Why Licensing and Insurance Matter When Hiring Tri-Cities Movers
Using Tri-Cities movers to help you transition to your new home means placing the precious items you’ve accumulated in your life into their hands. You want your items to be treated with care and respect, so it is vital to ensure the people you hire are not only licensed movers but are a fully insured moving company. As your local, fully licensed, insured moving company, we at Speedy Movers don’t want you to fall prey to moving scams.
To do this, we are going to highlight the risks of working with unlicensed moving companies, explain how proper licensing protects customers, and provide guidance on how to verify a mover’s credentials.
Why Hiring Licensed Movers Matters:
When you work with licensed movers, they will have local and state licenses. Depending on their range of service, they may also have multi-state and international licenses. By having these licenses, they must comply with state and federal moving regulations. This not only holds the company accountable for its services, but it acts as a safety net to protect customers should something go awry.
For example, should you be performing an inter-state move, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires moving companies to provide customers with the booklet entitled Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move. This booklet, in turn, helps customers understand the documents that a mover will ask them to sign as well as an explanation of their rights if their household goods are lost or damaged.
The Role of Insurance in Moving Services:
No moving company is immune from accidents; they can happen at any time and not to the fault of the company. That is why insurance is critical. Insurance protects customers against damaged or lost items.
Fully insured and licensed movers are federally mandated to provide at least Basic Liability Coverage. This means that should an item be determined as damaged, the moving company is required to pay $0.60 per pound. For example, if the damaged item were to weigh 50 lbs, you would receive $30.00 in compensation should they be unable to fix it.
However, most Tri-Cities movers offer additional insurance options for an added cost. These Full-Value Protection policies provide much better coverage. For example, most policies state that if something is lost, damaged, or destroyed, the moving company must repair it, replace it, or reimburse you for its current market value.
As a mover, the best course of action you can take is to ask your moving company about their insurance policies and review them carefully, as it will be highly dependent on the conditions of your move whether purchasing additional insurance is worthwhile.
The Risks of Hiring Unlicensed or Uninsured Movers:
Is your neighbor’s cousin offering to make your move for you? While he may be offering a low cost to move your items, hiring unlicensed and uninsured movers comes with great risk. Here are a few ways that things could go wrong:
- You have an increased chance of lost, stolen, or damaged belongings.
- There will be no legal recourse if your movers disappear with your belongings.
- There is a high chance of potential hidden fees and unethical business practices.
- You could be liable for damages, injuries, or fines if something goes wrong.
At the end of the day, the “low” price simply isn’t worth the risk of everything that could go wrong!
Licensed Movers: How to Verify Credentials
Before working with Tri-Cities movers, it is vital to verify that they are a licensed and insured moving company. To do this, we recommend the following:
- Request their license number and check it through the Department of Transportation (DOT) and state agencies.
- Ask for a copy of their insurance certificate and check the coverage details.
- Read through online reviews and testimonials.
- Check the company’s rating with the Better Business Bureau.
Why Choose Speedy Movers:
If you are looking for licensed movers in the Tri-Cities area, we at Speedy Movers are the solution. We are a fully licensed and insured moving company with a strong track record in the Tri-Cities.
With our experience in local and long-distance moves, our customers have benefited from our commitment to quality service and comprehensive customer protection policies. Plus, we are advocates for transparency! We make it a point to offer clear, easy-to-understand estimates and contracts with no low-ball pricing or hidden fees.
With us, you can rest assured you will receive a safe and stress-free move with licensed and insured professionals. Contact Speedy Movers today for a free quote and reliable moving services!