Are you moving to Florida? If the answer to this question is YES, then congratulations! Florida really is a great place to call home. But, do not get too excited just yet – you still need to prepare for your move. And, if you moved before, you know how exhausting and tiring that process is. Luckily, there is a way to save your time, money, and energy when moving. How? By hiring a professional moving agency! However, you can not hire the first one you find, no. You need to do proper research and ask the right questions if you want to find a reliable moving agency that suits your needs and budget the most. We are also here to help you out. We will share with you some things to ask movers before hiring them for your Florida move. If interested, keep on reading.
Are You Licensed?
One of the first questions you should ask your potential movers is whether they are licensed or not! And, why is that important? Because we live in times where moving frauds and scams are more than common. If you hire a moving agency that is not licensed properly (usually beacuse of their cheaper price) you might lose a small fortune or you might lose all of your household belongings in a blink of an eye. Thus, save yourself from those troubles and only hire reputable moving agencies that have a license number. You can check whether a moving company has a moving license in the United States Department of Transportation, of course, if moving internationally. If moving locally, you need to check whether a moving company has a state license.
What Services Do You Provide?
Another important thing to have in mind is that there are many different moving agencies that offer many different types of services. In other words – each company is unique in its own way! That is, each company has its own menu of services it provides. For example, if you need to transport your belongings to other parts of the state, you need to find movers that provide moving long-distance. Or, if you have some specialty items that need to be handled professionally (piano, hot tub, aquarium, artwork, etc.), you need to find movers that specialize in that particular kind of relocation you need. So, before you hire movers, ask them what services they provide! Here are some to have in mind when asking questions:
- moving locally
- moving long-distance
- providing all the necessary packing supplies
- packing and unpacking
- custom crating
- providing the moving truck and the driver
- loading and unloading
- shipping items internationally
- vehicle shipping
- furniture assembly/disassembly
- relocating specialty items
- storage
- cleaning services
What is Included in the Price?
If you asked your potential movers the previous question – what services do they provide, there must be a follow-up question – what is included in the final price. And, why is this important? Well, because many moving agencies, in order to attract clients, avoid talking about prices and all the additional fees. But, those additional fees usually cost a small fortune and completely change the final price of one’s relocation. Thus, if you do not want to break your bank, always ask your movers what is included in the price and what costs extra. Also, make sure to write down everything! For best results, ask your movers for an estimate (online, over-the-phone, or in-home estimate). That way, you will know exactly what type of move you will need and how much it will cost.
What Kind of Liability Coverage Do You Provide?
It is normal to feel uncomfortable and even a little anxious when inviting strangers to your home and letting them handle and drive away with all of your belongings. And, it does not matter whether you are moving just around the corner or somewhere across the ocean, you still need some kind of liability coverage! Thus, ask the question – what kind of liability coverage does your company offer. Luckily, all the reliable and trustworthy moving companies have a few of them to offer. Some of the most common types are:
- Released Value Protection – It is usually included in the price, that is, it is offered at no additional charge. With this kind of ‘protection’, the moving agency is responsible for no more than 60 cents per pound (0.4 kg) per item or article.
- Full Value Protection – This, of course, costs extra. However, if you choose this kind of ‘protection’, your movers will be responsible for each item or article, that is, they will be liable for the replacement value of all the items that may have been lost or damaged during the move,
Did You Do a Background Check on Your Employers?
Similar to the previous paragraph, besides checking the liability options, you should also make an effort to learn more about the people handling all of your belongings. Of course, you can not do this alone (unless you are a private detective). Thus, when talking to your movers, that is, when talking to their main representative, ask about the people working in that particular moving agency. Check whether they were fired from some other companies for damages or theft. Check whether they have criminal records for burglary or drugs. Only after doing this and making sure that that company is sending reliable and trustworthy people to your home should you be able to sign the papers. After all, dependable movers are the essential ingredients that make up a good removalist.
How Do You Handle Loss and Damage Claims?
Last but certainly not the least question to have in mind is how that particular company handles loss and damage claims. If the company is reliable, there will be no secrets. That is, they will give you their history of complaints and show you how they resolved each claim/problem. Of course, the details will not be specified, but you can always ask for an explanation. That is the only way to ensure that the company you choose will be able to reimburse you for the lost or damaged items in a fair and fast way. You can also check the customer’s complaints for this. If many of them had problems during the relocation and did not get reimbursed after it, you should better find another moving company for your Florida move.
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