Yes. Our business is privately owned and operated. Every representative and mover is a direct employee of Moving Ahead Services.
Frequently Asked Questions
You or a representative on your behalf needs to be available for the entire move. Oftentimes questions come up that the movers need someone available to answer. They will also need someone to verify that everything that needs moved is loaded and unloaded.
Some customers plan a system for where items will be placed at the destination location, such as color coding, room labels, etc.
To provide for the safest and smoothest move possible, pathways within the home should be cleared prior to the move. It is also a good idea to have a plan for young children and pets to be clear of moving paths while the move is taking place.
We are fully licensed and insured. Our state licensing number for Florida 3818597.
Our hiring process is very extensive. All applicants are screened and background checked, in addition to checking driving history and other related factors. For every 10+ interviews, we may accept 1 employee. This has allowed us to shape our team, and maintain a focus on quality.
Most of our trucks are 26′ straight trucks or 16’ box trucks. Please make sure that there is a place for us to park the moving truck or let us know any concerns ahead of time. We base the size of truck you need off of the number of items you will be moving.
We move most things, but there are certain things that we cannot move for you. These items include pets, plants, ammunition, medications, aerosols and fuel. It is critical that these items are not packed in with your other household belongings.
Like cab drivers and waitresses, it is customary to tip movers, but it is completely up to you. If you feel the movers worked hard and took care of you, then a tip is very much appreciated.
We constantly remind our movers that they should not ask, hint, or in any way make you feel uncomfortable.
We have an extremely low rate of claims for our industry. About 2 – 3%.
We have a professional claims process with experienced adjusters who follow state and federal claims guidelines. Please bear in mind that how much you are compensated for a lost or damaged item depends very much on the “valuation” that you put on your goods when you do your paperwork at the beginning of the move. The standard is $.60 / pound, as governed by the law.
Even the most careful, efficient movers may cause damage. This can be a result of mishandling or accidentally dropping an item – Or also a result of the type of item itself. The act of moving furniture and boxes, loading them into a truck, driving, unloading, and repositioning can be especially prone to damage for the items noted below:
- Furniture made of particleboard, engineered wood or paper laminate finish. Brands like IKEA, Bush, etc. are not meant to be moved once assembled and can be damaged with a simple movement.
- Floor lamps (tall standing lamps) from brands like Target and Wal-mart are prone to damage if they are unable to be disassembled.
- Boxes packed DIY may be prone to damage – Adhere to packing best practices for weight and items!
- Liquids packed into boxes – Take extra care to conceal liquids and keep separate from other items.
- Electronics should be packed in original manufacturer packaging when possible.
- Internal mechanical components of items. For example; Elliptical, Treadmills, Workout Equipment
- Internal components of washers and dryers. Be sure to order transit bolts for front load washers!
Our priority is always our customer, and we have a clear process in place for handling and rectifying damage. However, having the above information also allows for accurate expectations and careful planning!
Since local moves are charged by the hour, anything that you do, we don’t have to complete and translates into time and cost savings. We are happy to do a full-service move and complete them frequently. However, if you are trying to control costs;
- Be completely packed before we get there.
- Take apart your stereo and computer and pack them in boxes.
- Take apart your bed frame.
- Move boxes near the door.
- Complete some moving of household items on your own.
We’re happy to complete everything required, but if you want to reduce costs we will work on a custom affordable plan for you!
Local moves are charged by the hour, and long-distance moves are charged by weight and distance. Determining the number of hours a local move will take is estimated based on the information you have provided over the phone. While we do our best to estimate, actual times may vary. We can provide a binding price but would need to do a walk-through in advance. We have zero hidden fees and provide all cost information in email correspondence and in contracts.
Please understand it is in our best interest, and yours, to have accurate information to determine an accurate schedule. The process of ‘baiting and switching’ is both unethical and illegal. We will not try to lowball an estimate than present you with an unexpectedly high bill on moving day. Our moving consultants will take you through the process, and rate quote you a competitive hourly rate, and our movers will do a quick, efficient job. Please be upfront and forthcoming about inventory, unique items, or any special circumstances during the planning phases of your move. Most of these factors do not increase the cost of your move with up-charges but may impact the time required.