The American Moving and Storage Association (AMSA), the non-profit trade association representing legitimate members of the professional moving industry throughout the country, has officially dubbed May as 'National Moving Month'.
No, you don’t have to send flowers to your favorite relocation professional. Nor are you expected to share hugs with the big lugs carrying your neighbor’s furniture to the street. (A drink of water, however, is usually appreciated!)
May's typically the month when trees blossom, buds open, and flowers and ‘For Sale’ signs spring up in front of homes in neighborhoods and communities all across the country.
Historically, it's also the time that approximately 35 million Americans begin making plans to pack up their stuff and move it somewhere...somehow! The Corn Moon month signifies the approach of summer - the period when most families choose to complete their relocation arrangements because the kids are out of school.
That's why product and service suppliers throughout the relocation industry recognize the period between Cinco De Mayo and Labor Day as the traditional “moving season” in the U.S.
Federal and state authorities and consumer groups like the council of Better Business Bureaus also recognize that the seasonal uptick in relocation activity that typically begins in the spring also draws out the industry's bad guys – the lowlifes, scammers and con artists who use the anonymity of the internet to lurk on unsuspecting buyers.
Most people relocate so infrequently they don’t know what criteria to use when beginning to look for local, intrastate or long distance moving services. As a result, it's not unusual to find them starting their search online by simply shopping for the cheapest options available.
Unfortunately, many of these inexperienced, uninformed or gullible consumers have no idea how to differentiate between legitimate service providers and unscrupulous shysters when deciding whom to trust to allow inside their homes to move their family and take possession of everything of value they own.
Recently the national news media has been filled with horror stories of unwitting consumers who's household goods and valuable have been stolen, extensively damaged or destroyed, and even held hostage for extended periods by unscrupulous renegade movers, unlicensed, illegal transportation companies, or unlicensed, uninsured fly-by-night business operators.
Most of these tragic incidents were arranged through the internet at virtual marketplaces like popular find-a-mover websites, unregulated reverse auction transportation portals, or free online community bulletin boards.
Fortunately, with a little foresight and some planning, you can reduce the stress and anxiety of movin’. That’s the reason that relocation professionals at AMSA and the various state moving and storage industry associations suggest that you get organized now, develop a plan and establish a timeline to prepare for your next move.
Instead of simply shopping for the most attractive moving quote, thoroughly research each product and service supplier you’re considering. Once you've done all your homework, select the option that will provide you the best overall value for your budget – not just the best price.
Moving should be an adventure – not a chore! By following the series of professional recommendations outlined in the resources below, you can research the best options to find your own value when making your moving or storage plans…and avoid being ripped off by unscrupulous rogue operators.
Recommended Reading:
How to Find a Reputable Mover: A Professional Guide - RELORoundtable
Protect Your Move - Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
Find A ProMover - American Moving & Storage Association
Still at your wit’s end? Join me at RELORoundTable – a gathering place where interested visitors can participate in a mutually supportive but commercially neutral learning environment that deals with the trials and tribulations of movin’.
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