If the water is calling and you can’t resist, you might consider trading in your ho-hum, land-based house for a floating home.

Floating homes, which get their name from being built upon wooden, concrete, or steel “floats,” are a popular lifestyle choice in several coastal U.S. cities. Unlike houseboats—which they’re often confused for—floating homes are semipermanent and moored in communities that are highly regulated

But what is life like in a home that is literally on the water? We spoke with several experts who have experience buying, selling, and living in floating houses.

Here are the eight biggest takeaways to consider before you dive into this unique way of living.

Get ready to socialize

One of the first things to know about floating-home living is that you’ll likely join a tight-knit group of neighbors.

“Hands down, it’s the community of people that makes living on a floating home so special,” says real estate broker and floating-home owner Amy Sedgwick, of Floating Homes Portland. “With floating homes, we all park in the lot and walk down the ramp, so there’s plenty of social interaction.”

As living on the water is so unusual, people tend to know one another more intimately and even make themselves available to lend a helping hand.

“If someone isn’t feeling well, there are any number of volunteers to walk their dog or stop at the store for them,” says Sedgwick. “We also enjoy yearly moorage parties and an annual float race.”

Your commute will be unique

Although floating homes have permanent docking sites, quite a bit of logistics and travel still happen on the water.

“When we moved from floating home to floating home, we moved by barge,” says Courtney Cooper Neese, floating-home owner and owner of Seattle Afloat in Seattle. “When our hot tub was delivered, it came by barge.”

Beyond the big events, some of your day-to-day travel might also occur on the water, especially since getting around that way is sometimes faster.

“We take our Cobalt 28 boat to dinner,” says Cooper Neese.

You’ll have a ‘sense of calm’

We also repeatedly heard from those living the floating-home life that it offers a unique connection to nature.

“Floating-home dwellers are surprised by the physical calm that comes over them as they return home at the end of the day,” says Portland-based real estate broker and floating-home dweller Karla Divine. “Floating-home residents often find their inner artist in sunset and sunrise photography, the random sea lion tossing a salmon into the air, or an osprey returning to rebuild its nest.”

Divine has also enjoyed seeing other wildlife from her floating home, including beavers, hummingbirds, gulls, ducks, and even bald eagles.

You’ll drop stuff—off the side of your home

A less idyllic but possibly more important aspect of floating-home life is that you will almost certainly drop things in the water.

Luckily, there’s an easy solution for that.

“It’s handy to have a diver on call and a giant magnet to fish your keys out with,” says Cooper Neese. “I also have my keys on a float.”

You’re going to need a power washer

When it comes to maintaining your floating home, there’s one tool you’ll need handy above all others: a power washer.

“The main maintenance task is power washing,” says Divine. “Floating homes live on the water, so they get dirty by the end of winter and again by the end of summer. A good power washer is an important tool for keeping your home clean and repaired.”

Other critical maintenance involves regularly painting and staining your decking.

“In Oregon, which enjoys the largest community of floating homes in the United States, this kind of maintenance needs to be done in spring as soon as dry weather arrives,” says Divine.

Green living matters

When living close to the water, it’s important to understand the impact you can have on the environment—and be mindful of the best products and practices to mitigate it.

“We have normal utilities with one exception,” says Cooper Neese. “In order to get to the city sewer, we either have pumps under our docks, on our homes, or both. But dock pumps are sensitive, so we have to be mindful of what goes down the drains.”

This means no grease, cat litter, feminine hygiene products, or even detergent pods can go down the drain.

“As one old-timer said, if it didn’t come out of your body, don’t put it down the drain,” says Cooper Neese.

It’s also essential to recognize the animal populations you’ll be sharing the water with.

“Our rivers are famous for wild salmon runs and home to sturgeon and other amazing fish,” says Divine. “Floating-home people take stewardship of these rivers seriously.”

Nature can—and will—take over

It’s one thing to admire nature and another to let it take over your floating home—especially if you’re not prepared for it.

“The geese are loud during their breeding season,” says Cooper Neese. “They like to nest in our flower pots and are aggressive. If you have small children or animals, you should take care.”

The best solution Cooper Neese has found for keeping the geese at bay? Upside-down forks in the flower pots. And let’s not forget about the other water-loving species.

“There’s spider removal almost all year,” says Cooper Neese. “They love living over the water.”

There’s a season for buying a floating home

If the geese and the spiders haven’t scared you away from floating-home life, then there’s one final thing you should remember: There’s an unofficial-yet-official buying season, and it starts every spring.

“Floating-home sales season is generally from March to October,” says Divine. “People want to buy their floating home early enough to enjoy it when the weather is nice. In Oregon, that’s generally from July through October.”

For this and related articles, please visit Realtor.com

Our list of more than 20 shops spotlighting the African diaspora and children’s books, sci-fi and fantasy, artist monographs, comics, and…yarn?

IF YOUR IDEA OF A PERFECT DAY is an endless meander through tall stacks of books, you’re in the right place. Portland is loaded with great bookstores, more than 20 of which we list here. (We also asked some of our favorite local authors where they shop for books.)

Powell’s monolithic “City of Books” is no doubt one of our favorites (like browsing the internet in person). But the bulk of this list consists of neighborhood places, most of which have a distinct focus that will steer you in new reading directions—toward that Irving Penn monograph you never knew you needed, that early Claudia Rankine book of poems you felt shift your worldview—not necessarily books you’re already after, like how you’d shop online. (If you are shopping for something specific, many of the stores listed do sell online through Bookshop.org, which provides the local shop with a commission). These are also the best places to kill a few hours, days, or weeks, and despite your best intentions, add to the piles eternally weighing down your nightstand, coffee table, and shelves.

Backstory Books and Yarn

SUNNYSIDE

The yarns aren’t only in the pages: trading books for yarn, or yarn for books, is the game here. Crafts books star, but the shop also specializes in nautical books and African American literature, in addition to a broader selection of general interest used and new books. And yarn, of course.

3129 SE HAWTHORNE BLVD

Belmont Books

SUNNYSIDE

Owner Joe Witt started his shop as a used book cart inside Mississippi Records and landed a storefront in 2018. A seemingly endless run of titles are assembled with personal vision and pack every inch of the endearingly cobbled together shop, emphasizing literature and books on art.

3415 SE BELMONT ST

 

Bishop and Wilde

NORTHWEST DISTRICT

On the ground floor of the Tin House publishing offices, this queer-owned shop stocks a wide range of titles but aims to spotlight queer and LGBTQ+ authors, especially local ones, creating what may be the most dedicated queer literary space in town.

2601 NW THURMAN ST

 

Books with Pictures

HOSFORD-ABERNETHY

The tagline is “comics for everyone” at this comic book shop (most books here sport spines rather than staples), which was once named the best comic book store in the world by the Eisner Awards. It also hosts weekly queer and trans youth social events, and BIPOC meet-ups as well as “office hours” with acclaimed comics artists.

1401 SE DIVISION ST

Broadway Books

SULLIVAN’S GULCH

Now co-owned by long-term employees, Broadway Books opened in 1992, selling new books across all genres (and a few used ones), as well as local and national journals and magazines. Keep an eye on its calendar for regular author events.

1714 NE BROADWAY

 

Chaparral Books

SOUTH PORTLAND

Owner John Thomas’s enduring fascination with American history—particularly Native American and Western Americana—steers the programming at his rambling Southwest Portland shop. But it’s otherwise well-stocked across genres, including an extended selection of art books and biographies, and a robust children’s section.

5210 S CORBETT AVE

 

Daedalus Books

NORTHWEST DISTRICT

Reflecting its mythological namesake, this medium-sized, mostly used bookstore tucked behind Ken’s Artisan Bakery covers a breadth of subjects. Books on art, music, and philosophy get the most space on its shelves.

2074 NW FLANDERS ST

Green Bean Books

VERNON

Booksellers at this devoted children’s shop are famously adept at finding the right books for young readers. It also hosts regular author events, both inside the cozy converted house and on the vine-tangled patio in warmer months.

1600 NE ALBERTA ST

 

Hi Books

DOWNTOWN

Just across the Park Blocks from the Portland Art Museum, this shop, opened in 2022 and focused on photography books and art-world ephemera, is a perfect post-museum stop (though note the limited hours: 1–5pm, Friday–Sunday, by appointment “or coincidence”).

1211 SW BROADWAY ST

 

Melville Books

CONCORDIA

Piles of new and used books make a breadcrumb trail down a courtyard gravel path to this one-car-garage-sized bookshop. Novels and literary nonfiction make up the bulk of the selection, which leans somewhat modern when contrasted with its piles-of-books-style-shop peers around town.

2827 NE ALBERTA ST

Monograph Bookwerks

CONCORDIA

This tiny shop covers a massive scope of new and used art books—the only local shop of its kind we know. Find monographs of architects, painters, sculptors, and photographers, but also a selection of biographies and theory books, vintage local art catalogs and music posters, as well as original artworks and curios.

5005 NE 27TH AVE

 

Mother Foucault’s

BUCKMAN

Owner Craig Florence landed in Portland via Paris’s Shakespeare & Company and opened his shop somewhat in its romantic image. The name winks to the philosopher, whose books you’ll find, probably in several languages, among endless stacks of mostly twentieth century literature, philosophy, and theory that spill onto the patchwork of Persian rugs.

523 SE MORRISON ST

 

Nationale

BUCKMAN

The front room of this art gallery has grown into its own bookstore, offering a selection of fiction, poetry, and nonfiction in addition to the expected monographs and photography books. It also stocks hard-to-find magazines, such as back issues of Lapham’s Quarterly, Mother Tongue, and a range of Apartamento publications.

15 SE 22ND AVE

Parallel Worlds Bookshop

CONCORDIA

The only local bookshop we know of that’s dedicated exclusively to science fiction and fantasy, Sarah J. Maas to Ursula K. Le Guin, opened its snug, aqua blue storefront in 2022.

2639 NE ALBERTA ST

 

Passages

LLOYD

This appointment-only shop emphasizes out-of-print books on modern art and rare literature editions, like the run of signed firsts Patti Smith donated to the shop following a much-publicized break-in in 2020.

1801 NW UPSHUR ST, #660

 

Powell’s

PEARL DISTRICT, SUNNYSIDE, BEAVERTON

Powell’s “City of Books,” the original, half-century-old Pearl District location, is packed with new, used, and rare books (apparently over a million). All three stores are staggeringly well-stocked across genres, but the storied OG thrums with heavy foot traffic, a devoted cast of booksellers, and almost daily author events. It’s a tourist attraction that most Portlanders visit regularly.

1005 W BURNSIDE ST, 3723 SE HAWTHORNE BLVD, 3415 SW CEDAR HILLS BLVD

Sunrise Books

BEAUMONT-WILSHIRE

Edith Johnson opened the city’s only Black-owned children’s bookstore in 2020, hosting weekly playgroups and storytimes and stocking board books (extra durable for babies) through YA novels.

Johnson is currently running a GoFundMe to help offset the cost of her maternity leave.

4605 NE FREMONT ST, #208

 

Third Eye Books

RICHMOND

Portland’s only bookstore focused entirely on African-centered books stocks titles across the Black diaspora for all age groups. Despite its small footprint, couple Michelle Lewis and Charles Hannah’s shop, which opened in 2019, has a big community. It regularly organizes off-site author events and coordinates with schools.

2518 SE 33RD AVE

 

Up Up Books

BUCKMAN

This compact and kid-friendly shop carries recent titles across genres and holds a soft spot for local authors and publishers, many of whom they host at regular book events in the back room.

1211 SE STARK ST

 

Vivienne Culinary Books

CONCORDIA

The city’s only dedicated cookbook store doubles as a home for cooking classes and recently moved into an airy Alberta Street storefront. Graze the new and historical cookbooks and food-focused magazines, like Cherry Bombe and Eaten, and keep an eye out for events with local and national cookbook authors.

2724 NE ALBERTA ST

 

For this and related articles, please visit PortlandMonthly

 

 

 

 

 

 

As a child growing up in Kansas City, Ivan McClellan would sing the national anthem at the American Royal rodeo with a youth choir. Those performances are some of his fondest memories, but they’re also bittersweet.

That’s because just about everybody else around him was white.

“It wasn’t a place that we felt like we belonged,” McClellan told “Morning Edition” host A Martínez.

Learning about Black rodeos as an adult came as a revelation to him. McClellan spent nearly a decade documenting this unique culture all across the United States.

His forthcoming photobook, “Eight Seconds: Black Rodeo Culture,” out April 30 from publisher Damiani Books, features highlights from that journey. The title refers to the minimum amount of time a rider has to stay on a horse or other livestock in order to register a score during a competition.

“All of this beauty and energy and environment just stuck to me,” McClellan said about his first encounter with a Black rodeo. “I saw thousands of Black cowboys and they were doing the Cupid Shuffle in the desert and they were cooking turkey legs. And there were Black folks dressed like traditional cowboys. There were also black folks riding their horses in Jordans and women riding with their braids blowing behind them and their hands with long acrylic nails clutching the reins.”

That event, the Roy Leblanc Invitational Rodeo in Oklahoma, is one McClellan has come to dub “the Super Bowl of Black rodeos.” It is the oldest of its kind in the country.

He began posting his photographs of the event online. As his social media audience grew, McClellan was soon traveling the country in search of similar happenings.

“There are Black cowboys pretty much everywhere. I mean, there are Black cowboys here in Portland, Oregon, where I live, which I think is the last place that I would have expected to find them,” said McClellan, who now runs his own rodeo.

“I went all the way to Oklahoma to realize that there were cowboys up the road from me who have been there for four generations … You’d be hard pressed to find a part of America where there wasn’t at least some some portion of this culture.”

It’s a narrative largely shunned by Hollywood and the broader mass culture, where the cowboy is consistently portrayed as a white male, be it John Wayne, Val Kilmer or on TV series like Bonanza (1959-73) and Gunsmoke (1955-75).

Up until a few years ago, “I really thought that term [cowboy] was a joke when applied to a Black person,” McClellan said.

In fact, the term was once a pejorative for African Americans working on ranches and farms, while white cowboys were known as “cowhands.”

But ultimately, cowboy became “a shorthand for our noblest ideals,” McClellan said. “A lot of these things our popular culture is hesitant to attribute to a Black person. So I think to have a cowboy rushing in, saving the day with a black face just didn’t jibe with the stories that Hollywood was trying to tell. I think it’s erasure. I think it’s at best, laziness, at worst, very intentional and malicious. But I’m excited to see that transforming before my eyes.”

Beyoncé’s recent country-influenced album Cowboy Carter is the latest iteration of that push for change in popular culture. Lil Nas X challenged the country genre in 2018 with his song “Old Town Road.” It became a viral hit after sparking widespread conversations about genre gatekeeping and Black musicians’ place within country culture.

“It was a perfect alley-oop. And Beyoncé is hanging on the rim right now,” said McClellan. “Beyoncé is not only revealing Black cowboy culture, but she’s transforming country music forever and tearing down genres in a way that that I don’t think has ever been done.”

For McClellan, there’s now one place where he keeps returning over and over.

“As far as cultural impact, there’s nothing like the Roy LeBlanc Invitational Rodeo,” he said. “On the second weekend in August at about 8 p.m. when the sun is going down, everything is gold and all the athletes are filing into the arena for the grand entry. And that is where I like to take photos more than anywhere else on the entire planet.”

 

For this and similar articles, please visit OBP.com

While the Internet was busy talking about the emergence of red as the latest “it” color and bookshelf wealth, a centuries-old design movement has been quietly making its way back into the conversation. Maybe you’ve noticed, maybe you haven’t, but there’s no denying it: Blue-and-white porcelain, ceramics, and tilework are quietly everywhere.

The trend first started popping up last year—in kitchens, bathrooms and fireplaces with Delft-style tiles. Originally invented by the Dutch in the 1600s, these charming, humble tiles often depict small hand-painted portraits of people, farm animals, florals or bucolic and nautical scenes in a signature blue-and-white color palette. In recent months, I’ve also noticed an uptick in Chinoiserie-style ginger jars and wallpaper, blue-and-white Portuguese porcelain, and Spanish tile. They’re popping up in interior design projects and on the retail market, but no one is really talking about it…yet.

I love this trend both for its warm, welcoming qualities (it reminds me of my childhood and the dinner plates my grandmother owned) and also for the unexpected visual weight it carries. A little goes a long way, but because of the simple duo of colors, a lot goes a long way too. Try it in small doses with a pretty vase or salt-and-pepper shaker, or fully embrace it in a kitchen backsplash. Ahead, three ways to add this look to your home, whether you have $20 or $2,000 to spend.

If you’re looking to mix things up—just a little: Add blue-and-white decor or tableware.

Maybe you’re reading this and thinking this whole trend is a bit too “granny” for you. Perhaps you prefer newer, more modern design details? Here’s a quick decorator trick for you: If you feel like everything around you feels too new, sprinkle in a few storied pieces to nail that cool, collected contemporary-with-a-twist European vibe. An easy and affordable place to start is with some blue-and-white vases, floral plates, or a set of coasters.

Buy them: 

Modern Delft Blue Vase With Fun Bicycle Design, $55 at Etsy

Montrose Terracotta Vase Collection, from $50 at Pottery Barn

Two’s Company Chinoiserie Mini Ginger Jar Salt and Pepper Shaker Set, $22 at Amazon

Italian Blue Floral Pasta Bowl, $15 at Sur La Table

Delft Blue Canal Houses Marble Coaster Set, from $38 at Etsy

If you have a tendency to change your mind: Try peel-and-stick wallpaper or decals.

I get it: Trends come and trends go, and then you have to decide if you still love them enough to turn them into personal classics. While blue-and-white decor, tile, and tableware will never really stale, there’s always the chance you’ll grow tired of them. In that case, skip anything too permanent and keep to temporary solutions like peel-and-stick wallpaper and tile decals.

Buy them: 

Porto Tile Decals, $50 for 2’ x 4’ at Chasing Paper

1680 Antique Minimalist Blue French Tiles Peel & Stick Wallpaper, from $40 at Etsy

Chinoiserie “Whimsy” Blue and White Large Scale Pattern Wallpaper by Pattern Garden, from $39 at Spoonflower

If you’re remodeling: Opt for a blue-and-white tile fireplace surround or backsplash.

Authentic blue-and-white tiles, particularly anything from the original delft manufacturer Royal Delft in Amsterdam, come with a majorly hefty price tag. A single tile can set you back several hundred dollars, and an antique set of fewer than a dozen can ring in at more than 10 times that amount. But just because you don’t have thousands earmarked for your project’s tile doesn’t mean you can’t add the classic, historical touch to your home. Even just a few tiles intermixed with simple white square tile can go a long way, especially in a fireplace surround or in the backsplash area above your cooktop.

Buy them: 

Kitchen Backsplash Delft Style, $278 for 22 tiles at Etsy

M051 Herendira Blue Hand Made Wall Tiles, $1 per tile at Milagros

17th Century: Maiolica De Delft – Piccola (Varied Styles), from $45 per tile at Clé Tile

Portuguese Hand Painted Decorative Replica Tile, $404 for 20 tiles at Etsy

Blueware Tile Golf Player, $22 at Royal Delft

For this and similar articles, please visit Realtor.com

Moving company scams are on the rise. In 2023, customers filed 12% more complaints about moving scams than in the previous year, according to Better Business Bureau and HireAHelper data. While hiring a top-rated moving company can help ensure you won’t fall prey to a scam, raising awareness about moving scams is important for consumer protection. We’ll identify some of the most common moving company scams and give you some tips on how to avoid them.

Common Moving Scams

Minor property damage or losses don’t necessarily constitute moving fraud. It’s a scam if the moving company is deceptive or makes false promises. Common scams include movers ghosting customers or charging fees that aren’t disclosed in advance. Before booking a mover, prepare yourself by reviewing the most common moving scams below.

No-Show Movers

No-show movers will provide an estimate and ask customers to pay a deposit, but on moving day, they’re nowhere to be seen. Before booking a move, verify that your movers have a U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) number through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) portal.

Bait and Switch

A bait-and-switch move happens when the moving company gives you an estimate, but after loading all your belongings on their vehicle, they increase the price. They may argue that your possessions weigh more than originally estimated or that additional services are required.

Some moving companies only provide non-binding estimates, which means the price can change based on the weight of your belongings on moving day. Understand the type of moving estimate provided by your moving company and whether it’s binding or non-binding. If available, ask moving companies for a binding written estimate for services.

Hostage Goods

In a hostage goods scam, moving companies refuse to unload your possessions from their vehicle and claim you owe them more money than you originally agreed upon. Reputable companies will provide a written contract containing all agreed-upon fees. Make sure you understand the fine print.

Hidden Fees

Some companies may tack hidden fees onto a move, including fees for extra packing materials, additional insurance, or special handling for certain items. Ask for a list of all possible charges in writing before moving day.

Phantom Weight

Reputable interstate moving companies charge based on the total weight of your possessions. In a phantom weight scam, a moving company claims that your shipment weighs more than it does and charges you higher fees based on this inflated weight. By federal law, you have the right to watch the moving truck being weighed, although you may have to arrange with the company ahead of time to be there for the weighing process.

11 Red Flags To Look For in a Moving Company

The following red flags may indicate a moving company is not above board.

1. The mover gives an estimate without having seen your goods.
2. The mover refuses to give you a binding estimate or tells you they can’t determine the final cost until your goods are loaded. Note that some companies only offer non-binding estimates, and this doesn’t indicate a scam in isolation.
3. The company insists you pay cash or put down a sizable deposit upfront.
4. You can’t find a legitimate physical business address for the moving company. For example, its address is listed as a P.O. box or residence.
5. When you call, employees answer the phone without mentioning the company by name.
6. The company has numerous complaints on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website, on online review sites, and in the FMCSA database.
7. The moving company doesn’t give you its U.S. Department of Transportation number, which may mean it isn’t registered. You can check a company’s licensing status here.
8. The company cannot provide proof of insurance, including liability and workers’ compensation coverage.
9. Before a move, the company doesn’t give you a bill of lading, the legally-required contract that serves as your receipt guaranteeing the terms and conditions of your move.
10. The company fails to give you the legally-required documents Your Rights And Responsibilities When You Move and FMCSA’s Ready to Move brochure.
11. There’s no way to get updates from the driver during your move with any questions or to stay informed about when your shipment will arrive.

How To Protect Yourself From a Moving Company Scam

There are several important actions you can take before and during a move to protect yourself against scams.

Research the Company

Research local and long-distance moving companies by reading reviews on reputable third-party sites such as BBB and Trustpilot.

If you’re considering a moving company that isn’t well known, take the following steps before entrusting the mover with your belongings:

• Ensure the company has a physical address (not a P.O. box) and a website.
• Check its online reputation. Although a company can pad its online presence by soliciting fake reviews, reading reviews across multiple review sites such as Yelp and Google can give you a more reliable view of customer experience.
• Check licensing. Ask for the company’s USDOT number and ensure it’s officially listed with the FMCSA here.
• Check for red flags in the company’s complaint and safety history. The BBB is a good place to start. Search the FMCSA database to view the company’s complaint history. Detailed safety records are also available in the FMCSA’s Safety and Fitness Electronic Records (SAFER) system.
• Ask to see proof of insurance. Ensure the company has liability and workers’ compensation coverage.

Review Payment Terms

Reputable moving companies don’t require cash payment or a large deposit upfront. Here are a few things to consider before making your first payment:

• Understand the payment terms: A moving contract could involve a set fee or an hourly or fixed rate. Once you sign the contract, you are legally obligated to pay the amount listed.
• Read the contract closely: Ensure that additional charges, such as fees for long carries, stairs, or packing materials, are outlined in your moving contract.
• Review cancellation fees: Understand the company’s cancellation policy and any fees that may apply if your plans change.
• Avoid cash-only payments: Companies that insist on cash payments could be evading taxes or trying not to leave a paper trail. Consider paying via credit card so that you have the protection of your credit card company in the event of a scam.

According to our February 2024 survey of 1,000 homeowners, 40.3% prioritized affordability when looking for a moving company. However, remember that although budget is important, it should not be the sole deciding factor. If you pick the cheapest option just because it is the cheapest, you may get what you pay for.

Schedule an On-Site Inspection

We recommend working with a moving company that will schedule a pre-move inspection so there are no surprises on moving day.

Your movers will assess your house to identify any obstacles or hazards, such as a broken stair, that may arise during a move—or for any property damage that existed before their arrival. They will examine your possessions to determine if there’s anything that needs to be handled with extra care, such as valuable art or a piano.

A pre-move inspection ensures that the moving company knows how many items you plan to move so they can give you an accurate estimate of how much your move will cost.

Get Everything in Writing

Request the following documents and keep records in the event you need to file a complaint.

What To Do If You Fall Victim to a Moving Company Scam

If you find yourself the victim of a moving scam, act quickly to protect your belongings and seek recourse. Taking prompt action maximizes your chances of a favorable outcome.

• Gather documentation: Document every aspect of the issue, including any correspondence, receipts, or paperwork you have with the moving company. Save emails and write down the time and date of all phone conversations, including the name of the person you spoke to. This information will support your case if you need to file a complaint.
• Contact the moving company: Give the moving company the opportunity to rectify the situation. Calmly discuss what went wrong and how you have documented it. Let them know that if the situation isn’t resolved, you’ll file a complaint with the FMCSA and the BBB.
• File a complaint: If the company is unresponsive or uncooperative, escalate the matter by filing a complaint with the FMCSA and the BBB. The USDOT also has a fraud hotline you can call to report the company. The American Trucking Association (ATA)’s Moving and Storage Conference is another organization that takes complaints. State agencies also take complaints.
• Involve law enforcement: If your belongings are being held hostage, you may need to involve law enforcement to resolve the issue. Contact your local police department and provide them with the necessary documentation to support your claim.
• Find an attorney: Legal action may be required to recover your possessions or seek compensation for damages. Consult an attorney specializing in consumer protection or moving industry disputes to explore your legal options.

Our Conclusion

Moving scams are on the rise, but knowing how to identify them can help consumers avoid getting scammed. We recommend requesting multiple estimates, thoroughly researching moving companies, and understanding exactly what’s in your contract to avoid unwelcome surprises on moving day.

For this and related articles, please visit This Old House