How to Find the Best Moving Help in Bal Harbour
Do you want to move to Miami-Dade metro area, but the ruckus and rush of the big city are just not that not attractive to you? Are you looking for something a little bit smaller and quieter? Then we have a place for you! Bal Harbour is a village in Miami-Dade County with the population of just 2,500 people. It sits on the northernmost part of an island you might know as Miami Beach. This makes it both quiet and close to Miami. Feeling interested? Then read our guide on how to find the best moving assistance in Bal Harbour!
Get Recommendations for the Best Moving Help in Bal Harbour
Friend Recommendations
The first thing you will want to do is make a list of companies working in Bal Harbour. This can be done in various ways. The first one we suggest is simply asking around. Maybe you have a friend or an acquaintance that has recently moved and had a great experience with their company. Maybe your friends know (or are) a real estate agent and can recommend some professional moving companies for you.
Online Search
If your search for a moving company through friends gives no results, it’s time to turn to the Internet. You can simply Google “The best moving assistance in Bal Harbour,” but the results you will get these way can vary. What can be of great use are the Bal Harbour yellow pages. There, you can find moving companies that are sure to work in the area, and you can add them to your list. You can also check for various Miami Movers, but make sure that they have offices near you, and also work in the Bal Harbour area. This is especially important if you are not living in Florida and you are planning on a long distance move – the company representatives need to visit you to do an in-home estimate. They cannot do that if there is no office nearby.
Screen the Companies
Once you have created a list of possible moving companies, it is time to screen them and pick a couple to call for an in-home estimate. The easiest way to do this online.
Online Screening
You want to check the company website first. Make sure they have contact information (such as address, telephone number or e-mail address) which you can use to ask for more information.
The best place for screening possible candidates is the Better Business Bureau website. The website is great when searching for moving companies, but it also gives you a ton of information about a company.
You can also check the American Moving and Storage Association website to see if the company you are screening is a member. The AMSA movers agree to abide by the organization’s published tariffs, as well as participate in its arbitration program. However, the membership is voluntary, and you should not rule a company off just for not being AMSA member.
Finally, you can check websites such as Moving Scams, which are a great source of information on various companies. They all have a blacklist of companies which have a history of consumer complains and have various information about the moving business as well.
In-home Estimates
By the time you are done with online screening, you should have a list of 3-5 companies that seem like a good fit for you. Now is the time to call them for an in-home estimate.
Remember that a reliable company will always want, and need to do an in-home estimate. Never trust the companies that do an online or phone estimate. The estimator needs to visit your home and go thoroughly through your stuff to give you a reliable estimate of the costs.
Remember that if the company gives you a non-binding estimate, the cost of the move can exceed the actual estimate up to 10%. This can sometimes happen. You can (and should) ask for a written binding estimate. It is even better if you can get a written not-to-exceed estimate.
Either way, be sure to talk thoroughly to the person visiting your house. Show them everything you are planning to move. Tell them when and where you are moving. Be sure to tell them if there will be any difficulties for the movers such as stairs or elevators, and narrow streets. Ask if there are any bonus fees for difficult moves. Ask for information about the company. At the end of the in-home estimate, you should have the following:
- The company’s name and the names they are doing business as;
- The company’s contact information, including address, telephone, and email;
- Two or three references, including their names and contact numbers;
- The company’s USDOT (United States Department of Transportation) number;
- The company is required by government law to also give you a booklet called “Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move” (which you can download on the link).
Choosing the Best Moving Help in Bal Harbour
After all company representatives have arrived to give you in-home estimates, it’s time to compare their bids and do additional company screening. Make sure you check if the company does business in your state. You should also visit SAFER (Safety and Fitness Electronic Records) website and enter the USDOT numbers they provided you. Here you can get detailed information about the company. Look for the names they do business as (DBA). If they keep changing their names or their address, they might not be trustworthy. Also, make sure they have both bodily-injury and property-damage insurance and cargo insurance. If anything raises a red flag for you – make sure you call the company and check it. Don’t forget to also check the websites we already gave you.
You can also call FMCSA’s Safety Violation and Consumer Complaints hotline. Get information about the company by visiting their website, too.
Hopefully, we have helped you in picking the best moving assistance in Bal Harbour. The moving process is lengthy, so finding a reliable, professional company is a great first start. With proper moving partners, your move will be smooth and less stressful. Good luck!