What Is a Moving Company?

A moving company is a business that helps people move their belongings from one place to another. They may also provide storage services. They are typically licensed by the state and federal governments to operate as a business. The primary source of revenue for a moving company comes from the service fees that they charge to their customers. In addition, they can earn a profit from the sale of packing materials and equipment.

A successful moving company moving company Kennesaw is able to provide its customers with an accurate and fair estimate of the cost of their move. This is accomplished through a thorough in-person or virtual walk-through of the customer’s home and a detailed inventory of all items to be moved. A reputable moving company will also offer both binding and nonbinding estimates, with the former locking in the price once services are completed and the latter allowing for changes based on factors such as additional services required or shipment weight. Nonbinding estimates can be modified no more than 110% of the original estimate, unless both parties agree to the increase.

Moving companies must also be aware of the risks involved with scammers. A common scam involves holding a customer’s belongings hostage until they write an enormous check to the moving company. The best way to avoid this is to only work with a well-established, reputable company that has a long track record in the industry. Customers can also use reviews and testimonials from previous customers to help determine the level of quality that can be expected.

When choosing a moving company, customers should ask the company about their policies and procedures for dealing with damaged items. They should also find out about the number of hours their movers work per day, and whether they are available to do a weekend move. Customers should also look for a company that offers specialty services, such as auto transportation, to ensure they are able to move their cars.

Many local moving companies are independently owned and operated, but larger companies often have a national presence through a network of affiliated moving companies. These are known as van lines. A national van line may be a franchise system, or it may own and operate its own fleet of trucks and containers. In either case, it typically handles all of the paperwork processing, dispatching, and shipment routing and monitoring on behalf of its local agents. The agent then handles the actual loading and transport of the shipment within its territory. An independent moving company that is not a member of a van line is often called a private carrier. A private carrier can handle local moves, as well as interstate and international moves. The most reputable national moving companies are members of the American Moving and Storage Association (AMSA) and have an AMSA license. This allows them to move shipments across all states and internationally. Moreover, it also allows them to access the AMSA database of certified movers and to participate in AMSA’s fraud prevention program.