**DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY. This was by far the worst moving experience my family has ever had.**
When Josh first came to our home, he appeared professional, honest, and trustworthy. We were quoted **$6,400 for an in-state move**, even though much of our belongings were still boxed from our previous military move. We have a large family, so the price seemed reasonable. Most importantly, Josh specifically assured us there would be **no add-on or surprise charges at the end**. The move was supposed to take **two days**.
That is not what happened.
On the first day, only **three movers showed up**, and they told us there were supposed to be five. By the end of the second day, our move still was not complete. We were then informed that our belongings would be stored in the company's yard overnight.
This left our family with **no bedding, clothing, cribs, or other necessities**. We had two children under two years old at the time and seven people total who suddenly needed somewhere to sleep and food to eat. Josh offered us **$150 total for hotel and food for seven people**.
The movers assured us before leaving Friday that our belongings would be delivered the next day. By noon Saturday, no one had arrived. When we contacted the company, we were told they weren't coming until **Sunday**. We then had to unexpectedly figure out another full day and night of lodging, meals, clothing, and necessities for our entire family.
When our belongings were finally delivered Sunday, the problems continued.
The movers **damaged the walls and ceiling along our stairs**, leaving noticeable marks and indentations. Our nice leather couch was also damaged. Instead of being properly protected, it had essentially been wrapped in plastic/Saran Wrap, and the leather was torn.
We did not demand compensation for every little thing that was damaged during the move. We understand that accidents can happen. We asked them to address the **two major issues**: repair the damage their movers caused to our home and repair the torn leather couch.
For more than a month, we were repeatedly told that someone would be sent out to handle the repairs. **No one ever came.**
Then, after all of that, Josh offered us **$250 toward the repairs in exchange for agreeing not to leave a negative review online.** We declined.
The company also attempted to blame the damage to our belongings on us because we had not purchased their **additional insurance**. But additional moving insurance does not explain why professional movers damaged the walls and ceiling of our home while carrying items upstairs. Why should a homeowner have to purchase extra insurance to protect their house from damage caused by a moving company's own workers?
And then came one final surprise.
Before the movers left Sunday, the lead mover asked whether we were paid in full. I told him yes--we had paid the agreed-upon approximately **$6,400**. He got on the phone, and the company then attempted to charge us an **additional $1,600 for the THIRD DAY of moving**--even though this was contracted and represented to us as a two-day move, they had been understaffed from the beginning, and Saturday's delay was not caused by us. After I became extremely upset and challenged the charge, they eventually told us we would not have to pay it.
Between my husband and me, we have experienced **17 military and personal moves**. I have lived in three two-story homes during my military career and have never had movers damage the walls like this. I have personally moved seven times during my military career, and my husband has moved ten times during his. We know that moving is stressful and that occasional damage can happen.
**This was different.**
This was an understaffed two-day move that turned into a three-day ordeal, left a family with small children unexpectedly without their belongings, resulted in damage to our home and furniture, involved more than a month of unfulfilled promises to make repairs, included an attempted additional $1,600 charge, and ultimately resulted in an offer of $250 conditioned on us not posting a negative review.
We gave this company multiple opportunities to make things right before posting this review. We weren't asking for perfection or compensation for every damaged item. **We simply wanted them to repair our leather couch and the damage their movers caused to our home.**
They chose not to.
After 17 combined moves, **this was the worst moving experience our family has ever had. I absolutely would not recommend Southern Maryland Moving Company.** read more