New Web Site Features Database Of Movers

GRAND HAVEN -- A Grand Haven entrepreneur has launched MoversReviewed.com, an online searchable database of 7,500 active, licensed moving companies in the United States and Canada.

Using simple tools, the site allows consumers to quickly search, sort, filter, narrow and rank all moving companies in a geographic area to best fit their needs.

"Our goal is to save time for the consumer and help ensure a good moving experience," said Mark Greer, president and founder of MoversReviewed.com. "We provide accurate, current and relevant information that can be easily searched to help customers quickly find the best moving company for their situation."

MoversReviewed has done the legwork for the customer looking for a moving company. Customers can sort by nine criteria including size of the company, type of license, affiliations, and specialty moving services -- piano, labor only, art and antique crating, auto, small moves, portable containers, employee relocation services, commercial, industrial, military certified movers, or government-approved movers.

To help consumers avoid brokers, middlemen and unlicensed rogue movers, and to filter out movers with the wrong license type, MoversReviewed:
* Lists the household goods licenses provided by the United States Department of Transportation, the Federal Maritime Commission and 41 state regulatory commissions;
* Cross-references the membership directories of the 36 trade associations of the moving industry; and
* Identifies moving companies that are agents of an interstate van line operation.

It has taken a staff of three 10 months to develop the beta version of MoversReviewed.

"The site received several thousand visitors in December which is especially encouraging considering we just began advertising in January," Greer said. "We hope to receive about 8,000 visitors in our first month and steadily grow from there."

Greer is a Saginaw native who has lived in Chicago and Washington, D.C. before moving back to the Great Lakes State. He previously worked for the United Motor Coach Association and set up busroutes.com, a similar database of charter bus companies.

Greer said a longtime friend's company, Grandville-based UPWebDesign LLC, handled the technical creation of the Web site.

The site's revenue model is detailed postings by moving companies, which cost $200 a year. Already, dozens of moving companies have set up complete postings that include pictures, video, optional rates, reviews, insurance verification, overview and additional quote requests from customers.

For more information and tips on hiring a mover, or to learn more about the sortable database, visit www.moversreviewed.com.