Dishonest Moving Tactics.

Moving can be a highly stressful experience for everyone, regardless of financial circumstances. There’s much more involved in relocating than simply hiring a moving company. Closing transactions when buying or selling a home, along with deposits for first and last month's rent and security when renting, are just the beginning. Additionally, you’ll need to handle the cancellation and setup of utilities such as electricity, gas, water, garbage, sewer, cable, internet, and phone services, as well as lawn care, repairs, enrolling kids in new schools, and a host of other tasks that may arise during the moving process. Amidst the monotony of relocating, it's easy to be lured into signing contracts for seemingly great deals without thoroughly reading the fine print.

It is entirely YOUR responsibility to inquire about any potential additional charges when you receive a quote from your mover. They will not inform you of this unless you specifically ask.

Ensure Clarity. A significant 90% of our clients choose to work with us due to our transparency rather than cost. If you find yourself confused after a conversation with a moving company, it's a clear indicator that they aren't the right choice for you. Moving companies understand that many clients are unfamiliar with the industry, and they'll often be as vague as possible to shield themselves. Most phone interactions are recorded, and the less that’s articulated, the fewer commitments they have to uphold, making accountability difficult later on. It's imperative that you know precisely what both their responsibilities and yours entail from the beginning to the end of your move.

In most states, movers are not legally required to unload their truck until the entire bill has been settled.

Most moving companies provide quotes based on either cubic feet (the space your belongings occupy in their trucks) or weight (the total weight of your items). This is where many horror stories arise, often recounted by customers who find themselves facing bills that are double what they were initially quoted, with their possessions held hostage by the moving firm. Consider this, everyone: the estimator didn’t physically come out to weigh or measure each box, bag, piece of furniture, artwork, lawn equipment, appliance, and so on. It’s not an estimate—it’s really a guesstimate! Upon arrival at your destination, you may be hit with a bill that’s nearly double what you thought you’d agreed to. They’ll then demonstrate how you’ve exceeded the cubic feet or weight that was initially quoted by the estimator. They’ll show you what the model truck’s capacity is versus how much space you’re occupying, or they’ll provide the actual weight of your belongings from a truck weigh station. Many estimators work on commission and would prefer to secure the job rather than risk losing it. This creates a win-win scenario for the moving company, as they can compel the client to pay the inflated amount while calculating the estimator’s commission based on the original quote.

Just like customers prefer to avoid surprises, so do movers. Believe me, they’ve done their homework ensuring that you haven’t been informed about the truck being too large for your driveway or parking area—something moving companies often verify using online maps and satellite images. This way, they can hit you with extra charges for having their movers spend additional time due to the longer “walk” or for needing a smaller truck to shuttle items back and forth between your home and the larger moving truck. If a shuttle truck is involved, expect a significant increase in your final bill, as they will be moving everything twice along with providing this extra transport vehicle (typically a 12' or 16' truck that they have already arranged through the nearest truck rental service to your delivery address).

Many moving companies ship consolidated loads without informing you that your items may be sharing space with those of other clients. They frequently add extra deliveries from other customers to fill their trucks, especially as large, bulky furniture is becoming less popular. Furthermore, they include stipulations in the "fine print" of your quote, claiming they are not responsible for delays that may extend to weeks due to other clients' deliveries ahead of yours. Our company, however, does not engage in consolidated shipping for several reasons. Trucks must be packed securely to prevent shifts that could damage cargo, risking the chance that your belongings may end up missing or mistakenly delivered to someone else. Additionally, the warm Florida climate fosters an environment where bedbugs, cockroaches, and termites thrive, leading to potential cross-contamination issues.

Be mindful of the hourly minimums for local deliveries and small moves. While they might estimate your move to be 1 hour and 45 minutes, beware of their 3 to 4 hour minimums. In contrast, we uphold a 1.5 hour minimum and further break down the client's time into 15-minute increments afterward to maximize savings. Many moving companies typically round up to the nearest hour if you exceed 5 minutes past your last hour. We offer transparent hourly rate quotes. Don’t be misled by moving companies claiming that your move will only take around 3 hours to secure your business, when in fact, it might actually take 5 hours to finish.

In this industry, you truly get what you pay for! Inexpensive moving companies are often uninsured, inadequately licensed, employ inexperienced or undocumented movers, or are simply in dire straits. They lack the essential overhead that reputable moving companies maintain, and you are likely to face the repercussions of their shortcomings. This could end up costing you three times as much in both money and stress compared to hiring a professional.

Avoid hiring moving companies with negative reviews indicating that "the mover never showed up." This issue is prevalent in our industry. Weekly, we assist 2 to 3 clients in urgent situations, often because many of these movers prioritize jobs from clients offering higher payments than you, showing little regard for your business or any negative feedback. It is truly unacceptable for moving companies to treat clients, their families, or their businesses this way, especially when most must vacate their location on the scheduled moving day.

Avoid moving companies that lack negative reviews! Indeed, moving affects everyone at some point in their lives. We encounter both excellent and poor experiences. No moving company is without the occasional mishap, whether it’s a damaged wall, doorway, or piece of furniture. It’s not uncommon for owners to try to minimize their losses by compensating dissatisfied customers to alter or delete their unfavorable reviews. In fact, a company with no negative feedback whatsoever can seem unrealistic. We all recognize that some individuals are simply difficult to satisfy.Avoid moving companies that lack negative reviews! Indeed, moving affects everyone at some point in their lives. We encounter both excellent and poor experiences. No moving company is without the occasional mishap, whether it’s a damaged wall, doorway, or piece of furniture. It’s not uncommon for owners to try to minimize their losses by compensating dissatisfied customers to alter or delete their unfavorable reviews. In fact, a company with no negative feedback whatsoever can seem unrealistic. We all recognize that some individuals are simply difficult to satisfy.

Be as transparent as you can when sharing information with the estimator, as this is crucial for obtaining an accurate quote. Often, we find ourselves reminding clients during billing that they overlooked certain items or situations that extended the anticipated timeline for their relocation. Ensure you are well-prepared on moving day! Take the time to pack everything thoroughly and ensure you're set to move.

Movers will impose additional fees for relocating items multiple times. Ensure you have a clear plan for where everything will be placed at the destination. Take measurements if necessary.

When packing your belongings into boxes, ensure to fill them completely to prevent crushing, securely tape both the bottoms and tops, and label the top and one side of each box indicating the intended room at the destination. Additionally, keep your boxes in the area where you packed them, as stacking them in one spot can cause delays; movers need to manage various shapes, sizes, and weights of boxes while loading the truck. This approach will help save time, money, and reduce the risk of damage. Remember, boxes packed by customers are not insured by the moving company, although you had the option for professional packing.

If additional valuation coverage is not purchased, most movers are legally obligated to compensate you at a rate of just $0.60 per pound for any damaged item. For instance, a damaged flat-screen TV worth $4,000 that weighs only 22 pounds would yield a mere $13.20 from a mover who shows little empathy and a clear indifference to you and your possessions. (Conversely, a moving company that genuinely cares for its clients will make every effort to repair damages and keep you informed throughout the process. It’s important to remember that movers have the right to repair, replace, or offer you the depreciated value of any damaged item. Most moving companies prefer to avoid rising insurance premiums, deductibles, and negative reviews, so they are likely to take initiative to resolve issues independently.)

If you opt not to purchase additional valuation coverage, most moving companies, by law, are only obligated to compensate you $0.60 per pound for any item that is damaged. For instance, a $4000.00 flat-screen TV weighing just 22 pounds would yield a mere $13.20 from an unempathetic mover who shows little regard for you or your possessions. (Any moving company that truly cares about its clients will make repairs for any damages and keep you regularly informed on the progress. It's important to note that movers have the right to repair, replace, or offer you the depreciated value of any damaged item. Most moving companies prefer to sidestep increased insurance premiums, deductibles, and negative feedback, opting instead to resolve issues internally.)

In the moving industry, there are absolutely NO DISCOUNTS or "FREEBIES." These costs are simply incorporated into other aspects of your quote.