How to Spot Moving Company “Rogue” Operators
Back in February, the housing market’s watchdog housingwire.com observed that a good way to judge the strength of the housing industry is to “Look at how often people move.” That makes perfect sense. Logic would seem to dictate that a strong housing market would mean good times for movers.
If industry analysts at IBISWorld’s publicly available “Moving Services” page are to be relied upon, the best estimates expect there to be “strong growth in the housing market.” If you’d expect that to mean a prediction of boom times for movers, though, you’d be wrong. Disruptions due to the pandemic are expected to force consumers to dial down the amount they will be willing to pay professional movers.
For local buyers and sellers seeking reliable Costa Mesa movers, there could be a relevant side-effect: a reported increase in the activity of moving industry black hats—the rogue operators who prey on buyers and sellers facing moving deadlines. According to the Better Business Bureau, an average of 13,000 complaints and negative reviews are lodged with them every year—and more than 1,300 moving companies have earned their “F” rating.
Consumers’ Checkbook.com points to “an organized group of crooked movers.” They frequently have “nice websites” and courteous phone presentations. They quote a lower price than any competitors, but once they’ve loaded a customer’s household goods into their (frequently rented) trucks, that price changes. They won’t deliver until a doubled or tripled price is paid because “the size of the move” is more than was quoted. Frequently, the situation leaves consumers little choice other than to pay.
The BBB warns that anyone doing web research is likely to encounter one or more of the scamsters. They advertise heavily on the internet, so they frequently have prime placement on search pages. The solution for anyone looking for Costa Mesa movers is to thoroughly vet them well in advance. When you’re under the gun because of moving deadlines, that pressure is exactly what the rogues play on. A great source for planning tips—including a database showing properly registered movers—is the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration website. It details ways to “spot the red flags” of moving fraud.
Making sure my clients anticipate all the advance steps that will smooth the way for a successful transaction is just part of the service we provide. Call us!
We are built on a philosophy of Heritage & Hustle. The L3 is a full service real estate agency with a regional office located in the heart of #CostaMesa, offering a wide-array of custom services to meet their clients’ needs with roots in the community since 1976. It’s L3 mission is to provide trusted, convenient, responsive service to ensure clients enjoy their real estate experience. The L3 was originally formed to offer personal, concierge-level service as an alternative to the large, nationally based real estate companies. From its small beginnings of only two employees, The L3 has grown to a full staff of 25 serving over 300 clients a year. The L3 is not limited to serving just its clients; it is also committed to serving the community. Not only has The L3 donated hundreds of hours to many area charities, they have also received the prestige of being named one of the #toprealestatecompaniesinCostaMesa If you’re interested in #buyingorsellinginOrangeCounty, turn to the experts. Turn to The L3 and let them help you make your real estate buying or selling dreams come true. For more information or to get started on finding or selling your home contact The L3 today at 714-444-4663 or email us at info@thel3.com
