NEW YORK (MONEY Magazine) - Q. My movers were a disaster. They didn't bring tools, wouldn't move my sofa, then tried to overcharge me by claiming I had thousands of pounds more stuff than I did. I had to hire someone else to get the sofa out, and fight like crazy to get a price near the original $1,722 estimate. How could I have avoided this mess?

-- Laila Hazen, Atlanta

A. Only one way: by not hiring crooks in the first place. Granted, the moving industry does attract some marginal characters, and the nature of the transaction creates a certain temptation to people predisposed to take unfair advantage. When four burly guys have all your worldly possessions locked in their truck, they are in what you could call a strong negotiating position.

Still, finding an honest mover isn't fundamentally any more difficult than hiring a contractor or doctor or anyone else for a position of trust.

Start by getting references from friends and colleagues who've actually used the movers. It also can't hurt to ask for credentials. Check that your outfit is part of the American Moving and Storage Association (moving.org); that will at least help you avoid fly-by-night outfits.

Better yet, ask a potential mover for its U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) number and see if they're properly registered and insured at safersys.org.

Get at least three quotes in writing, and make sure the bidders come to your home and evaluate your stuff. If a mover insists on giving an estimate over the phone or by e-mail, move on. Also, remember that bids are either binding or nonbinding -- and a nonbinding bid is, essentially, no better than an unofficial estimate.

One red flag: a mover who charges by cubic foot rather than by poundage. There are federal rules on how to weigh shipments but not on measuring volume. And when considering bids, ignore lowball quotes that sound too good to be true.

If the same nightmare happens the next time you move, you should file a complaint with the DOT's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (online at 1-888-dot-saft.com or by phone at 888-368-7238).

Our Expert: Amy Feldman has been covering money topics for nearly 15 years.