Your upcoming move will be one of two things: an interstate move (between states, such as a move from
Minnesota to Florida), or an intrastate move (like between Fort Lauderdale,
Florida and Tampa Bay).
Interstate MovesIf you're moving to Fort Lauderdale from another state, your move is governed by rules from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, which is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation. To protect yourself in these types of moves, make sure the mover you select has been assigned a USDOT number, is registered with FMCSA to transport household goods between states, and has
proper insurance.
You can find out if a mover is registered with FMCSA by visiting
www.protectyourmove.gov, or calling FMCSA
at (202) 366-9805 for licensing, and (202) 385-2423 for insurance. Check with the
Better Business Bureau to
ensure the company doesn't have a long history of unresolved complaints.
Intrastate MovesIf you're moving to Fort Lauderdale from another city
in Florida, the
Fort Lauderdale moving
companies -- indeed, any moving company in Florida -- are overseen by the state, in this case the Florida Department of Agriculture, Division of Consumer Services.
To find out if your mover is registered with the state, call 1-800-HELP FLA - also ask about any complaints the state has received about the company.
Ask the movers about any DBA's they operate under.
Before you hire a moving company, have at least 3 movers see what you want moved. Don't
get quotes over the Internet or the phone - if they can't see your stuff, how can they give you an accurate quote?
The quotes should be within a reasonable range. If there's a mover quoting you far less, you're getting set up for a scam. The vast majority of ripoffs we see at Relocation.com come when moving companies give low-ball bids, and then try to make up the different later with ridiculous charges. If the quote is too good to be true - IT IS!
Other questions you should ask when speaking with
Fort Lauderdale movers:
* How long has the company been around? Does it do business under any other DBAs (doing business as).
* What are my insurance options with the moving company?
* What is the moving company's process for settling claims?
* Does the mover have arbitration for claim disputes?
Whatever company you choose should provide the following:
* Enough liability insurance coverage
* A written estimate and contract.
* They must also accept at least two of the following forms of payment:
cash, check or credit card.
Remember to ask about moving insurance - the mover should provide this
to you up front. The movers are obligated to provide a very minimal amount of
insurance, but it won't cover much. Investigate other options as well.
For more information about moving in or to Florida,
go to this Website.
