U.S. Commerce Committee discloses that most of the complaints on movers from 2005 to 2011 came from people who had hunted for moving services on the Internet and ended working with an Internet moving broker without even realizing that they were actually using the services of a broker.

Finding reputable movers to handle your relocation professionally is not so easy. You have to run some background check to ensure that your movers are capable of executing your moving job flawlessly and timely.
Here are some features to check out on movers’ website that will give you a hint whether you should give a try to the particular moving company. This clues should only be considered as a basic check.

Company info & Contact Information

Reputable moving companies provide their full contact information – phones, office address, fax and email contact. Most professional cross country movers even provide their customers a toll free number.

License Information

Reputable movers provide their license information on their website. Under Federal Law, every interstate mover must be licensed with the US Department of Transportation to operate legitimately throughout the USA. The mover US DOT number should be visible on the company website. If the mover decline to provide you with the US DOT number, then be sure that there might be some safety violations on the carrier’s public record, or even worse – your mover might not be registered with the US Department of Transportation.

Affiliations and awards

Look for affiliations with credible associations. Check out if your mover is BBB accredited or a member of moving association such as the American Moving and Storage Association – AMSA, FIDI -The International Federation of International Movers, or Overseas Moving Network International -OMNI. All of these organizations are dedicated to constantly improve the standards, the business practices and the ethics in the Moving Industry.

Services provided

Reputable interstate movers provide extensive information about the services they offer. Plus, they provide instant free moving quotes. Professional moving companies offer storage, hoisting, piano and art handling solutions along with the basic moving service. Before booking an interstate movers, make sure they have the needed competency to handle your moving job.

Payment

Professional interstate movers also provide information on the payment options. Never pay your movers cash. In case of a dispute, you wouldn’t be able to indicate payment. Reputable moving companies offer debit & credit card, personal checks and money orders options to pay your moving cost.

Moving Tips and Resources

Most reliable movers also provide helpful moving tips and advice, and also resources in order to help their customers move fast and easy. Look through the potential moving company website and see if you can find some beneficial advice on how to manage your relocation stress free and avoid trouble situations. Moreover, on the moving day your mover must provide you by Federal Law with the “Your Rights and Responsibilities” booklet by the FMCSA.

Testimonials

Loyal moving companies have nothing to hide. See if the potential movers have listed some testimonials on their website. Furthermore, as there might not be any contact information on the website listed, ask the moving company whether they can provide you with a reference and a phone number, so you can possibly speak with a previous customer.

This clues should only be considered as a basic check. Do your homework, and run an extensive check on the potential mover. Do not work with a randomly picked moving company.

Author Bio: Manuella Irwin is an online marketer and a moving professional at MyMovingReviews.com