We’ve all heard nightmare stories about bad moving companies. Items go missing or get broken in transport, possessions are held hostage, or the experience just feels very sketchy.

The last thing you want when moving is the added stress of a bad moving company.

So, what can you do to make sure that you find good movers for the big day?

1. Make sure that the company is properly registered.

Moving companies in Ontario are not licensed by the province, so vetting a mover can be tricky. But, if you are concerned about a small company being legitimate, there are some steps you can take. When in doubt, make sure that the movers are a registered business and that they follow all of the proper HST guidelines set out by the CRA.

To avoid falling prey to a scam, talk to family and friends to get referrals. And, when possible, choose a local company that you can easily get reference checks for.

2. Check to see if there have been any complaints filed against the company.

There are lots of tools available online that can help you verify whether a company is trustworthy before deciding to do business with them. When it comes to choosing movers, look at resources like the Better Business Bureau and Canadian Association of Movers. These oversight organizations keep track of complaints filed against moving companies and identify reliable and honest businesses.

3. Look at their online reviews.

It is becoming a very common practice these days to look at reviews on platforms like Google and Yelp where customers can leave feedback about their experiences. You can use a sampling of customer reviews to get an impression of the business before you reach out.

Beware of companies with no reviews, or companies that have only extremely positive reviews. There will always be a customer who has something negative to say about the business, no matter how good the moving company is. And people are 21% more likely to leave a review after a negative experience than a positive one. If all of the reviews are great, but they seem like they could be fake, then they probably are.

4. Call and ask the moving company questions before you book.

You are going to be hiring these movers to help you get everything to your new home, so take the time to interview them before you give them the job. Call and ask them about your specific moving needs, packaging, insurance, and anything else you might want to know. They should have no trouble answering any of your questions. Be sure to ask about policies regarding lost or damaged goods. This is something you should always find out about before you move, but it is also a question that scammers will have a hard time answering.

Moving can be a stressful experience. But if you put in the due diligence to find a good mover before your move-in date, then you will save yourself a lot of inconvenience and worry in the end.