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MTSA Guide to a Smooth Move
Moving can be a very unsettling time for an individual. The last thing that you want to do is worry about choosing a mover. Therefore, the MTSA Guide to a Smooth Move is designed to help you take some of the stress out of moving by giving you a free list of authorized movers in Minnesota, valuable tips for finding a mover, tips on what to do before the mover arrives, and a list of your rights and responsibilities when you move.
The movers listed on this site are all MTSA members who are authorized by the Minnesota Department of Transportation to do moving within the State of Minnesota. These companies have all subscribed to the MTSA Code of Ethics. Although these companies are authorized to do moving in Minnesota, it is your responsibility to check the safety records and complaint histories of these companies. Both the Minnesota Department of Transportation and the Better Business Bureau can be of tremendous help in checking a mover's complaint record.
10 WAYS TO FIND A LOCAL MOVER YOU CAN TRUST
01
Call the Minnesota Department of Transportation to verify that the company is authorized to perform moves within the state of Minnesota.
Make sure that any mover that you are considering hiring is duly authorized to do business in Minnesota. Call the Minnesota Department of Transportation, office of Freight and Commercial Vehicle Operations at (612) 405-6060 to verify that the mover has the proper insurance, worker's compensation and vehicle registration to operate and to obtain any complaint records on the mover.
02
Contact the Better Business Bureau.
Check with your local Better Business Bureau about a mover's complaint record. A mover's record with the Better Business Bureau should provide an accurate measure of their complaint record.
03
Ask the mover if he or she carries workers' compensation insurance.
Minnesota law requires that all movers carry workers' compensation coverage. Such insurance adds to the cost of doing business, but it legally protects you. Be wary of a very low bidder that may be cutting costs by cheating on this needed protection. Cheating on workers' comp coverage is a good sign of an unsafe mover. You have the right to request a copy of the mover's workers comp policy.
04
Visit the mover's place of business.
Verify that the movers' place of business first exists and secondly that it is clean, organized, and properly staffed. A messy and disorganized home office is a good indicator of how the mover will treat your goods. If the mover does not have a place of business, this should be considered a red flag that the mover may not have any trucks or personnel to actually move you.
05
Always get three estimates from different moving companies.
When moving, it is good to get more than one estimate. Besides pricing, ask for availability of the mover, services offered and any additional cost for the services.
06
Ask for an in-home estimate.
If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Be wary of always choosing the lowest estimate—choose the mover which you are more comfortable with handling your prized possessions and goods. In the end, the mover will bill you for the actual time that it took to perform the move, regardless of the original estimate.If your move is in the local area serviced by the mover, you should ask for an estimate by the mover's personnel in person. This ensures the mover knows what they will be moving and provide a level of trust for you.
07
Ask the mover for referrals.
Ask the mover for several referrals from satisfied customers. Remember, a mover is only as good as their reputation.
08
Don't always go with the lowest bidder.
If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Be wary of always choosing the lowest estimate—choose the mover which you are more comfortable with handling your prized possessions and goods. In the end, the mover will bill you for the actual time that it took to perform the move, regardless of the original estimate.
09
Be aware of negative comments by sales personnel.
A high-quality moving firm with a good reputation does not need to criticize another mover in order to make themselves look better. Such tactics are a negative indicator of a company.
10
Is the company a member of MTSA?
MTSA works hard to maintain high safety standards for the household goods moving industry. To that end, we educate the moving industry on proper ethics and on the importance of safety in this industry. Participation in this association is a good indicator of a safe moving company. All moving companies listed on the MTSA Moving Guide are members of Minnesota Transport Services Association and have signed a code of ethics to treat customers fairly.