I'll be straight with you: the moving industry has a bad reputation in some corners, and it's earned. There are companies out there that will take your deposit, show up late with an undersized truck, and add charges at the end that weren't in the original quote. Some will hold your belongings until you pay more.
Here's how to protect yourself.
Red flag #1: A quote over the phone with no walkthrough
For small moves - a studio or 1-bedroom apartment - a phone quote is reasonable. But if you're moving a 2-bedroom home or larger, any company that gives you a firm price without doing a walkthrough is guessing. When the actual move takes longer or requires more truck space than they guessed, you'll be the one paying the difference. For anything larger than a 1-bedroom, insist on an in-home or video walkthrough.
Red flag #2: An unusually low quote
If one company's quote is dramatically lower than everyone else's, ask yourself why. Either they're planning to add charges later, they're planning to show up with fewer movers than needed, or they don't actually intend to honor the quote. In moving, you mostly get what you pay for.
Red flag #3: They want a large deposit upfront
Reputable moving companies don't require large deposits. We take a small deposit to hold your date, but we don't collect most of the payment until after the job is done. A company that wants 50% upfront has less incentive to perform.
Red flag #4: No USDOT number
Every legitimate interstate mover and most intrastate movers in Connecticut are required to have a USDOT number. You can verify any company at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov. If they can't give you a number, don't hire them.
Red flag #5: Vague or verbal-only contracts
Get everything in writing - the price, the services included, the liability coverage, the cancellation policy. Read the bill of lading before you sign it on move day. A legitimate company will have no problem with you reading the contract.
Red flag #6: No real address
Some moving brokers operate entirely online with no physical location. They take your job, find whoever will take it for the lowest price, and dispatch them to your door. You have no idea who's showing up. Look for a company with a real facility you could drive to.
Castle Express is at 4 Niblick Rd, Unit A, Enfield, CT. Come by anytime.
What good looks like
A good moving company answers the phone, gives you a real estimate, shows up on time, communicates throughout the job, and bills you exactly what they said they would. It sounds simple because it is. We've been doing it this way since 2013.
If you're trying to figure out whether a company is legitimate, call us and ask - even if you're not hiring us. We're happy to help you think through it.
- Joe Caronna