How To Avoid Moving Scams

stopmovingscam

Scams are everywhere.  Internet scams, phone scams, bank scams, get rich quick scams, etc.  With today’s technology, it is getting harder and harder to tell what situation is a scam and what isn’t.  This goes for moving as well.

Nowadays, everything is searched for online.  Because of this impersonal form of communication, it gets harder and harder to tell if the business is as real and upfront as it claims to be.  Here are a number of waysand tips How To Avoid Moving Scams in Chicago, IL

Inspections

After giving you a quote online or on the phone, a real, licensed business will always have an in home consultation.  Why?  Because you can say you have a certain amount of stuff, but it translates differently once it’s all packed.  Experts are able to see this and calculate accordingly.  They may ask questions about your furniture and what may need to be disassembled and reassembled.  The estimate they end up giving you will be as close as possible to what they charge you.

Scam movers, on the other hand, will not give an in-home consultation.  Instead, they will quote a price over the phone or online and low-ball it.  Though everyone loves to save money, you would do well to be a bit cynical.  If it’s too good to be true, it almost always is.

Payments

Legitimate moving companies will ask for payment after the move.  That way, you are safe in your knowledge that nothing is broken or lost.  And if something is, the moving company has insurance and paperwork for you to fill out.

On the other hand, rogue movers will do one of two things.  They will demand payment upfront.  Once you hand over the money, they no longer have to worry about treating your belongings well.  If anything breaks, you can’t take it out of the money you paid them or withhold paying.  Or they will give you an incredibly low estimate and raise it substantially once your belongings are on the truck.  They will force you pay the amount as they hold you items hostage.

Paperwork

As a legitimate business, there will always be paperwork to fill out.  There are federal regulations when it comes to moving and all the rules have to be abided by.  You should always be given a “Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move” booklet if you are moving out of state.  For instate, there are various insurance forms and contracts.

If you mover has little to no paperwork for you to go through, they are doing it wrong.

Location

Movers usually have a place where their offices are located.  After all, the trucks have to gather somewhere and most companies offer storage services and packing supplies as well.  There is usually an address on the website you can go to.

If there is no address, we weary that the movers are not legitimately licensed.  If there is, you might want to visit.  The state of the office can tell you a lot.  Or maybe the office doesn’t even exist and the address is a local lake!

Company Name

What else is there to look for?  The company name of course.  When your call is answered, the first thing out after “hello” should be the company’s name.  If it’s not and something generic like “moving company” is used instead, there is a high chance that the business is not legal.  Also, look at the trucks.  Legitimate moving companies all have their company name and logo on the side of the truck.  It is an indication that it is family owned and part of a fleet of trucks meant specifically for moving.

The Professionals Moving Specialists

Now that you know all the signs of an illegal moving company, See Chicago Moving Company!  The Professionals Moving Specialist is based in Chicago, IL .  Our moving Company is a legitimate business, properly licensed, bonded, and insured.  If you have any questions or worries about moving, call us and ask!  Our aim is to provide the best service for you during the stressful time of your move.

When Couples Move In Together

movingincouples

So your significant other is moving in.  You’re ready to start a new chapter of your lives together and this consists of coexisting in the same home.  And you guys have chosen your home for whatever reason.  Maybe it’s bigger or maybe it has a better view or maybe couples spend the most time there anyway.  Whatever the reason, there are some things that need to be before your couples move in together.

The Closet

The worse feeling is looking into your closet and knowing you have too much clothing, but never having anything to wear.  Well, you’re about to have a bit less.  There is no way you are going to fit both your clothes and your partner’s in the same closet considering the state it is in now.  This of course means it’s time to clean it out.  Throw or donate anything you haven’t worn in a year.  Old sweatshirts, t-shirts with holes in them, faded jeans, whatever it may be.

Hide Your Stuff

Or not, it’s up to you.  It depends on how comfortable you are around your partner.  But remember, the only kept secrets in a relationship are the bad ones.  So maybe you’re not ready to show your significant other your collection of limited edition signed Lord of the Rings novels or the pristine condition miniature figurines of all the Sailor Scouts that you usually keep in a glass case.  That’s okay, for now, but they will find it eventually.  There are only a number of hiding places in a house.

Fridge

Food is one of the most important things in…well, life really.  You and your partner may not have matching taste buds.  Maybe he’s allergic to nuts or she’s a huge fan of red meat.  Maybe you like tofu and have an affinity to cayenne pepper most shudder at. Whatever it is, you’ll have to reach a compromise and accommodate your partner’s taste as well as your own.

Chores

You know the drill.  You’ve had enough roommates in this lifetime to know how important it is to split up the chores.  I know you probably imagined endless cuddling in front of the TV and romantic take-out dinners when you both come from work exhausted.  You’ll still have those.  Except you also have to figure out who takes out the trash, who cleans the bathroom, who does the laundry, who washes the dishes, and more!  Keeping a home inhabitable is no easy task!  Especially when double the people means double the stuff and double the waste.

Enjoy It

Not that you don’t already enjoy each other’s company, but there’s just something about living together.  There’s no need to wake up early in the morning to go home and change before work.  Instead you can sleep in and know that everything is in your shared room, bathroom, home.

Read more moving tips from Chicago Movers The Professionals Moving Specialists

Finding Internet During a Move in Chicago, IL

INTERNET&MOVING

Nowadays, we are addicted to the internet.  We have the internet on our laptops, our phones, our eReaders, our mp3 players, etc.  Check your wi-fi connection and about 20 different routers pop up.  Using the internet is so ingrained in us when we lose it, we become lost and disconnected?  What do you do when you can’t look up gifs of flying cats or update our Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter every 3 minutes?

In fact, the lack of internet can very well be one of the worst things about moving in Chicago, IL.  Forget about the mess of packing.  What’s the point if you can’t tweet about it?  Well, during that week or so you don’t have internet, check out some Wi-Fi hotspots to hold you over.

Fast Food Restaurants

Most specifically, go to McDonald’s.  Yeah, the food isn’t exactly healthy, but they have free Wi-Fi and that’s what counts.  Krispy Kreme has free Wi-Fi as well.  Other places like Wendy’s and Burger king operate on a store to store basis.  Some provide free internet while others don’t.

Bookstores

We all know Barnes & Nobles has free Wi-Fi and that’s basically the only big name book store left.  They also have a Starbucks and the workers won’t give you the death glare if you sit for hours between the shelves browsing the internet.

Parks

Wi-Fi is literally inescapable.  The issue isn’t finding it, but finding a public one.  Many parks now have Wi-Fi.  Also, if you are an Optimum customer, you can access their Wi-Fi at any time.  And of course AT&T Wi-Fi is everywhere as well.

Libraries

With libraries, it’s a toss-up if they have Wi-Fi or not.  The older, less modern ones most likely will not.  However, libraries are still guaranteed to have internet.  You’ll just need a library card which you should have anyway.

Coffee Shops

Most coffee shops have Wi-Fi and we all know for certain Starbucks does.  As long as it’s not busy hour, a coffee shop is an ideal place to relax and catch up with everything you’ve missed on the internet. Some places to check out in Chicago are Ch'ava and Metropolis Coffee Co.

Hotels

This is only really applicable if you are staying at a hotel between your move.  Most hotels have complimentary internet.  It can be either Wi-Fi or through an Ethernet cord, but either way, at least you’re connected back to the world!

Internet Cafes

How can we forget the best place of all?  Internet cafes!  With the increasing usage of Wi-Fi and home modems, internet cafes are becoming rarer and rarer.  That’s not to say they are completely gone though.  You can still find the occasional café here and there, serving food to intense gamers playing Starcraft.  Their internet is usually pretty fast and there are sometimes even partitions to separate you from the person next to you, giving you privacy.  The only con is that you have to pay according to how much time you spent on the internet. Try out Biznet or Chicago Computer Club.

Dorm Moving Tips

movingtodorm

College is an important time in any young adult’s life. It is a time of freedom and exploration. Most importantly, it’s the time when students finally leave the nest and move to a dorms. Moving into a dorm is different than moving into a house. There are various points that need to be remembered as you start to pack for your new college stuff. Below are 10 Dorm Moving tips for all Chicago College students.

What’s Your Dorm or Apartment Like? During your college tours, you’ve most likely seen what the dorm you’re about to move into looks like. Take this into consideration as you pack. How big is your room? Does it have a communal bathroom or a private one? Is there a shared kitchen that you can use? Will it fit a fridge? How many drawers will you have? If your moving into an off campus apartment, expand your list. Do you need furniture? How about kitchen appliances and food?

What to Take Do not, do not take everything. Your dorm room with be considerably small than your real room. Not only that, but you will most likely have to share with one or two other people. Make a list of the things you absolutely need. Clothing, along with towels, bed sheets, blankets, and other toiletries will be needed. Get a bathroom carrier to make storing your soaps and going to the bathroom easier. You wouldn’t want your roommates using your shampoo. If there is a kitchen, decide if you are actually going to use it to cook and pack accordingly.

Storage Bins More likely than not, there will be space under your bed to store things (unless you have the top bunk). The provided drawers might not be enough room to keep all of your stuff. If that is the case, some storage bins will easily solve your problem. If anything, you can use them to store clothing as the weather changes. In an apartment, these will give you time to go out and get bedroom furniture.

Locked Box Then comes the questions of valuables. Should you bring that diamond necklace you got as a graduation gift? That’s completely up to you. However, if you do, consider getting a locked box to put your jewelry in. While your new roommate might be the greatest person of Earth, you can never be too safe about your valuables.

Organize Mark everything you pack to make unpacking easier. Put the clothing together, the toiletries together, and the bed linens together, etc. You might be bringing some imperishable snacks to hold you over until you find the local convenience store and you don’t want your blankets to smell like sour cream and onion chips. You also do not want to mix up your stuff with your roommates.

Tools & Necessities You might want to bring a mini screwdriver set just in case. You never know when something needs fixing. Maybe the screw on your chair is loose or maybe you want to shift the height of your bed. Either way, better safe than sorry. Also, bring a roll of paper towels in case. Unpacking can get messy and you don’t want to run around trying to find something to clean up with. If you have a private bathroom, remember to bring toilet paper.

Personal Effects Moving out can be hard, especially since it’ll be the first time you’re truly living alone. You’ll be leaving your family and your friends. Bring some small things to make the transition easier. Pack your favorite stuffed animal or pillow. Bring some pictures as well to put up on your wall. It’ll make your space seem a bit more comfortable.

Moving Company If you have no idea where to start, consider hiring a moving company. The Professionals are the top moving specialists in Chicago. So if you’re attending colleges such as DePaul University, University of Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University to name a few, consider calling us for your local Chicago move. We have special deals for Chicago students that you should take advantage of. We can help you pack and with our knowledge and experience, we can advise you on what to bring and what to leave. We also have packing material such as boxes and bubble wrap. If you’re looking for a greener alternative, we have storage containers as well.

Moving doesn’t have to be hard. Going to college is a time of slight anxiety and extreme excitement. As long as you pack right, it’s one less thing to worry about once you are on campus. That way, you can dive right into this new world and start making new friends.