How to Find a Reputable Moving Company: A Realtor’s Guide to Protecting Clients (and Closings)

Protect Your Client and Transaction

For realtors and their clients, choosing the right NJ moving company is more than a convenience — it’s essential to keep transactions on track and protect everyone’s peace of mind. Whether your buyers or sellers are moving within New Jersey or heading out of state, a professional, licensed mover will minimize risk, reduce stress, and keep your deal moving forward.

Here’s what every agent and homeowner should look for when selecting movers in New Jersey:

Verify the Type of Move Your Client Requires

Find out if your client is:

     (  ) Moving within NJ

     (  ) Leaving NJ

     (  ) Moving into NJ from another State

     (  ) If they require storage

The moving services they require will dictate the type of licensed mover they need to search for.

There are different licenses and governing authorities depending on where the move is performed, if the move is staying in state or crossing a state line, and whether the mover is licensed to provide transportation or storage services as well. Knowing a client’s needs will help narrow the mover search to movers who are licensed to perform that work.

Confirm Licensing and Insurance — Before Anything Else

New Jersey law requires movers performing intrastate moves to be licensed with the NJ Division of Consumer Affairs. Always check their license status at the DCA's public portal.  For interstate or cross-country moves, ensure the mover is registered with the FMCSA and has an active U.S. DOT number. Verify at www.fmcsa.dot.gov/protect-your-move.

Verify the Level of Service and Qualifiers Your Client will Rely On

    (  ) Is your client handing a move for an aging parent?

    (  ) Is your client a widowed Senior with no local support system?

    (  ) Do they have a disabled family member?

    (  ) Do they need help downsizing or rightsizing?

    (  ) Do they require professional packing and crating?

    (  ) Do they have high value items?

    (  ) Are they very particular ?

    (  ) Is the closing contingent?

    (  ) Is the move complicated with extra stops, overnight holding, possible delay between closings or straight forward?

   (  ) Do they just need help filling some boxes or personal items in a portable container?

   (  ) Are they transporting select articles they inherited to a self storage unit?

   (  ) Are they remote or overwhelmed and need move management help?

   (  ) Insert your Notes: _____________________________________

The circumstances surrounding a move will help narrow the field as far as quality standards, specialities and certifications your Client will require in their mover. Is low budget the priority, flexibility, or confidence in the level of service? The capabilities and experience of the mover should be priority in the mover match, not just what mover is available on a certain date.

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​Verify the Mover schedules a Visual Survey to provide a Written Quote.

If the mover is not following regulations from the start, it’s a Red Flag. A quality NJ moving company will perform a visual survey — either in-person or virtually — and give your client a written estimate. NJ and Federal Regulations require visual surveys whenever possible and written quotes. It is the law. Movers who only quote by phone without seeing your client’s belongings should raise a red flag. Ballpark and preliminary budget ideas can be helpful in initial planning but to protect the client’s wallet and your transaction, make sure the mover:

   (  ) Performs the visual survey in person or virtually

   (  ) Provides a written quote with a preliminary inventory 

   (  ) Clearly outlines dates and terms in writing

Verify Reputation on the BBB and DCA​

  (  ) Before committing, research the mover’s BBB profile.    

  (  ) Select Option for Show BBB Accredited Only

  (  ) Look for:

Accreditation status  

     A solid rating (A or higher preferred)

    How the company responds to any complaints

    Years in business and years accredited in the BBB

Online reviews can reflect emotional experiences. History of more serious complaints like fraud, theft or improper conduct are more likely to be found with the BBB or the NJ Division of Consumer Affairs. Keep in mind in a BBB search there may be accredited companies that provide adjacent services This insight helps you assess whether the mover prioritizes customer service and accountability.

Seek Detailed, Verified Referrals — Not Just Social Media Hype

Nothing beats personal recommendations, but make sure they’re genuine. Ask fellow agents or past clients who they hired and how it went. Online recommendations can be useful, but watch for vague or suspiciously generic praise — family, friends and b2b partners can swarm social media recommendations, which can be helpful but must be weighted in that they may not have first hand experiences. Or they may be recommending a mover not licensed for that type or move or maybe not licensed at all. Authentic reviews will often mention specifics- what was moved, the type of service, and how the movers handled challenges.

Analyze Online Reviews with a Critical Eye

(  ) When reading reviews on Google, Yelp, or Angi, look for:

      Mentions of specific team members

      Descriptions of moves similar to your client’s situation

      Reviews spread out over months or years (not clustered all at once)

      Consistently strong ratings

Beware of patterns of vague, identical reviews posted in short periods, which could signal fake testimonials. You are entitled to ask for job verification for any public review.​

Verify It’s a Real Mover with Real Photos of Crews and Trucks

Reputable movers proudly share authentic photos of their branded trucks, uniformed teams, and actual moving projects — not just stock images.

      (  ) Look for real life visuals on their website, Google Business profile, and channels.

These show the company invests in its staff, equipment, and brand — and indicates stability and professionalism. Without operational transparency, you may be working with a broker, a lead gen marketer, or scam artist assuming they are an actual legal mover.

Verify the Mover’s Physical Commercial Location

No scam artist ever set up shop where you can actually find them. One of the easiest ways to determine whether a mover is not a marketer, broker or scam artist is to map the physical street address of the business. If the mover’s address or addresses are not transparent on their website or socials, ask the mover where their trucks are located and where they dispatch their crews.

      (  ) Use Google Maps View to look for an office, warehouse, commercial building, trucks. If something goes wrong, you want to know where to find someone to hold accountable.

Use the NJWMA for Trusted Movers

The New Jersey Warehouse and Movers Association (NJWMA) maintains a list of licensed, insured, and compliant mover members statewide. Their consumer resources help agents and clients avoid unlicensed or unscrupulous operators. They can verify non-members and refer you to other State Associations to find out of state resources.

      (  ) Explore their Directory to find proven, legal NJ movers.

Did we mention Sea Cure Moving is an NJWMA Circle of Excellence Member and also named NJWMA's 2024 Mover of the Year? Sea Cure recommends many other NJWMA movers because we are familiar with like minded industry professionals. If you do not choose Sea Cure we recommend selecting an NJWMA Professional Mover.

Find a Referral Partner like Sea Cure Moving (or like Movers)

Sea Cure Moving is a third-generation, family-owned and operated company trusted by Realtors for our experience, professionalism, and quality consistency. To protect your Client and respond to their needs get to know Movers who:

     (  ) Are Fully licensed and insured for both local and long-distance moves

     (  ) Operate a mid-larger size fleet for capacity to meet demand and offer flexibility

     (  ) Offers in-house warehousing for one through line of accountability

     (  ) Offer Customer Satisfiers (including flat rate pricing, trained and background checked crews, no deposits or charge penalties for date changes, 100% in-home and property protection, enhanced coverage options for referred clients)

     (  ) Offer national reach through a van line partnership, international reach through our freight forwarders

✔ Final Checklist for Realtors & Clients

(  ) Verify the type of Move Your Client Requires

(  ) Understand the Client’s Special Needs to facilitate a proper Mover match

(  ) Verify NJ license with the DCA (or FMCSA registration for interstate moves)

(  ) Make sure the Mover provides a written detailed quote based on a visual survey

(  ) Confirm BBB rating and resolution history

(  ) Check for authentic photos on socials and sites

(  ) Check for physical commercial business location via Google Maps or GMB Profile

(  ) Read detailed, consistent reviews spanning months or years

(  ) Use the NJWMA as your go-to third party verification tool

(  ) Partner with a legal and long established mover like Sea Cure that understands the importance of protecting real estate transactions and your reputation

Peace of mind starts with the right mover. Just like Realtors, we are not the same. Recommend a mover who follows regulations from the start, invests in educating your client and will serve as a good steward through the process, not just the muscle and truck that shows up for the furniture. By helping your clients choose a licensed, reputable NJ moving company fit for their needs, you’re safeguarding their belongings, their wallet, their well being and your reputation.

***If you would like a PDF of this Checklist, just request one at movinginfo@seacuremove.com Explore our Realtor Resources Page for growing moving content helpful to Realtors and their Clients.***

Submitted by Tara Dixon, V.P., Sea Cure Moving Inc., NJ’s Trusted Moving Partner for Realtors & Homeowners, NJWMA Movers for Consumers.