Brownstone Brothers Moving & Storage
718-665-5000
www.brownstonebros.com

HOW TO CHOOSE A MOVER

A good move has the following characteristics: At every point of the move, the customer knows what to expect. Surprises, especially surprises about expenses, do not occur. Furniture and goods are protected and handled safely, flowing into and out of rooms like clockwork. The possibility of damage occurring is vanishingly small, so there is no reason for the customer to be nervous about delicate pieces.
So how does one find a good mover?

1. Start with the time-honored method of personal references. Ask your friends. If two separate parties refer the same mover, in a city with 500 movers, this beats the odds. (Don't take the word of bargain guides, supers, or apartment organizers unless you personally know them to be trustworthy.)

2. Adopt a skeptical attitude when using the internet. (The rave e-mails appearing on blogs are sometimes written by the very movers that are being raved about.)

3. You can learn a few basic facts (but not much more) from the NYS Department of Transportation (1800 786 5368). The NYSDOT will tell you if a company is licensed and if it has complaints against it. But keep in mind that a company having no complaints on record at the DOT is not a guarantee; the DOT says that 98% of moving companies have had two or less formal complaints in the past twelve months. The Better Business Bureau provides similar information.

4. Look for a company that has been in the business for ten years or more. There are an infinite number of details involved in a move which can only be learned through experience. As a customer, you do not want to share a learning experience with a new company.

5. Ask yourself: Is the company detail-oriented? Has every expense been spelled out? Is the representative willing to discuss fine points? Or does he or she simply inflict on you a large amount of empty sales talk?

6. Consider whether the company depends on references or on advertising as their source of jobs. A company that relies mostly on advertising for their work will not be especially concerned about what you tell your friends about your move.

7. Binding estimates and replacement value insurance were invented to assure the customer peace of mind. Request both, but read the fine print carefully for exceptions.

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