Looking into moving companies

[Colleen]

I've used movers long distances 3 times....I can't even talk about it

Oh, no! Have you moved across the country like we're going to do? Our only option here is with Atlas Van Lines and I'm cringing at spending $14,000!

 

[Lara]

Well, keep in mind that there are some good reviews online and some negative. I only saw a few with the issues I've mentioned. But most were short trips, not coast to coast. Read all the negative reviews everywhere online you can find. Do your own packing. It takes twice as long as you think so count on that. The biggest problem areas were when [I think] they would park the truck(s) overnight at the rest stop or "weight station", wherever, and a new shady crew would take over for the rest of the trip. They have all night to go through your things and steal from a 3200sqft house.

Warning, just know that the nice educated gentleman who comes to your house to give you a competitive quote is NOT the type of guy who will be moving you. In fact,I never saw mine again and it's possible the nice lady answering the phone for the company is also someone you will never talk to again...at least that was my experience. My movers that came were all high on something.

Again, try to do all your own packing. Don't label a box saying "jewelry" or "silver". I didn't but still had many valuable things stolen, that can't be replaced. Number your boxes and check the condition of the box. Don't have your mother check off the items as they come off the truck. Some boxes were taken to the attic and weren't opened for ages. So all the while you're thinking, "I'm missing this and that but they're probably in the attic."

At the end of the moving, you will be so tired and therefore not at the top of your game. they know that. They will add charges for nefarious reasons like "extra boxes" used, or "extra padding needed". I needed 3 boxes at the last minute which they charged me $400 for. They will pull you away from the trucks while still being unloaded to sign papers and payment so you dont notice the stuff is missing and don't have time to unpack the boxes because "our guys have to get going".

They wrapped my white couch in clear wrap but I didn't notice it didn't cover the whole couch. Then they shoved it, on it's side, into the truck on a dirty floor.

I used American Van Lines and they were horrible but apparently the reviews are different from state to state. Ask yourlocal police department at both ends of the trip and ask if they've ever had complaints. I read a review once that said they had asked, and the police said they got more complaints about movers than anything else.

 

[Pinky]

I've moved numerous times .. both locally and internationally. I've always had to itemize everything I packed myself. All cartons were numbered, and everything was insured. Only once, was something broken, and that was a life-size Jack Russel Terrier sculpture that shouldn't have been placed at the bottom of the carton.

 

[Jules]

We packed up our house, the professional movers provided the boxes. A number was applied to each item and notes were made if it was a box, chair, table, fragile, etc. Everything was cross-referenced. It was a short drive but our items were all kept in the moving container for a few months until our house was finished. When everything was unloaded, a head man & my husband each checked it off their own lists. Nothing was missing, a couple of things got scratched. We didn’t have moving insurance, just our household insurance.

Nowadays, I’d be taking a photo of everything that goes in each box.