How To Choose A Reliable Moving Company In Florida
Are you wondering how to choose a reliable moving company in Florida? Once you know that you’re definitely going to be moving, you want to start doing your research. You’ll have to research everything from the best packing methods to things to do near your new home. But perhaps the most important thing you’ll need to research is the moving company that will be responsible for getting your belongings to your new home. If you’ve weighed the pros and cons of hiring a professional moving service, you know that one of the biggest scams is the price tag.
Even the most affordable moving company will set you back a couple thousand. Considering that you’ll be paying such a hefty amount to trust strangers with your most valuable possessions, don’t you want to make sure you hire a reputable moving company? Keep reading to find out precisely what you should look out for and expect from a reputable moving company.
Verify Credentials. This rule is especially important for an interstate move. A reputable mover will need to provide a DOT number. That number is issued by the Department of Transportation. It is essentially a license that confirms a commercial vehicle is allowed to transfer cargo and passengers across the state. You can use the DOT’s online database to verify a company’s credentials.
In addition to the DOT number, you will also want to ensure your mover has a carrier number from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. If a moving company you consider doesn’t have either of these, it’s probably best to part ways.
Read Reviews the Smart Way. Of course, one of the best ways to find out what type of company you will be dealing with is to head over to the review section of its website. With that said, you’ll want to do some critical thinking as you read any reviews. If there are too many five-star reviews, you may need to dig around to find out why. This is especially true if the company has lots of one-star reviews, as well as five-star reviews.
Does it seem like they are a genuinely good company, or are they offering a significant price cut in exchange for a good review? Are the reviews based on a particular service they provide? Check out our reviews.
On the other hand, you’ll also need to carefully judge bad reviews. Sure, you shouldn’t ignore too many bad reviews, but you shouldn’t write off a company just because of a few of them either. When reading bad reviews, consider the following:
- Is there a response to the negative review from the company? If so, does it seem like they offer a solution, and most importantly, is the response professional and curious?
- Are the bad reviews few and far between?
- Does the reviewer have a legitimate concern, or are they just venting about something that seems standard or unavoidable?
If you’re comfortable with how the company seems to do business based on the reviews, go ahead and proceed with your research.
They have a website and a physical location. This might seem like common sense, but we know how tempting it can get to hire someone off of a classified advertisement. When you’re looking for ways to save money, it can be easy to justify hiring people off Craigslist. Still, there are actually several reasons why that isn’t a good idea – read about that here. To ensure the most professional and safe move, make sure your moving company is a fully set up legal business. If they are a legal business, there should be a website.
20 percent deposit. If a company is trying to convince you to make a full deposit or even a large cash deposit upfront, consider this a red flag. As a general rule, moving companies shouldn’t ask for a deposit bigger than 20% of the estimated total. If they ask for any more than that, it might be a red flag the company is a scam.
The rule of three. You know how you’re not supposed to make big purchases before comparing prices in at least three different places? The same rule applies here. You should shop around at least three other moving companies before you settle on one. This will allow you to compare prices, services, and customer service.
Referrals. Sometimes, the best way to find the most reputable company is by old-school word of mouth. Talking about moving companies isn’t exactly party conversation, so you’ve probably never heard your friends or acquaintances talk about one. However, if you ask around, chances are that a good percentage of your circle can point out a good (or bad) experience with a moving company. Bonus: if you have social media, it is even easier to put the word out and ask for a recommendation from hundreds of people at a time. By the way, try to find a reliable moving companies on Zipmover.
They are happy to answer questions. If you are looking for a reputable moving company, there are several questions you need to ask before hiring them. For example:
- How do you handle claims?
- What happens if my things get lost or ruined?
- What if I need to cancel?
- Do you provide moving insurance?
These are not fun things to deal with, and while they are not likely to happen, it is still within the realm of possibility that they can. To ensure you are covered in every scenario, you need to have the conversation with the company’s representative. If you sense that they are dodging the questions, or worst…getting offended by them, that is a sign that the company is not operating at its best.
Final Thoughts
The initial task of hiring a professional moving company can be confusing. To ensure you are hiring the best company for you, you will need to give energy and attention to the researching a good fit. With that said, the end result is one thousand percent worth it. A reputable company will make your moving experience safer, mostly stress-free, and much quicker…amongst other things. So don’t despair, here at Safebound Moving & Storage, we are a reliable, highly-reviewed & rated moving company in Florida.
