Top 3 Tips for Moving Scams
Jennifer Connolly 

> Sell everything you own!
> Burn what's left over from the garage sale! 
> Buy all new stuff for your new place!

Okay, I'm kidding, kind of. In the past 20 years I've moved about 15 times, twice overseas and then twice back to the US. As much as I've really come to loathe the moving process, I love to travel so I do what I must.

Of course, this was a last minute move and at the time I was experiencing major life changes that made getting rid of everything a satisfying option.  It was by far my best move, even with the middle of the night visits to Kinko's.  However, there've been many moving days where following my top three moving tips wouldn't have made any sense at all and I'm guessing that's where you are right now. You want your things and you want your things to arrive safely at your new home.

So here is some real advice for you as you plan your next move:

1. Investigate your moving company thoroughly

The moving industry is rife with scams and fraudulent activity, so much so that there are entire online communities devoted to exposing the worst of them. Movingscams.com is probably one of the best resources for scam detection and forewarned is forearmed.  Definitely check with your local consumer affairs department and the Better Business Bureau about any moving company you consider hiring, as well.

2. Read and Document Everything Completely

Be sure that you understand the conditions of the contract thoroughly and ask questions about anything that doesn't make sense. Make sure that you get all verbal agreements written into the contract. If it isn't in writing, it isn't enforceable.  If you opt for insurance (and you should), make sure that you understand your insurance obligations very well. You need to dot your "I's" and cross your "T's" completely in the event that you have to make a claim. Take pictures and document everything.  During the move itself, do not let the movers rush you into signing anything until you have ascertained that all is as it should be. Once the movers have driven away, you will have very little recourse if problems have not been documented.

3. Allow as much time for your move as possible

Many homeowners attempt to plan their move on the same day of their real estate closing. If at all possible, avoid this. You will only stress yourself out when the moving company arrives hours later than agreed or fails to show up at all.  "No Shows" have happened to me twice and I don't think I've ever had a moving company show up on time to move my belongings.  Being in a time crunch also puts you in a poor negotiating position when the movers tell you that the move is going to cost more money than expected. Time provides the freedom to say, "Thanks, but no thanks."  This may require some negotiating between homeowners, but it is well worth it to have some peace of mind on moving day and if you put the dates in writing, the real estate lawyers should be happy.

By keeping these tips in mind and learning about some of the most common moving company scams, you will be able to ensure that your moving day is successful and stress-free and your first night in your new home will be a restful one.


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About the Author
Jennifer Connolly is a former Massachusetts real estate agent who has moved a lot. And by "a lot", she means too many times.  For more practical moving tips to save you time, money and frustration, she's put together a [http://hubpages.com/hub/Moving-Checklist]moving checklist that should keep things moving smoothly on the big day.  She'll also show you what to do to learn [http://hubpages.com/hub/movingscams]how to protect yourself from moving scams and frauds




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