Congrats on your upcoming relocation to Birmingham, AL!
Your upcoming move will either be an interstate move with long-distance moving companies (between states, such as a move from Indiana to Alabama), or an intrastate move (within the state, like between Mobile and Montgomery).
Although both types of moves are very similar, they are differences in how they're regulated, which will have a bearing on your research for Birmingham moving companies, as well as on the one you ultimately decide to hire.
Interstate Moves
When moving to Birmingham from another state, your move is governed by rules from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. As a division of the U.S. Department of Transportation, this type of move is regulates movers is registered under FMCSA and assigned a USDOT number to enable transportation between states. This also ensures that these companies have the proper insurance.
Check out www.protectyourmove.gov or call (202) 366-9805 to determine if a mover is registered with FMCSA. Within your research, you also should check out the Better Business Bureau to see the companies rating, as well as if there are any complaints and unresolved issues against them.
Intrastate Moves
If you're moving to Birmingham from another city within Alabama, they are overseen by the Alabama Public Service Commission (APSC).
To find out if your mover has the proper licenses, visit www.psc.state.al.us or call (334) 242-5218 - also ask about any complaints the state has received about the company.
Moving Estimates
When selecting Alabama movers, you will want to know how much your move will cost you, as well as ask any questions. After you have determined three movers from you research, have them come to your home for an in-house estimate. Estimates must be writing unless it is $500 and under or if it's scheduled within five days. Once you get quotes, they should be within a reasonable range. If there's a moving company that's quoting you far less, that's a good sign you're getting set up for a scam. Be sure to read your estimate carefully and ask questions -- don't assume something is included in the estimate if it is not clearly stated in writing.
Other questions to ask to your prospective Alabama moving companies:
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How long has the company been in business? Does it do business under any other names? Does it outsource to other companies?
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What are my insurance options with the moving company?
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What is the moving company's process for settling claims?
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Does the mover have any unresolved claim disputes?
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What type of insurance do they offer?
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What forms of payment do they accept? (They should accept two forms, such as check, credit card or cash.
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Ask them “what if scenarios,” such as if items get damaged, lost or broken.
