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Things You Should Know Before You Choose a Mover

March 29, 2011

You are moving!  You have successfully researched cities, neighborhoods, and schools; you have navigated through the real estate market, interviewed 5 brokers, selected the one you liked best, found the home of your dreams, and poured your life savings into the down payment.  Now you have hired a carpenter to build out your closet, a glazier to put in new windows, and a painter to change that neon yellow kitchen into a pleasant shade of blue.

Whew!  I am exhausted already.  Oh wait!!  You still need to hire a mover.  But do you have the money?  Maybe you can just hire someone off of Craig’s List.  You like their company name – 3 Poor College Students Just Trying to Get By.  Or  maybe you should look online? There are 10 sites to choose from – all promising you competitive quotes.  But you don’t want to be THAT consumer telling horror stories of a moving company holding your goods hostage unless you pay 3 times the amount you were quoted.  Over the Phone.  Sight unseen.

What’s a customer to do?

1.  Don’t hire an unlicensed mover.  The Moving Industry in the State of California is regulated by the Public Utilities Commission.  In order to obtain a license, a moving company owner must go through a rigorous background check, be extensively tested on the laws regulating the industry, complete quarterly and annual reports, along with maintaining millions of dollars of insurance coverage on their trucks, their employees, and their crew.

2.  Check with the Better Business Bureau or Yelp.  .Does the company have a good rating or do they have an excessive number of complaints?  Are the complaints reasonable?  Were they resolved?

3.  Ask for references.  The company should be able to provide you letters of commendation and a short list of customers who they have recently moved.

4.  Ask your friends, family, co workers, and real estate agent.  They will have a quick list of the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.

5.  Call the California Moving & Storage Association or check out their website.  They are a reliable and professional organization which represents 450 mover members in the State of California.  Mover members strive to provide honest, efficient, and quality services to the California household goods moving consumer.

6.  Call at least 4 moving companies and schedule at least 2 in home written estimates.  Make sure the company is providing you a NOT TO EXCEED bid, which includes all related packing materials, labor, valuation coverage of your choosing, and storage if applicable.

7.  Go with your gut.  Do you trust the mover?  Do their references check out?  Are they licensed and insured?

8.  Once you hire your moving company, make sure you are on the same page in terms of expectations.  Does your estimate include packing or are they expecting you be packed and ready to go?  What does that mean to them?  Can you leave your dressers full or do they need to be emptied?  Will they be providing wardrobe boxes on your move?  Can the truck park directly in front of your home?  Is there any issue with access?  Does parking need to be reserved?  Will the moving company disassemble and reassemble your furniture or do they expect you to do that?  What should you do with your electronics?  What forms of payment do they accept?  When do they get paid?

With a little investment of your time doing your research, you can save yourself a world of headache and unnecessary expense.  Good luck with your move and enjoy your new home!

 

Cummings Moving Company | Residential & Small Business Moving & Storage | San Francisco Movers

Cummings Moving Company is a family owned and operated moving & storage company proud of its well-established reputation in San Francisco and throughout the region – reflected in their extended residential, small business and Realtor referrals. The company is a female, minority, and veteran-owned and operated moving company with over 45 years of exceptional client service – spanning the entire country and beyond. For more information about quality, stress-free moving, in San Francisco please call 415-387-4000 or from the Peninsula call 650-629-3000. Request a Free Moving Quote HERE or continue to explore our website and San Francisco Blog.

The advice on our website and blog is provided as a courtesy and is intended for informational purposes only. It is offered as-is with no warranty expressed or implied. We hope it provides you with helpful information that you can use.

Filed Under: Planning a Move, San Francisco Movers Tagged With: Bay Area Movers, Best Movers, San Francisco Movers, SF Peninsula Movers

Moving checklist. Valuable Timeline of oving Tips. CUMMINGS MOVING Co.
MOVING REVIEWS

Emails from Our Clients

We felt fortunate to be in such good hands! Ricardo, Ishmail, and Marty were excellent at providing council and helping us get everything packed and loaded into the truck. Honestly, it looked to us as though not a single molecule of space remained in the Cummi… Read more
Bruce M - Belmont & Penn Valley
The crew was excellent.  They were careful and considerate.  We would use Cummings again if we had to move.
Rick
We want to express our gratitude as we continue to marvel at your superior moving services and our experience with Cummings Moving. Your company came highly recommended to us by a company that uses you frequently so that certainly set the stage for a good rela… Read more
Candiece & John M - Marin County
Your moving crew was great — Polite, helpful, and not a wasted moment, coming in $300 under estimate for time.  I would certainly recommend you to anyone planning a move.  Thanks to them for their good work.
Elizabeth C
What an awesome team. I can’t say enough about this company. They have great customer service and support. I have used them twice. The second move was quite complicated. It  involved multiple locations, donations, packing and crating valuables. From star… Read more
Anne D - San Francisco, CA
The entire experience was great – from the quote with Enrique to the moving day with the crew. Everyone was so professional and efficient. We will definitely recommend you to anyone we know who needs moving services and will keep you in mind if we ever need to… Read more
Karen - San Mateo
We were very impressed with our experience with Cummings. The crew arrived promptly at 8:30 and immediately started working. They worked efficiently and were very thorough about what we wanted to move and which items were not being moved. They were friendly an… Read more
Leslie L - San Mateo
I want to thank you once again and offer kudos to all those who were involved in my most recent move. As all of you know, this last move was my 5th within 6years. And I have used Cummings each and every time! And, even though this last move was with a lot l… Read more
Peggy R
Awesome! Super great to work with. Made our move so easy!
Nicola G
Thank you for completing our move from Brisbane to Bakersfield yesterday. Your crew was on time, courteous, professional. They made the experience easier! We will certainly recommend you to friends!
Lee & Rebecca - Brisbane
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FROM OWNERS AMY & ENRIQUE

“As owners, we are hands-on. Our ability to deliver excellent service as San Francisco movers comes from our commitment to both customer and employee. Through regular training, supervision, competitive compensation, daily attention to excellence, and deep care for our customers and their belongings, we create an environment where top-level service is second nature."

San Francisco is our home. Moving residents and businesses is our passion. Your great experience with us as San Francisco movers is our aim - Every Day.
-Amy Messinger & Enrique Palos

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Cummings Moving Company

Since 1969 - Serving San Francisco
and the Bay Area

San Francisco (SF)
Location
415-387-4000

On the Peninsula
650-692-3000

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Cal P.U.C. T-190105
Moving checklist. Valuable Timeline of oving Tips. CUMMINGS MOVING Co.

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