Cheap movers Brooklyn: Scams or not

The first thing you will ask yourself when you get an affordable quote for a New York move is: Is this for real? Luckily, most of the time, it is. However, especially if you’re moving to Brooklyn in the summer during the busiest time, you should be careful of scams. There are a number of ways in which fraudulent companies attempt to take a naïve mover’s money and we will give you a short tour of them. Stick with us to know what you are getting for your money. But first, let’s talk about cheap movers Brooklyn, and if such a thing actually exists…

Can moving to and from Brooklyn actually be affordable?

The answer is yes. As one of the most sought-after destinations in the world, New York City has a large number of ex-pats coming and going every year. In order to keep up with the business, there are more than a few professional relocation companies situated in the Big Apple. It’s very important for you to find the right one you need. Take some time to think and decide what you actually want. If we’re talking about Brooklyn, it’s an especially busy neighborhood for this kind of work. But, how do you actually find one such company?

If you want to find cheap professionals for your move to Brooklyn, start researching early

As we’ve said, there are numerous companies situated in this part of New York. But, in order to find the best one, you need to do some research. Start by cruising the web for at least three possible cheap movers Brooklyn. Go on their websites and take a look at their reviews online. This will already tell you plenty about the company itself. If you have time, try to check out five companies. Next, narrow down your choice of affordable movers. Ask your chosen specialists for an on-site quote. Then, compare the prices. If you start early enough, you should be able to find the most affordable choice in no time.

If your NYC move should be affordable, you need to know what you want

In a big city such as New York, low-cost movers will offer a variety of services to their customers. Some will offer to only transport the packed boxes. While others have a packing service available for your Brooklyn relocation. All in all, there are a number of costs that are sometimes hidden in the quote. So, we’d suggest asking the representative to provide you with a price breakdown. This way, you will clearly be able to see if you are booking cheap movers Brooklyn, or being charged for unnecessary things which you could do yourself. Here are some things to look out for when reading the price breakdown: carrying heavy/bulky items, carrying up/downstairs, elevator service, appliance servicing, long carry, and temporary lodging. If you know what is making the price high, you will be able to prevent it.

If you want cheap movers Brooklyn to be a reality, you need to purge first

We’ve probably mentioned this a number of times in our posts. One of the most common mistakes when moving to New York is underestimating the amount of stuff you own. And yes, we are talking about stuff here. If you include only your belongings in your moving quote, it’s going to be very affordable. However, some of the ‘stuff’ usually relocates with us, too. So, we’d suggest purging as much as possible before you invite a company representative to do the on-site quote. This way, you will be able to get a realistic estimate for your relocation, as well as an affordable one.

An affordable relocation in New York often means doing some heavy lifting yourself

If you want a move that will be as cheap as possible, you will need to sacrifice something else: your time. Among the most affordable moves in Brooklyn, according to our research, are almost completely DIY relocations. But, do you really have the time to do everything on your own? Sure, renting a truck and doing the packing and moving DIY seems like a nice idea now, but how about a week before the moving day?

Hence, we’d give you these tips in order to both save your time and your money:

• Hire cheap professional movers in New York. There is no need to do things on your own. It can be really counterproductive. Consider calling your local moving company in Brooklyn and find out what they offer and how that can make your move easier. 
• Find some free moving boxes and other supplies in your neighborhood instead of buying them from the moving company
• Do the packing yourself – this will both be cheaper and lessen the possibility of your belongings being damaged during the process
• Instead of hiring professionals to help you pack, even in an emergency, ask your friends. If you want to give them a present for helping you out, offer them to take their pick of the items which are in good condition and won’t be moving with you.
• Hold a garage sale in order to both earn some money and get rid of some of your unneeded things. There is no need to hoard unnecessary stuff. Take a quick tour around your home and make a list of things you need. You can always buy new items if you think you have made a mistake by throwing something.
• Consider selling on eBay and similar sites, as well, before hiring moving services in Brooklyn. People often think that some benign things no one needs and just throw them away. You would be surprised what you can sell online and make a profit.
• Donate your excess belongings and be sure to claim any possible tax deductions.
• If you aren’t sure about some of the items, there are plenty of affordable storage Brooklyn options available for rent. Place them in a safe spot until you know what you will do with them.

If you want to get the best price when moving to the Big Apple, pick the right time to relocate

We know that summer seems like the best time to move into your new home in Brooklyn. But, we must ask you to reconsider. Why? Well, to start with, most people have had the same thought as you. With over forty million people moving across the country on a yearly basis, a majority of these relocations are done in the summer months. Hence, if you want to get the most affordable quote from your NY cheap movers, avoid relocating during the busiest months, June, July, August, and September. The peak season for relocation specialists begins in April and ends late in September. Naturally, if you want to pick the best time to move to Brooklyn, avoid these months. Then, the prices will be lower. Another tip is to avoid the end of the week dates. Instead, choose one in the middle of the week, when there are fewer people moving.

Hire a company that offers storage

Something that is not a scam and certainly makes your job easier is to hire someone who offers storage. That way you won’t have to worry about your belongings. The reason for that is simple. More and more moving companies have storage with cameras and alarm systems. You will sleep like a baby. There’s plenty of more reason to book a company with storage:

• It makes you more organized. When you have a place where you can move your things in advance, it gives you more time to think ahead. Calling one of Brooklyn movers and storage companies will enable you to know what to do and how to do it before moving even starts.
• Makes your home cleaner and more open before the move. This enables you to decide which belongings you want to get rid of and which you want to keep.
• Storages are usually climate controlled. This is a very useful thing if you want to protect your belongings from moisture or other unforeseen difficulties. Contact some cheap movers in Brooklyn and find out in what way their storages operate and how far away they are.

Security is priceless. It is better to prevent accidents than to feel bad afterward. If you look at the long term it can save you money that you can use to invest into new appliances for example.

When I choose the cheap movers Brooklyn, how do I know if they’re scamming me?

Naturally, in a metropolis such as New York City, there are plenty of scams running at all times. This is honest to God’s truth. From credit card skimming scams to fraudulent apartment ads, you will need to constantly be on the lookout. However, there is a certain type of scam that we can help you definitely avoid. So, here is a quick introduction to the most common moving scams in New York and what you should do in order to expose them.

First and foremost, you should know about the ‘Over the phone’ trick

Let’s get one thing clear: no estimate over the phone will be a quote. It will only be an estimate. So, if the affordable movers Brooklyn are offering you a relocation for the price they’ve calculated after you list everything you own over the phone, this is usually a scam. Let’s be honest, you usually underestimate the amount of things which you own. Unless you’ve already packed and measured everything precisely you won’t be able to give the cheap movers Brooklyn a correct number. So, yes, sometimes the company will offer to give you a rough estimate over the phone, but never a final quote. Instead, demand an on-site estimate.

Cheap movers Brooklyn that do ‘The glance’ aren’t too reliable

The so-called ‘glance’ method is another way of scamming homeowners. It can be preceded by the over-the-phone or followed by ‘the early deposit’ scam. However, this is how it works. The representative of the company will arrive at your home and take minimal notes of your belongings. They usually won’t measure too much or open any drawers, cabinets, etc. They won’t test the weight of any items, either. A clear sign of ‘the glance’ scam is when the movers’ representative isn’t asking any questions. After all, negotiation with the affordable movers Brooklyn is essential to getting an affordable quote.

‘The early deposit’ is one of the easiest scams to discern

We believe this to be one of the earliest scams ever invented, regardless of the moving industry. Of course, it is active in New York, as it sometimes can be effective. Hence, prepare yourself to tell it apart. This is especially important if you are moving your offices since more money is involved. Try to find Brooklyn office movers you can rely on. Any moving company that asks you for a deposit up-front is probably scamming you. After all, when you give them your money, how will they promise to drive your belongings safely to your new home? It is easy to avoid this scam in NYC, simply don’t accept any deals with an up-front payment that you haven’t checked out thoroughly.

Another popular scam for fraudulent cheap movers Brooklyn is ‘The name change’

This is one of the definite favorites among scammers. They will falsely represent themselves online. Constantly changing the name of their ‘moving company’ in order to catch more unsuspecting homeowners is the simplest way. They may be using any of the three abovementioned scams along with this one, too. So, to avoid them in the area, we’d suggest thoroughly researching the cheap movers Brooklyn. It is the best, of course, if you’ve got a recommendation from your friend, neighborhood, or family.

‘The packing service’ trick is one more way to scam homeowners

If you’re a busy person moving house with a large budget for the relocation, you’ll likely hire professionals to do all of the work for you. However, this can prove fatal in ‘the packing service’ rip-off. Not among the traditional scams, this trick may fall into the ‘negligence’ area, too. The gist of it is that the Brooklyn movers will carelessly put your belongings into boxes, without proper attention to fragile items. Hence, the damage of the move can prove devastating to your budget. If you want to prevent this, we’d suggest purchasing additional moving insurance. This will protect you financially in case any of your items, even those not covered by movers’ insurance, are damaged on their way to NY. Also, be sure to remember that you have only nine months to report any damages or problems to the moving company.

‘The hidden costs’ which appear at the contract signing mysteriously

So, this scam will definitely not be among the cheap movers Brooklyn companies. Instead, this is a way to bring the price of the NYC relocation up. The representative will calculate different things into the quote, raising it much more than what it should be. For example, if you’re moving to/from an apartment on a high floor it can impact the estimate. Or if you live on a narrow street which can’t fit the van the price will also rise. But, a good way to solve this is to request a price breakdown and then do your best to remove these expenses.

A famous scam called ‘The blank contract’ isn’t exclusive to the moving industry

Everything should be written. Yes, we do mean everything. No matter how much you like your mover, don’t forgo this. You need to demand that everything be put on paper. Make sure that your NYC professionals are writing the on-site quote, as well as the extra fees, moving, and delivery dates. People are often embarrassed to demand that something be done according to protocol and this leaves room for manipulation. Don’t be ashamed, ask your cheap movers Brooklyn for what you deserve. This will significantly reduce the chances of someone cheating on you.

Do not sign anything that is blank or too broad. Not even an inventory checklist. If there is a box where ‘bathroom supplies’ are written, demand the items be listed instead. Yes, it may annoy the movers a bit. However, this means that there will be no way to ‘accidentally misplace’ some of the items from the list.

‘The guaranteed quote’ is a loose term when you’re getting scammed in New York

There are two kinds of moving contracts that NYC professionals will offer. One of them is a non-binding estimate. This means that the company won’t require payment of more than 10% above the original price. The other is a binding estimate. It is a guaranteed price for your relocation with all the extra fees and services. However, when you’re signing either of these be sure to read the fine print. A common practice for moving scams is to add an ‘unless the weight exceeds’ at the end of the contract. Get your magnifying glass and don’t get scammed!

Summary of cheap movers Brooklyn companies benefits

Finally, here are some tips about spotting a dishonest contractor. There is no need to worry that someone will deceive you if you are familiar with the subject. Worrying can be counterproductive, but don’t relax. It is crucial that you get informed in a timely manner. Most of this advice can also be applied to cheap movers Brooklyn that will be your partners during the move. If you check everything in detail and find the right company, moving can be fun instead of burdening you.