The Consumer Information Section has many points of information that will prove to be very helpful to the person beginning to make a decision on their trusted Mover. Please review each of the sections to gain more understanding of your upcoming path with your Mover. Moving requires the Consumer to do their Due Diligence and to arrive at a confident level of trust for their chosen Mover. These points of data should be very helpful to you.
Consumer Awareness
This is your move, know as much as possible about your Mover!
Selecting prospective Movers for your upcoming move in the past was accomplished mostly by checking the Yellow Pages of your local telephone directory, calling several of the area Movers for a free estimate and choosing the best Mover. In today’s climate, Consumers will use Google or another search engine brand as their resource tool especially studying the reviews shown on the Mover’s web site.
This explosion of data from Google and other search engines makes the selection process seem easier but by the sheer amount of data and graphics it has made the process more problematic. Traditional Movers have been slower to capture the new marketing gimmicks while the newer (so called internet Mover or Brokers) moving companies have embraced it. This has changed the marketplace, and the Consumer must be more cautious as they seek information on Movers to make their decision. Once you get through all the data and graphics you still need to know about reputation and dependability.
A competitive price with good service is a deal.
Price alone is not necessarily the best avenue for Mover selection.
Moving is very personal since the moving company will take control of all of your possessions for a while which means you lose control. Trust is paramount!
VMWA’s suggestion to the Consumer as with any retail/consumer transaction is to get as much as possible in writing before making your decision. Movers are required to have proper licenses and authorizations from the various legal bodies before they offer themselves to the public on a for-hire basis. An in-home survey of your shipment is a good start to your decision-making on the best Mover. Many Consumers will usually obtain three (3) estimates to establish reasonable costs for the moving services and to interview the Mover’s representative concerning details needed for the move.
In Virginia, the Mover shall have a DMV certificate from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in order to handle shipments 31 miles or more within Virginia and a DMV permit for shipments 30 miles or less (local moves). Please take a few minutes and click on the certificate and/or the permit links to ascertain that your potential Mover(s) have the proper licenses and insurance coverage before you decide which Mover you will use.
Consumer Due Diligence
Consumers need to know as much as possible about the benefits and the pitfalls of the moving industry before they secure a Mover to handle their relocation needs. It is VMWA’s goal to help the Consumer with this task by providing information and helpful tips. The Consumer booklet required by DMV, Making a Better Move in Virginia is mandatory to be presented to the prospective Customer by the Mover during the estimate phase either by booklet form or email. DMV has a flyer to help you with your decision making, too.
Moving? There is more information from DMV for Consumer review.
Due today’s media coverage of the so called “rogue Mover (unlicensed Mover) has alerted many Consumers about the perils of choosing a bad Mover. VMWA defines an unlicensed Mover as a moving company that is not insured (puts the Consumer at risk for unnecessary liabilities) and does not have the proper licenses to operate as a For Hire moving company. Furthermore, these types of companies (internet Movers or Brokers) are not a part of the local community which makes it very difficult to track their actions and hold them accountable for their misdeeds, if any.
The Movers that are a part of our membership in VMWA are well respected, part of their local community, many are multi-generational, and most of all, they are hard working moving companies serving their Customers here in Virginia with pride and persistence!
Does it mean by choosing one of our Members that your move will be trouble-free and damage-free? No. No one can guarantee that. However, VMWA can assure you that any conflicts in your move will be handled with respect and a fair conclusion will be offered when using one of our trustful Members.
The best combination for a successful move is Customer patience, education, giving direction throughout the move plus a well-qualified Mover that is sensitive to their Customer’s needs. A strong communication link: before, during, and after the move will ensure a successful move. Yes, it is TEAM effort between the Customer and the Mover.
Moving is hard work and it requires an organized effort between the Consumer and the Mover to transfer your belongings from your old residence to your new home. It takes much effort on both sides to get everything accomplished.
How Big is My Shipment?
Most Consumers do not think about their household goods becoming a shipment. The Mover’s charges are based on the number of items being shipped and usually the shipment weight to apply their various charges. This is not unlike choosing dinner on a restaurant menu. The more you order or want the higher the costs.
The main reason for an in-home survey by a qualified Estimator is to submit to the Consumer an accurate estimate and at the same time their dispatch operations are keenly interested in the size of the shipment in order to assign the proper equipment and labor to handle the job in a reasonable manner.
| Residence | Normal WT | Light WT | Heavy WT |
| Apt w/2 bdrms | 4,000# | 3,000# | 5,000# |
| Condo w/2 bdrms | 4,500# | 3,500# | 5,500# |
| Condo w/3 bdrms | 6,000# | 4,500# | 7,500# |
| House w/3 bdrms | 8,000# | 6,500# | 9,500# |
| House w/4 bdrms | 10,000# | 8,500# | 12,000# |
| Very Large House | 14,000# | 12,000# | 18,000# + |
Consumer Relations
If you would like to communicate with VMWA concerning your Mover either for a compliment or if you have a complaint during your recent move you should send an email or mail your information to the address below. VMWA is geared to have the Consumer and the Mover happy with every move. Your communication will be reviewed and processed accordingly based on the written paperwork provided.
Consumer Affair Committee
VMWA
P.O. Box 206
12161 Richmond Highway
Concord, VA 24538
(434) 993-2499
email: roger.moody@verizon.net
Payment for Services
All payments for moving services are based on remittance before the delivery of your shipment unless other arrangements have been made. Invoicing to a Company usually requires a written authorization from the Payor. Once the Mover approves the account after performing credit checks and/or past experiences, the Mover will perform the moving services and send their invoice to the authorized party. Most Bills of Lading state that if the Employer fails to pay, the Employee will be liable for the moving charges.
Payment by a credit card is acceptable by most Movers. The credit card is usually charged prior to the commencement of services by using the estimated cost amount and adjusting to the actual cost prior to delivery of the shipment. Some Movers may charge a convenience fee for use of the credit card.
If payment is not by credit card or being billed to an account, payment for services will need to be by cash (US dollars) or cashiers check prior to the release of the shipment.
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