ORLANDO, Fla. – Moving is a stressful time for just about anyone.

Before you hire a moving company, though, it’s important to know if they’re legit in order to protect your property and piece of mind.

Michael Haase, president of 1776 Moving and Storage, has more than 30 years of experience in the industry.

He said it’s important to know if the company you’re using is licensed to do the job. He’s got the paperwork displayed at the office for customers to see, but it’s easy to look it up yourself.

Is the moving company legit? Look it up!

If the company is legit, they’ll be listed on the Florida Department of Agriculture website. You can use the Business License Lookup function with either the company name or license number.

You can also check the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Company Snapshot website and the Florida Division of Corporations Company Look Up.

Broker vs. carrier

It’s also important to know WHO you’re working with. You may hear “broker” or “carrier,” but what’s the difference?

[VIDEO BELOW: Where are people moving within Florida?]

“A carrier is a company that will sell you a service and that company — with their own equipment — will service your move. A broker is a company that is going to try to sell you on all the benefits of ‘bulk pricing.’ They’re going to give it to another company. You have no continuity there. The carrier services your move start to finish, so I recommend avoiding brokers,” Haas said.

Where will your belongings be stored?

If your belongings aren’t going directly to their final destination and will be stored for some time, it’s important to know where it’s going.

“You have companies that are out there that are selling storage… they’ll quote you for storage, but don’t have storage facilities,” said Haas. “Some companies are putting your things in mini storage and not in your name… you’re relying on the fact that they’re going to pay their bill each month.”

And if they don’t you could lose all of your belongings.

Better Business Bureau’s take

Every year around summertime, the Better Business Bureau has to hear about problems like this. In 2024, over 100,000 inquiries were made on the BBB website about movers and 718 complaints were filed.

President Holly Salmons said some customers lose hundreds and even thousands of dollars due to a botched move.

“I’d say one of the biggest complaints is that the story changes after the fact. Maybe the job is estimated upfront or online and then once the job is picked up or reaches it’s destination, the story changes about the weight or size, so the cost can double or even triple.”

To avoid issues down the road, it’s recommended you start early and do your homework. Research different moving companies, read customer reviews and get three separate quotes.

“To do this the right way, moving is very expensive,” Haas said. “If it sounds too good to be true, trust your gut. Moving is not cheap.”

“If you are moving and have family heirlooms or things of high value, even high sentimental value, move those yourself, keep them with you so you’re not trusting anyone to move them for you,” Salmons said.