Searching for “moving companies near me” is the starting point for most people on the move. Depending on where you live, you’ll get a mixed bag of movers, from the national chains to smaller, local moving companies. And, just because they’re the “most affordable,” or “most trusted,” how they treat their customers IRL is more important than some buzz words.
What you’ll quickly discover is that search results aren’t going to give you the best movers, just the ones with the biggest marketing budgets. National players are spending hundreds of millions just to rank, but for those of us in the business, it seems like they’re trying too hard. Just because they’re the biggest, loudest voice in the room doesn’t mean they’re the best choice for you.
Finding the best moving services near you shouldn’t just mean popping over to Chat and booking the top result. Instead, we’ve got a way that’s guaranteed to help you find THE best moving services near you.
Little Guys Movers brings you real criteria that matter, red flags to run screaming from, and how to choose the best movers near you.
What “Moving Companies Near Me” Actually Means (And Why It Matters)
The biggest players in the moving business, who shall remain unnamed, operate faceless franchises that dominate in name recognition. And, while you can likely rattle off their names, you probably don’t have more than that in mind.
National chains are happy to license their name and business model to local operators with little accountability. You are hiring a name with a strong marketing arm, but you might get untrained, unprofessional movers on the day of your move. Unlike regional or local-only movers, national chains don’t have the same level of transparency.
Calling a moving company near you could actually mean reaching a call center in another country or AI chatbots. Local movers, like Little Guys, should be able to come out and assess your move in person before giving you a quote.
We started in 1992, and since then, we’ve grown to 16 locations around the Southeast and Colorado. Our brand is steeped in local traditions, arts, and culture, and is committed to enhancing the communities where we operate. Company culture comes directly from our founders, not a board of directors. In fact, we’re so committed to giving our customers the best experience, we’ll even tell you if we’re not right for your specific needs.
The 5 Non-Negotiables When Choosing Movers
Hiring a moving services provider near you shouldn’t be a guessing game. With over 30 years of experience in the moving industry, we’ve got you covered with our top 5 non-negotiables when choosing a moving company.
1. Licensing & Insurance
Like almost any industry, the moving industry is regulated by state and federal guidelines. When you’re considering a new company, check out its credentials first. If they’re not licensed and insured, move on.
Local or intrastate movers are typically required to register with the state in which they operate. Different states have unique requirements, and your mover must follow local rules. Interstate movers are also required to file with the US Department of Transportation, and they’ll have a USDOT number posted on their vehicles.
Movers are also generally responsible for carrying commercial auto, general liability, and cargo insurance to maintain operations.
When you’re moving, a company is required to offer you insurance for your stuff. Released Value Protection (RVP) is usually free but pays only $0.60/pound, regardless of the actual value. Many also offer additional insurance coverage, Full Value Protection (FVP), to ensure that if items are damaged, you’re entitled to the full replacement value.
To verify that you’re working with licensed and insured movers, you can check with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Local-only movers will also have a DOT number on file in their state.
Movers that show up in rental trucks or blank moving trucks
No visible DOT or USDOT number
No insurance
2. Transparent Pricing
Pricing is a hot-button issue in the moving industry. Long-distance movers, especially those crossing state lines, quote by weight. This ensures a rate that’s fair and based on how much a truck can feasibly carry across state lines.
At Little Guys, our trucks have a 26,000 lb. GVW (Gross Vehicular Weight) limit. That means the truck, fuel, driver/passenger, and your belongings can’t exceed 26,000 pounds. One pound over? You’ll need to either carry it in your personal vehicle or pay for a second truck.
For local moves, you may get an hourly or flat-rate quote, depending on how your moving company works. Hourly works well for shorter distance moves where there aren’t any surprises. With a more complex move, though, hourly costs can skyrocket when the movers encounter access issues, unexpected stairs/obstacles, or longer-than-planned distances.
Regardless of whether your mover uses an hourly or flat-rate breakdown, you’ll either get a binding or non-binding estimate. Little Guys Movers uses a binding estimate system, which means you’ll pay what we quote you, unless the list of items changes.
Want a more detailed look at pricing? Check out our blog on the topic!
Estimates that seem too good to be true…they probably are
3. Reviews That Tell the Real Story
Jumping on ChatGPT to find the best movers near you? Digging through Google reviews to see how well they’re doing with customers?
Not everything can be summed up in a quick search, especially when you’re looking for someone to move your stuff. True, Google dominates reviews, and AI search is rapidly taking over. Beyond Google and ChatGPT, local business sites give a more well-rounded view of how customers view a business.
Popular Review Sites
Better Business Bureau – The Better Business Bureau is an international organization that vets businesses for compliance with its set of standards. Members pay to have their company listed and must agree to comply with certain ethical and dispute-resolution guidelines.
If a business chooses to list with BBB, you’ll see their rating (A+ to F) and customer reviews.
Yelp! – Most people know Yelp! as an app for reviewing restaurants, but it’s also a source of information on local businesses. Anyone can review a business, but companies can pay to have bad reviews removed or ranked lower than others. Furthermore, when bad reviews come in, the company reaches out to see whether it will pay to have them removed.
You’ll see unvarnished, unverified reviews on Yelp! that continue the pay-to-play trend.
Facebook – Reviews on Facebook come in the form of recommendations. When someone has an experience with a business, they can recommend or not recommend the business and tag the company in their review. While these aren’t pay-to-play, some reviewers go out of their way to spam companies with negative reviews, regardless of whether they’ve actually interacted with them.
Looking at reviews on any platform, especially pay-to-play sites, it’s a good idea to take them with a grain of salt. A perfect 5.0 might seem like the best choice, but fake reviews are common, and perfection is nearly impossible to achieve. Studies have shown that customers prefer a company that has a rating between 4.2 and 4.5 because it seems more authentic than a perfect 5.0.
A sudden influx of perfect reviews
Clearly AI or repetitive language (template or content farm)
Irrelevant content based on the service provided
Too formal/informal
4. How They Treat Their People
Moving sucks. It’s hard work, often in adverse conditions, and companies frequently struggle to hold on to employees over time. With that turnover goes training and experience, and new employees take time to train.
When your movers pull up, the last thing you want to see is people who clearly have no idea what they’re doing. Larger companies frequently hire hands and backs more than brains, and inexperienced movers are more likely to damage your stuff.
Little Guys Movers trains our crews on the job, with new movers working directly under experienced crew leaders. Happy employees do a better job and are more likely to stick with it over time. Seventy percent of our managers started out as movers, and that’s something we’re proud of.
When it comes to your move, our experienced crews are more than capable. They’ll give you an expert estimate, spend time with you on-site before the move, and communicate with you in a professional, no-nonsense manner.
5. Communication Before You Even Book
From the beginning of your moving process, you should expect timely and professional communications from your moving company. They should get back to you within a few hours or within one business day after your initial request.
During your initial consultation, they should ask specific questions about your move. Each moving company approaches quotes differently, and at Little Guys, our estimators look for information to help them provide a quote that should fall within +/-5% of your final cost.
Top cost indicators:
- Number of rooms
- Large pieces of furniture
- Special pieces (piano, safe, etc.)
- Number of boxes (estimated)
- Distance
If, during your conversation with the moving company, you feel like something is off, go with your gut. After all, these guys are showing up to move your stuff, and you should feel good about your decision to hire them.
Red Flags That Should Send You Running
We’ve already highlighted some red flags, but here are some other things you should keep an eye out for.
Large deposit required upfront – Unscrupulous moving companies or scammers will ask for a deposit up front. Scammers are happy to take your money, and unscrupulous companies will ask for a large upfront deposit.
A small deposit for long-distance moves is relatively common and should be used only to secure your spot on the schedule. Little Guys Movers doesn’t require a deposit, and you’ll only pay when they’ve completed your job.
No physical address/truck branding – If you’re booking movers with no physical address, you’re taking a significant risk. In the event of an issue, these movers can just disappear (with your deposit) and become unreachable.
Showing up in an un-branded or rental truck is a good sign that you’re not in good hands. Brokers will book jobs and then piece them out to the lowest bidders, often crews without branding or who rent trucks.
Estimate without seeing your stuff (in-person or virtual) – A virtual walkthrough or on-site visit is the best way to get an accurate estimate from your local movers. This helps them see precisely what you’re moving, any obstacles they should be aware of, and a general layout of your space.
High-pressure tactics – No one likes to feel trapped in a sales pitch. Those solar panel guys knocking on your door aren’t ready to take no for an answer. And moving companies that put pressure on potential customers to schedule NOW are often just trying to close the sale and get you on the books.
Free estimates are a service provided, a bid for your move.
Moving Companies Near Me – Why Local Matters More Than You Think
Hopping online to search “moving companies near me,” and booking a service is how most of us do business. And we’re more comfortable working with out-of-area companies than ever. Local moving companies, however, matter more than some others. They’re accountable to your community, invested in their local reputation, and have a deeper understanding of how things work in your area.
Also, think about how you choose service providers. Asking a friend or neighbor who the best movers near you are is more likely to result in a positive experience than trusting online reviews from strangers.
At Little Guys Movers, we’re invested in giving you the best moving experience possible. That means, from estimate to your final destination, you feel taken care of and respected. We take pride in our work, and it shows in our customer reviews and high percentage of repeat bookings.
If you’re getting ready to move and want a free, transparent quote from a moving company near you, Little Guys Movers is here.
Get your free quote from us today! No pressure.