When hiring a moving company in Texas, customers should research services carefully to ensure they are dealing with a legitimate mover and not a scammer.

Rogue movers present themselves as professional movers; however, instead of providing this service, they load up a customer’s belongings and then ransom them.

How can anyone tell the difference between a trusted and respected local moving service and a scammer looking to take advantage of them?

Follow these tips to find out!

1. What Is Their Online Presence Appearance?

A respected and licensed moving company will always have a professional website where customers can contact them.

They may also have social media pages, local business directory listings, other online listings, and more points of contact where customers can see that they are an established business.

Avoid movers that do not have a professional website or show up in local searches by name or have a personal phone number as a contact number, as this is a red flag that this is not a real nd established local business.

In addition, companies that show up with unmarked trucks lacking logos or business names and with movers who are not wearing some kind of uniform or business identification should also be viewed with suspicion.

2. Are They Licensed To Operate As A Moving Service?

To operate any interstate or local moving service within the state of Texas, movers are required to hold a valid state certification and a federal license.

Movers should be able to provide a TxDMV license number and a USDOT license number, both of which can be researched online to confirm their active status.

Without either of those licenses, the company is considered to be operating illegally.

3. Will They Provide An In-Home Free Estimate?

Federal law requires licensed movers to provide a free, in-home estimate of all moving services being requested.

Avoid hiring any services that will not do an in-person estimate or refuse to provide an in-home estimate in writing as a moving proposal and contract which lists all of their policies.

The contract should state that fees may not be changed once the document is signed unless both the mover and customer agree to those changes.

4. Are There Any Complaints Against The Movers?

Research local moving services with the Better Business Bureau to learn the company’s business reputation and whether any complaints have been filed against them.

Also check with the American Moving and Storage Association to see if the service is certified there.

Member businesses and those with a good BBB standing are unlikely to be scammers.

5. Have They Provided A “Rights and Responsibility” Brochure?

In Texas, all licensed moving companies are required to provide customers with a “Rights and Responsibilities When You Move In Texas” brochure that explains moving laws within the state and how customers are protected.

If they are unable to provide this brochure prior to loading items onto their trucks, this is another red flag that the company may not be trustworthy.

Avoid Scams and Poor Service By Choosing Trusted Local Moving Services

With so much competition in the moving companies industry, choosing a trustworthy company requires a bit of research.

Fortunately, respected movers are easy to determine from the crowd using these 5 identifying tips.

Before signing any contracts, make sure a local moving service meets all of these qualifications.

In doing so, customers hiring trustworthy, respected movers will receive better service and peace of mind that their belongings are in good honest hands.