Moving can be one of the most stressful events in a person's life. You're trusting your most precious possessions with total strangers. So how do you make sure the mover you hire is going to do the job right?

Moving companies make the list of top 10 complaints received by the Better Business Bureau every year.

Riaan Zeelie is one of the many people who has lodged a complaint with the BBB against a moving company. He had several pieces of furniture damaged in his move and once his belongings were loaded onto the truck, the movers announced they wanted double the agreed-upon price.

"All of a sudden in the middle of the move, they said it would cost $560. It was a bit of a surprise," said Zeelie.

"You really want to look at what their track record is. We've got a lot of information and factual information to make a good decision," said Lynda Pasacreta of the Better Business Bureau.

Before you hire a mover, check the Better Business Bureau's website to see if the company is accredited, what kind of a rating it has and if any complaints are outstanding.

Some other tips include:

  • Shopping around: Get at least three estimates. The lowest is not necessarily the best choice.
  • Get a written contract and understand what you're signing.
  • Find out how much insurance your mover has and what it covers.
  • Make an inventory list of the goods to be moved and personally supervise the loading and unloading of the truck.
  • Report loss or damage by notifying the moving company in writing.
  • Remember if "you pack - you pay," meaning you're on the hook for any damages.

"You want to make sure that you take your time and do your due diligence to get the right company," said Pasacreta.

Last year more than 34,000 B.C. residents checked out movers with the BBB and more than 170 filed complaints about things like lost or damaged goods, over-billing and disputes over the actual weight of goods compared to the estimate.

With a report from CTV British Columbia's Lynda Steele