That request for a deposit is the moment to slow down, not speed up. A stranger from a classifieds post is asking you to send money before a single box is touched, and once that transfer clears, your leverage drops to almost nothing. Before you commit a dollar, you can do a handful of checks that separate a legitimate crew from someone who will ghost you on moving morning. None of it takes long, and all of it is worth more than the hour it costs.
Read the Listing for Red Flags First
Start with the words on the page. A thin listing with no company name, a mobile number only, and a stock photo of a truck tells you the poster has invested nothing in being found again. Look for specifics: a business name you can search, a service area that actually covers your route, and clear pricing language rather than vague promises of “best rates in town.”
Watch for the quiet tells. Listings that demand a large upfront deposit through e-transfer, refuse to give a physical address, or pressure you to decide “today” are steering you away from scrutiny. A mover who is confident in their work doesn’t need to rush you. If the grammar is off in a way that suggests a copy-pasted template, or the same ad appears under three different names, treat that as your cue to keep scrolling.
Confirm the Business Is Real and Registered
A name in an ad is not a business. Run that name through Ontario’s business registry and a plain web search to see whether it exists outside the classifieds. A real operation usually leaves a trail: a basic website, a Google Business profile, a consistent phone number across listings. Threads where London residents compare notes on kijiji london movers can also tell you which names come up repeatedly and which ones nobody recognizes.
Cross-check the details. If the ad says five years in business but the phone number was registered last month, ask about the gap. Call the number during stated hours and see who answers and how. A company that answers as a company, not with a confused “hello,” is already ahead of the pack.
Ask for Proof of Insurance Upfront
Insurance is the line between a bad day and a financial disaster. Ask directly whether they carry cargo and liability coverage, and ask them to send a copy of the certificate. A legitimate mover will have it ready and won’t bristle at the request. Someone who dodges the question, says their coverage is “included,” or claims your home insurance will handle any damage is telling you they have none.
Read what the certificate actually covers and whether it’s current. Coverage that lapsed last year protects nobody. If they can’t produce documentation before the move, that alone is reason to walk.
Dig Into Reviews Beyond the Star Rating
A five-star average means little when it rests on four reviews posted in the same week. Read the written feedback and look for detail that only a real customer would know: the crew’s names, how they handled stairs, whether the final bill matched the quote. Pay close attention to how the company responds to complaints, because that reveals more than any glowing comment.
Spread your search across sources. Google, community forums, and local London groups each catch different experiences. If a mover is invisible everywhere except their own ad, you simply don’t have enough information to trust them with your belongings.
Lock Down the Details in Writing
Verbal quotes evaporate. Before you pay anything, get a written estimate that states the hourly or flat rate, the crew size, the truck, travel charges, and what happens if the job runs long. Confirm the date, the arrival window, and the deposit amount in the same message so there’s a record. Favor a modest deposit paid through a method with some recourse over a large sum sent by irreversible transfer. If a mover won’t put the basics in writing, you’ve learned what you needed to know.
Shortlist Your Top Candidates
Run two or three movers through the same checks and compare them side by side rather than settling on the first reply. The one that answers clearly, documents everything, and earns consistent feedback is the one worth your deposit. Do the vetting now, and moving day becomes a logistics problem instead of a gamble.