Choosing a reputable commercial mover is critical to the success of an office relocation. Unknowingly hiring a non-licensed, unqualified mover can lead to a host of problems, not to mention disruptions to business operations. Here is how to know when a moving company is reputable to avoid a bad moving experience.

Why is it important to hire a trustworthy mover?

Relocating a business is a daunting and time-consuming task. Business owners spend time planning, coordinating, and executing the move. By choosing the right commercial mover, company owners can be assured that their valuables will be delivered on time and within budget.

A reputable commercial mover trains their moving crews to safely pack all types of office assets. Careful packing prevents damage to the goods throughout the office relocation. A good mover also utilizes a well-planned moving process, completing the move in a timely manner, reducing downtime, and minimizing risk for damage to both building and company property.

What are the risks of hiring an unreputable mover?

Hiring a rogue mover, on the other hand, increases the number of problems a business owner may face. A bad mover causes unnecessary delays, which can significantly impact workflow. Damage to business assets during the move costs a business owner more time and money.

Scammers posing as commercial moving company representatives are out for money, asking for payment upfront and holding the business goods hostage until the additional fees they demand are paid. Denying payment provokes rogue movers, who sell the goods or disappear completely.

How do business owners tell if a moving company is reputable?

1. Look Up the DOT Number

Identifying a legitimate commercial moving company is a priority for businesses planning to relocate across state lines. Check the USDOT (US Department of Transportation) Number first. Good movers follow the regulations set forth by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

The FMCSA mandates that movers register a DOT Number, which serves as a unique identifier for the DOT and FMCSA to monitor and assess a company’s compliance reviews, crash investigations, audits and inspections. The number can be easily used to look up safety information prior to hire.

2. Check the ICC Website

While looking up the DOT Number is helpful for interstate moves, not all states require this number for local moves. Illinois movers for instance, are not required to register with the federal government. In cases of local relocations, obtain valuable info from the Illinois Commerce Commission website.

Check the ICC website at https://www.icc.illinois.gov/transportation. Enter the transportation entity name in the field under Motor Carrier Information System. Upon entering the prospective commercial mover’s company name, their ILCC Number, DOT Number, and Public Carrier Certificate information will appear and can be used to verify the legitimacy of their details.

Once the DOT Number appears, visit the government’s Safety and Fitness Electronics Records (SAFER) System at https://safer.fmcsa.dot.gov/CompanySnapshot.aspx. Upon entering the mover’s DOT Number, the pertinent safety rating, inspections, and status will appear. Use this information to assess the potential mover.

The company’s name and contact information, for instance, should match what is provided by the mover or found online. The DOT Number should be active. Plus, their operating status should be listed as “active” and not “out of service” or “unauthorized.”

3. Seek an Online Presence

Ensuring that a potential office mover has an online presence is also telling. A mover without a website should raise a red flag, as it indicates a possible moving scam. Moving company reps who arrive without a uniform or a moving truck without a logo are suspect, unless proven otherwise.

4. Examine Business Certifications and Licenses

A reputable mover is certified by the American Moving & Storage Association. Check online directories, such as the Better Business Bureau, for ratings and any complaints. Make sure the prospective mover is licensed and insured by the state, which protect the company and their customers.

5. Obtain an Estimate

The FMCSA mandates that movers provide a written estimate of all charges. These include transportation, accessorial, and advance charges. The estimate can be binding, which means the charge will not go over the estimate at delivery, or non-binding, which is not a guarantee of final costs.

6. Check Reviews

A credible commercial mover is usually well-rated. The business relies on their reputation within the community. Check for positive reviews and customer feedback to learn about the experiences of past corporate customers and their overall impression of working with the commercial mover.

7. Consider Additional Services

An office move is highly complex, necessitating additional services, such as packing and unpacking, as well as the availability of safe storage space. The availability of extra offerings helps streamline the commercial move process and reduces the business owner’s investment in time and effort.

Experience also influences the process of securing a reputable office mover. Years of industry experience signal to potential customers that the mover is trustworthy. When you’re looking for an experienced mover who ticks off all of the above boxes, look no further than Chicago Office Movers.

As a commercial mover offering interstate relocations, we abide by USDOT regulations and have a DOT Number. Moving crews are licensed, background-checked, and trained to deliver exceptional customer service and ensure that your office goods are handled with utmost care and maximum security.

Companies large and small trust us for our many conveniences that make their corporate relocation easier. Among our offerings are short- and long-term storage facilities, paperwork storage, insurance and service contracts, and a free estimate. Our specialists can also help you plan the office relocation.

Our professional movers are experienced in undertaking the packing, transport and unpacking of a range of office goods. We’ve moved valuable antiques, bulky office furniture, and cubicles. Crews are trained to safely handle fragile IT systems, electronics, and science lab equipment, too.

Whether you plan to relocate locally, out of state, or internationally, Chicago Office Movers offers the experience, qualifications, and reputation that you can count on. Join our extensive list of satisfied business customers.

Schedule your free estimate today and let us help you relocate successfully. Call our Chicago, Illinois, location at 312-244-2246 (CHI-CAGO) or fill out a form for a free estimate.

The instances of fraudulent movers across the country are rampant, making it especially important that offices and companies seeking to relocate hire a trusted office mover.

Beware of Rogue Movers

Recognizing a rogue mover is just as key as knowing the characteristics of a reputable one. Spotting a dishonest mover at first glance may be a challenge, since some moving companies rack up hundreds of poor reviews and still manage to attract unwitting customers.

Bad experiences with incompetent movers include losing thousands of dollars during the moving process as movers arbitrarily hike up the moving costs after they load customer possessions, holding items hostage until additional funds are supplied and simply failing to deliver.

Given that 38 percent of corporations use professional moving companies to relocate, it is crucial to recognize an honest commercial mover. Here are a few characteristics that point the way to an ethical moving company.

1. Good Reviews

Online review sites are a treasure trove of information that could lead to doing business with a reputable moving company. Most moving companies will have a handful of negative reviews, some deserved, and others based on petty matters. Red flags should fly up when the majority of reviews are poor.

A reputable commercial mover will feature mostly positive reviews. Potential customers should actually read the full reviews, rather than merely glance at low or high grades or stars, to determine if the information is applicable to their situation or can be judiciously disregarded.

Various social media sites also offer a wealth of opinions from actual customers who willingly voice their experiences with the commercial mover in their service. Dig through the reviews to paint a clearer picture of the company you are considering dealing with.

In addition to online review sites and social media reviews, investigate further by having staff ask their friends and family members about any experiences they had with commercial movers. Responses from employees’ contacts can lead to hiring the right commercial mover.

2. Professional Sales Representatives

The first point-of-contact with a commercial moving company should be indicative of future interactions. Did the sales representative arrive on time? Was the individual appropriately dressed? Trivial as they seem, these signs can hugely relay the company’s level of professionalism to potential customers.

Interview administrative personnel thoroughly. Honest commercial movers will have no qualms about confidently answering any and all questions to your satisfaction. Their livelihood, after all, depends on good customers. Sketchy and unsure answers are likely to point to a fraudulent mover.

3. Fair Prices

Lowball quotes are a solid indicator of subpar service. As with any industry, customers receive what they pay for. Obtain several written estimates when hunting for a legitimate commercial mover. The idea is to compare several quotes to properly gauge the market average.

4. Accurate Quotes

In order to receive a correct estimate, representatives from ethical moving companies will visit the commercial space and assess the weight of the goods to be shipped. If you receive a quote over the phone without an onsite assessment, an incorrect quote is likely to be presented.

A mover who attempts to persuade a customer to sign a blank or incomplete estimate, especially on the scheduled move date, is a definite sign of an unethical company. Such a deceitful practice is utilized to add surplus charges and extract more money than initially agreed to.

5. Professional Gear

Safely transporting sensitive machinery and office equipment, like computers and other electronics, is essential to any relocation process. An experienced and reputable company moves items with care, using professional equipment, like dollies, padding to wrap and protect goods as well as clean moving trucks.

When the moving van arrives, it should clearly display the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) number. The lack of a DMV number on the moving vehicle should raise a red flag. The moving truck should also feature the company’s name; an unmarked truck is a sign of an illegitimate mover.

6. Dedicated Crew

Quality commercial movers wear company uniforms. Honest professionals will be fully engaged with their customers while loading the goods onto the truck. Rogue movers are likely to waste time texting or wandering away from the truck when they should be invested in preserving the security of its contents.

7. Licensed and Insured

Licensed, legitimate commercial movers provide insurance for the goods being relocated. Moving office equipment is risky and can lead to high financial losses if items are damaged during the process or while belongings are held in storage. The written estimate spells out the type of insurance offered.

8. Inventory Checklist

Commercial movers with a solid reputation provide a full inventory list of the office equipment being moved. Before the relocation, be sure to review a copy of this cube sheet for accuracy. The list should also include the quantity of boxes being moved.

Work with a Reputable Commercial Mover

Hiring a trusted commercial mover is as easy as contracting Chicago Office Movers to relocate your office equipment. With a professional team of licensed union movers, our staff will ensure a seamless commercial move, whether it is across the country or to the other end of town.

Chicago Office Movers is experienced in securely moving a wide range of office equipment, including lab equipment, electronics, HVAC equipment, assembly lines, machinery, and libraries. We also specialize in office decommissioning of all sizes in the event of remodeling.

A distinct feature that separates us from the competition is our dedication to the environment. As a green company, we utilize recycled packaging and employ best practices to significantly reduce energy consumption—all while ensuring peak performance from start to finish.

When an office relocation is on the horizon, consult Chicago Office Movers. Our commercial moving services include help with planning, guidance throughout the move and assistance with identifying contents of packed boxes once the move is complete.

Contact Us for a Free Estimate

Reasonable prices, industry expertise and assistance with every step of the journey are just a few of the benefits when you work with Chicago Office Movers. Contact Chicago Office Movers at 312-244-2246 for a free estimate and the Windy City’s most efficient office relocation service.