Operating a moving and storage company requires a lot of resources that is why many moving companies do not offer storage services. Many consumers who are in between homes prefer to do business with a company who provides moving and storage services (one stop shop). There are many moving and storage companies who provide reputable and professional services. Unfortunately, there are just as many who are of ill repute. This article will provide you, the consumer with some tips to ensure the company you hire is a reputable moving and storage company.
Too often, everyone is in a rush and want to trust all arrangements can be made via telephone and internet. In some instances that may work but when moving and storing your goods, please do not rely on just a phone call or electronic communications. The following scenario happened to a family; all names have been changed.
The Hernandez family sold their house faster than anticipated. The Hernandez family’s new home was not ready for move in which meant they would have to move into an apartment and store most of their items in a storage facility. The Hernandez family called for quotes on moving and storage. They decided to hire the services of a small moving company who claimed to operate their own storage facility whose rates were lowest compared to other competitors. The Hernandez family did not visit the moving and storage company A; nor did moving and storage company A send an employee out to survey the Hernandez family belongings to provide an accurate estimate. All arrangements were made via phone calls and email.
Moving day arrived, the small moving company A moved the necessary items to the Hernandez family apartment and took the remainder to the small moving company’s storage facility. The Hernandez family made their monthly payments to the small moving company for the storage services.
One day, a friend of the Hernandez family contacted Mrs. Hernandez to report a dining room set like the one the Hernandez family owned was being auctioned by Storage Company XYZ. Out of curiosity, Mrs. Hernandez visited Storage Company XYZ website and was shocked to see her dining set as well as all the items placed into storage were being auctioned for lack of payment of storage fees. What was most shocking to Mrs. Hernandez was the storage facility was not the company the Hernandez family hired. Mrs. Hernandez contacted the storage facility but unfortunately because the storage facility did not have a contract with Mrs. Hernandez all they could tell her was the items were being auctioned due to failure to make payments. Recall, the Hernandez family made their monthly payments to small moving and storage company A. Mrs. Hernandez attempted to call small moving and storage company A but they no longer answered their phones.
So, what happened? Well small moving and storage company A never operated a storage facility. Moving Company A deceived the Hernandez family. Moving Company A placed the Hernandez’s belongings into a third party storage facility and never shared the details with the Hernandez family. Unfortunately, Moving Company A pocketed the storage fees and never paid the third-party storage company XYZ.
All this could have been prevented. Today it seems everyone is time impoverished but sometimes you must slow down, invest time to ensure you are getting what you are paying for. When hiring the services of a moving company who operates its own storage facility, visit the facility. Reputable moving and storage companies love showing off their facilities. Visiting the moving company’s warehouse provides an opportunity for the consumer to inquire about pest control services, security, access, location where the goods will be stored and just get a general feeling about the company.
Once the moving company places your items into storage, the moving and storage company should provide the consumer with a contract for storage services which is completely different than the contract for moving services.
Over the years, we have encountered too many clients who have learned the hard way by trusting low prices and exclusively relying on phone calls and e-mails. Now, in some instances, in very small moves or if you have an established relationship with a moving company phone calls and emails may work. In general, not a good practice.
We get it, moving is disruptive, tiresome and frustrating. That’s why many consumers hire the services of moving companies. There are a lot of great, reputable moving companies out there, it just takes a little effort by the consumer to find us.
Article submitted by:
Gloria Pugh, CEO
AMWAT Moving, Warehousing & Storage
850-877-7131
www.amwatmovers.com
