Your upcoming move will be one of two things: an interstate move (between states, such as a move from New York to Florida), or an intrastate move (within the state, like between
Tallahassee and Tampa Bay).
Although both types of moves share many characteristics, they differ in how
they're regulated, and so they have a bearing on how you should investigate
Tallahassee moving companies.
Intrastate MovesIf you're moving to Tallahassee from another
Florida city, the
Tallahassee movers 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. Be sure to ask the movers about any DBA's
they operate under, and check those also.
Prior to hiring someone, have at least 3 movers actually come to your home to see what you want moved. Don't take quotes over the Internet or the phone - if they can't see your stuff, how can they give you an accurate quote?
Once you get estimates, they should be in a reasonable range. If there's
a moving company that's quoting you far less, that's a good sign you're getting
set up for a scam.
Other questions you should ask when speaking with your selected moving companies:
* 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?
Your estimate must have the following elements:
* Name, telephone number, physical address and state registration number of the mover.
* The proposed date of the actual move, and the date you were given the estimate.
* Your pick-up and delivery address, name and telephone numbers.
* Name, telephone number and physical address where the goods will be held, if needed.
* Breakdown of all costs and services.
State-to-State MovesIf you're moving to Tallahassee from another state, your move is governed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, which is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Make sure the mover you select has been assigned a USDOT number, is registered with FMCSA to transport household goods between states, and has the proper amount of insurance.
You can determine 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. (This article can take you step by step through
how to check out a moving company on the FMCSA website.)
Also check with the
Better Business Bureau to ensure the
company doesn't have a long history of unresolved complaints. (The intrastate section below also has tips
on picking a mover that apply to both intrastate and interstate moves.)
