At the moment there are so many horror stories circulating about unprofessional movers that customers find it difficult to trust any moving company at all. So how can you avoid being the next victim of unprofessional movers?
More importantly, how can you make sure the company you hire is on the up and up and won’t engage in illegal tactics to steal your money? As with everything in life, there are no guarantees, but the following four guidelines can help ensure you find a credible, professional company that can provide you with a stress-free moving experience:
Check Out the Company on the BBB
Your first stop in researching your prospective moving company should be the BBB (Better Business Bureau) website. The BBB is a 3rd party organization that aims to provide accountability for businesses. This agency reviews, rates, and gives accreditation to businesses that have shown to conduct themselves at the highest levels of professionalism and customer service.
Are They Insured?
One question you should be asking any company you speak with immediately is whether they carry proper insurance coverage for their workforce. In Ontario this is governed by the WSIB (Workplace Safety Insurance Board).
If employees are working illegally for a company, or the company has not properly set up coverage for their workers, you could potentially be sued if anyone is injured on your property or in the course of carrying out your move. This is an issue that is not as well publicised but also important to look out for. Asking questions about workers’ insurance is a good way to avoid this issue and also speaks to the overall professionalism of the company.
How Are Their Reviews?
The best way to determine if a company is providing great customer service is by researching them online. There are many independently audited 3rd party websites that allow users to post reviews of moving companies (both positive and negative) such as www.yelp.ca and www.homestars.com. Chances are if the company is doing something right (or wrong) somebody has taken the time to log on to one of these websites to write about it.
If a company is well reviewed, has a high volume of reviews, and the reviews are recent, you’re probably looking at a professional organization.
Evaluate Their Prices
Pricing is always a factor when deciding on hiring a moving company, however it can also serve as a great indicator of the level of service you can expect.
One of the hallmarks of disreputable companies is offering extremely cheap hourly rates (sometimes ½ or ¼ of the price of the competition), and this is the primary way these companies market themselves. That doesn’t mean that you should simply hire the most expensive company you encounter in order to ensure you get a good experience, but if a company’s rates are significantly cheaper than the competition something is very wrong.
For more on our commercial moving services, check out our website or call us on (647) 497-7747 or fill out our Contact Form for a free consultation.
