Full-Service Movers Have someone else do ALL the work

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Why hire a full-service mover? There are lots of reasons and situations but if you have heavy furniture, a bad back, and don't want to work that hard, a full-service mover can work miracles. Full-service movers come into your home to pack and move everything. You are not responsible for packing or moving anything.

That said, you probably are already aware that there is a risk to hiring a mover. You are, after all, turning over all of your worldly goods to complete strangers. The following tips can help you minimize the risk and put your mind at ease over this relatively stressful event:

Check with the Better Business Bureau as well as the agency that regulates movers. This alone will reduce your list of potential movers. Complaints and conflict resolution frequently gets reported. Even if there is no negative feedback, don´t assume everything is good. You'll still want to check references.
Get at least three in-home estimates. The movers must come to your home and give you an estimate, based on weight, of what the cost will be to move your goods. Never sign an agreement based on a phone estimate, which are notoriously inaccurate, or an estimate that is based on cubic feet. The Federal guidelines specify weight as the defining cost factor, so an estimate based on cubic feet of goods isn't worth much. Drop any mover from your list if they appear reluctant to comply.
Find out how long the company has been in business, whether they own their own trucks, and under what circumstances if any they broker or subcontract shipments. You may hire a competent mover only to discover they subcontracted your goods to someone you wouldn't have hired. There's not much you can do when the mover is at your door waiting to unload.
Read and understand every detail of the contract. Don't assume anything. Get it all in writing. Request a "not to exceed" statement regarding the final estimate. This guarantees that your total will not go over a specified cost.
Don't assume that the lowest estimate is the best. It could be a mover hoping to scam you into a bad agreement.
Find out the type and extent of insurance the mover offers, then contact your insurance agent to find out what your homeowner's policy covers. You may be able to purchase a policy for less cost through your agent than the coverage offered by the mover.
Knowing the range of your options and being careful to check the details will prevent most of the problems encountered by consumers and avoid being exploited by the more dishonest moving companies.