home insurance

There is a lot of uncertainty involved with returning to school for the fall. Many metro-Atlanta school districts are gearing up to start the new semester, and a lot of districts have turned to online schooling in response to the pandemic. And that leaves a lot of parents in a stressful spot, wondering how they can best support their kids as they shift to online learning and kick off a new year. The coronavirus has turned “school” upside-down. Chances are everyone at home is feeling a bit apprehensive about the shift. It might be stressful and it might feel overwhelming, but here are a few tips to help you as a parent support your student as the new year begins.

Tips for supporting your student in online learning.

1. Create a routine.

You’ve got to create a sense of routine with the whole online-learning thing. Maybe that means recreating the schedule that your children had during the normal school year, or maybe that means making a new routine that suits the online schedule. However it works out, the important thing is getting into the swing of a routine. For example, there should be a consistent bedtime and morning wake-up time. Have the kids get up, change into fresh clothes, eat something, brush teeth, and so on – just like they would if they actually had to go to in-person school. That can help them get into the right head space to tackle the school day.

2. Set up a “school spot” in the house.

Your kids are also going to need a nice, quiet place in the house to do their school work. They’ll need a spot where they can be comfortable and where they can focus on their studies. Figure out a good spot where your kids can work. There needs to be a place where the kids can retreat and hit the books.

3. Treat virtual school like real school.

Okay. Your kids might be skeptical. Real school is not the same as virtual school. But you can lead by example by treating virtual school like real school. Though your kids aren’t actually going to school in-person, they should still take it seriously. That’s where having a positive attitude on your part is really important. You can help encourage your kids by presenting an upbeat attitude.

4. Be there to listen to your kids’ concerns.

Online learning is challenging for all parties involved. Your kid might get frustrated and they might need to rant. You can listen to their concerns, but you can also gently remind them to have patience with their teachers. This is a new experience for them, too, and they’ve had to adjust very quickly to the new style of teaching. Everyone’s in this together, students and teachers alike. So yes, they might need to complain a little, but you can try to give them some perspective. Being angry isn’t going to help anything, right?

5. Encourage activity.

Your kids also need to stay active, to burn off energy if nothing else. So, what’s going to work for your family? Dance party? Kicking a soccer ball in the backyard? Maybe going for a walk? Find a safe way for your kids to get some activity during the day so they’re not cooped up in a corner somewhere doing their schoolwork. So, try to incorporate some exercise into the routine.

6. Arrange for social interaction.

Obviously in-person interaction is out for the time being, but that doesn’t mean your kids can’t still get some social time with their friends via video call. Your children will probably be missing their friends. Let them have the opportunity to socialize with their buddies with video calls – technology is great! (And apart from friends, remind your kids that there are still activities they love that are still do-able. Have fun.)

7. Encourage openness about feelings.

Your kids might be getting frustrated with having to stay home. So, you have to explain why social distancing is still important to slow the spread of the virus – although maybe try not to have the news on in front of them. Encourage your kids to talk to you about what they have been hearing so you can give them the truth, not misinformation. Make sure you’re getting accurate, trustworthy information about the situation. And along with that, encourage everyone at home to talk about how they’re feeling – including yourself. Try to get everyone to be honest about the emotions they’re feeling.

8. Be there to help.

If you need to help with anything, let your kids know you’re there to assist. The kids might need a hand, so make sure they know they can tell you about the obstacles or challenges they’re facing. That way they know you’re in their corner. Whether it’s figuring out how to communicate with a teacher about a concern or wi-fi issues, talk through it with them.

Online learning comes with its own unique set of challenges. As a parent, you might be worried about how virtual learning is going to go. As metro-Atlanta schools determine their game plans for the fall semester of the new school year, you as a parent need to come up with a school game plan for your family. There might be some trial and error, but try to keep a positive outlook going on in your household.

Get quotes.

If you are in need of Atlanta home insurance quotes or auto insurance quotes, our team would be happy to help. We like making insurance easy and we like helping people save money on their insurance. Get in touch with us by filling out our online form, giving us a call, or messaging us on LiveChat. Our goal is to help Atlanta families get the insurance they need.

Source:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/unicefusa/2020/03/25/helping-children-adjust-to-remote-learning-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/#4ebd98116a82

Having a mobile home means that it’s a good idea to get Atlanta mobile home insurance. But you might be wondering what mobile home insurance does and how it can protect you. We’ll go over some of the essentials about the coverage. And while you’re at it, we’ll explain how you can get quotes.

What does mobile home insurance do?

If you get mobile home insurance, your policy may include coverage for:

• The mobile home
• Attached patio or deck
• Storage shed
• Clothes
• Appliances
• Entertainment equipment
• Personal possessions

A mobile home insurance policy can provide coverage for your home – it’s not like a regular home insurance policy because it’s designed to cover your specific risks. (You may even be able to add coverages to your policy – we’ll get into that in a second.) The policy may do the following:

• Protect improvements
• Cover the loss of use of your mobile home
• Cover the actual structure of the mobile home and other structures that are on your premises from losses like fire, windstorm damage, falling objects, lightning, and explosions.
• Protect your personal property, such as electronics, bicycles, furniture, and clothes
• Cover your liability, meaning it can help you if someone is injured on your property. It can pay for the medical expenses if a non-resident is injured, and it can help cover damages/defense costs if there’s an accidental covered incident.

Of course, it’s really important to read through the policy thoroughly to see what is and isn’t covered. Asking questions about things you might wonder about or need some further clarification on is never a bad idea.

Additional coverages.

You may want to consider adding some coverages to your mobile home insurance. You might be able to get the following coverages added to your policy:

• Emergency removal – This can pay for the moving of your mobile home to another place if you’re in the path of a disaster (like a fire or tornado)
• Trip collision – This coverage can provide protection for when you’re moving the mobile home to a new permanent location
• Worldwide coverage – Protect your belongings if they’re stolen or damaged when traveling to another permanent location
• Fire department charges – This can give reimbursement for the charges if your mobile home is in a place that isn’t serviced by a fire department
• Extended coverage – This can cover valuables or give extended coverage for electronics
• Water backup – Can protect against damage that results from water backup through the sewer, drain, or sump pump
• Additional dwelling rented to others
• Identity theft insurance

So, those are some of the basics of mobile home insurance. It’s intended to protect the unique risks that a mobile home faces. But, as we mentioned earlier, there’s no understating the importance of reading your policy carefully. (Make sure you know what is and isn’t covered by your policy so you don’t get any nasty surprises down the line.)

Get mobile home insurance.

If you’re wondering how to get Atlanta mobile home insurance, we can help. Our team would be happy to see what we can do to help you get the coverage you need. Just fill out our online form, give us a call, or message us on LiveChat.

There are so many things that run on electricity. We’ve come to rely on it as part of our daily lives. So, a power out might be a major problem. Anticipating that fact, you might want to get an emergency generator to be prepared for power outages. While generators are helpful when it comes to keeping the lights on or preventing the food from going bad, they can be dangerous if they’re not used properly.

11 tips for emergency generator safety

1. Don’t run the generator in an enclosed space.

If you have a gas-powered generator, make sure that you don’t use it in an enclosed space. That generator is going to throw off some carbon monoxide (CO). And carbon monoxide is not good. It’s actually really dangerous. As in could-cause-death dangerous. Don’t play around with CO.

2. Keep an eye on the oil level.

You’ve also got to check how much oil the generator has on a regular basis. And be sure to check the oil level before you use it. Oil is kind of important. So, don’t neglect the oil level of the generator.

3. Let the engine cool before refueling it.

You also need to let the engine cool off before refueling it. Otherwise, your refueling mission may not go quite as expected. Take care and ensure that the generator is entirely cool before trying to add any fuel.

4. Keep the generator away from other objects.

It’s also important to remember that generators get really hot. So, keep the generator away from other items. Give it a bubble of personal space so that the generator’s heat doesn’t hurt anything. It’s not that it would mean to hurt anything, but … it might on accident. Don’t let the generator cause any mischief.

5. Make sure the generator stays dry.

Generators and water don’t exactly mix very well. You probably don’t want to let your generator get wet. That can help you avoid water damage. It can also help you avoid an electrical hazard. So, make sure to keep the generator away from water.

6. Don’t use appliances that have gotten wet.

Remember what we said about generators and water not mixing? Yeah, that applies to the appliances you’re using, too. You probably don’t want to plug in an appliance that has gotten wet – not a good plan. Just don’t do it.

7. Be aware of extension cord hazards.

It’s also important to be aware of the potential hazards of using extension cords. You could see a voltage drop if you’re using an extension cord that’s too long. You could also see a voltage drop if you’re using a cord with a wire size that is too small. So, all in all, be careful if you’re using extension cords.

8. Plug in generators carefully.

When you’re connecting your generator, connect it directly to the appliances. Don’t connect it directly to the home electrical supply box. That’s a no-no. You have to be really careful with how you connect generators and appliances.

9. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Grounding the generator is something else you need to be concerned about. When it comes to grounding the generator, follow the manufacturer’s instructions. They’re the ones who know how to do that safely. Reading instructions is important. Don’t skip that step.

10. Choose the outlet carefully.

It’s also important to select your outlet carefully. It needs to be an appropriate outlet with the proper voltage. That sort of thing really matters when it comes to generators and electricity. You can’t just plug the thing in anywhere.

(Also, start running the generator before you turn on the AC circuit or before plugging in the appliance.)

11. Understand some electricity terms.

It can be helpful to understand some basic electricity. Maybe you have a 200-watt generator. An appliance that needs 120 volts and uses 10 amps requires 1200 watts of power. By doing some quick calculations, you can see if your appliances can be used safely with your generator. (That way you can base it off the wattage rating.)

So, those are a few tips for using an emergency generator safely. Though you might find a generator extremely helpful, you also have to be careful. Generators can be dangerous.

If you need to get some home insurance or car insurance quotes, we can help. We’re committed to helping people save money on their insurance … and making insurance easy. You can get started on your quotes by filling out our online form, giving us a call, or messaging us. Our team would be happy to help you look into different Atlanta home insurance options.

As a homeowner, you know how important it is to have home insurance for your Atlanta house. It’s important to protect yourself financially in case something happens. (Houses can be very expensive to repair, after all.) But sometimes certain homes can be more difficult to insure than others, and that’s because they face risks that make many insurance carriers reluctant to insure them. For that reason, they’re sometimes referred to as “hard to place” homes. We’ll go over some of the reasons that a home might be considered “hard to place”.

4 reasons a house might be a hard to place home.

1. Natural disasters.

Though we don’t necessarily have many natural disasters in the metro-Atlanta area, natural disasters are one reason that a house could be a hard to place home. Homes in areas that are likely to experience a disaster like a wildfire, hurricane, or earthquake can be difficult – and/or expensive – to get insurance for. If you make some changes to your home to help it stand up to the weather, like reinforced shutters or a sturdy roof, that can help protect the house from severe weather. By taking steps to strengthen your home, you can help prepare the house accordingly for any ordeals it may face.

2. If it’s a vacation home.

Vacation homes can also be tough to insure. That’s because, since they’re not permanently lived in and remain empty for a lot of time, the owner probably wouldn’t know if there’s damage to the house. For instance, what if a pipe bursts or someone breaks in? The owner wouldn’t know about it right away. That’s why it’s so important to have a security system to alert you to any damage to the house. A vacation home is a special case when it comes to insurance.

3. “Dangerous” features.

If your house has equipment or entertainment that could be considered dangerous, that could make home insurance more difficult. So, if your house has a playset, pool, or trampoline, you could be liable if someone is damaged – err, hurt – on the property. The same goes if there’s a steep drop or body of water. That’s why it’s really important to have fencing to protect against natural hazards that might be on your property. And to keep people from trespassing.

4. If the home is on the older side.

Okay, we’re not trying to insult your home, but the reality is that older homes might have electrical or plumbing systems that are outdated. And if there are aesthetic architectural features, these can be very expensive to replace. Keep your agent posted about any updates or improvements you make to the home. This is important.

FAIR Plans.

Now, it still might be super difficult to find a policy on the standard insurance market. But every state has what’s called a FAIR plan (a.k.a. fair access to insurance requirements) program. However, these plans are sort of a last-ditch effort. And you can probably only get a FAIR plan if you’ve tried to get other insurance and taken steps to mitigate risk at your home. So, that could be a Plan Z when all other avenues are exhausted.

Getting home insurance might seem impossible, especially if your home has features that make it tricky to insure. But we would love to see if we can help. Not to brag, but we’re fairly decent at helping people get Atlanta home insurance. Get started with your quotes by filling out our online form, giving us a call, or messaging us on LiveChat. Reach out to us and we’ll help you go over insurance options that might work for you.

If you’re thinking about moving out of your apartment, you might be dreaming of getting a house of your very own. But you might be a little stressed about your finances – specifically saving up for a down payment. Houses are expensive, as are down payments. The prospect of saving up that much money might seem daunting, but we have a few tips to help you with your plan to save for a down payment. Here’s how you can save up.

8 tips for saving money for a down payment for a house.

1. Establish how much you’re saving.

The first thing is to set up some goals. Do some research on the area you’d like to move, the kind of house you want, and how much it might cost. You also need to consider what percentage of the purchase price would be the down payment (to give you an idea, 20% is a fairly typical down payment for a house). When you have an idea of how much the down payment will be, you can start figuring out how much you can set aside on a set schedule, whether that’s every week, every two weeks, or every month.

2. Create a separate savings account.

To keep your money organized, you can create a savings account specifically for your down payment. That way you can keep track of how much money you’ve stashed away. (It’ll also keep the money safe so you don’t either accidentally or not accidentally spend it on something else.) When you set up your new savings account, consider whether you want to have the account with your normal bank. And don’t forget to think about the interest rate, fees, and account minimums.

You can also set up an automatic savings plan if that works for your situation. That way you can decide how much money you want to drop into your savings plan from your checking account each month. The only thing about doing this is that you have to make sure you have a fairly predictable income. If the money in your bank account is going up and down a lot, it might be trickier to make an automatic savings account work out. If you tend to have a less predictable income, you may want to move the money yourself when you can.

3. Don’t overlook extra money.

Well, maybe it doesn’t happen as often as we’d like, but if you come into some extra money somehow, don’t forget about your down payment. Of course, maybe that’s not the most exciting splurge you can think of, but it can help you on your quest for your house.

4. Work on paying off debt.

You might also want to work on paying off credit card debt if you can. If you work on improving your credit situation, you might put yourself in a better position when you get ready to get your financing situation sorted. Just something to think about.

5. Look for other expenses you can cut out.

You can also examine your budgeting and see if there are any expenses you can lower or cut down on. Can you manage with only one streaming service instead of three? Could you bring your lunch to work instead of eating out at restaurants every day? Take stock of your monthly expenses and see if there are things that you can cut back on so you can send that money towards your down payment savings. Think of it not as making sacrifices, but as making an investment in your future home.

6. Try using coupons.

Coupons can help you score some pretty cool savings. If you really put some time towards couponing and other deals, you might wind up with a nice chunk of money that you can use for your down payment.

7. Consider if there are extra jobs you can do.

Is there a way for you to do a bit of work on the side of earn some extra money? Of course, you don’t want to overwhelm yourself and you don’t want to stress yourself out. But maybe there’s a fun little side gig you could start that would be both fulfilling and allow you to earn some extra money.

8. Shop your insurance rates.

You can bag some quick savings if you explore your insurance options. Especially if you haven’t compared rates in a while. You might be able to save some money if you get some car insurance quotes, and then you can channel those savings into your down payment fund. You never know – you might be able to get the same coverages at a lower rate, allowing you to have more money to put towards your future house. (Our team is really good at helping people save money on their insurance. You can get in touch with us by filling out our online form, giving us a call, or messaging us on LiveChat.) If you can save money, the trick will be putting the money into the down payment fund and not spend it on something else!

So, that’s a bit about saving some money for a down payment. Being frugal can be tricky, but saving money is do-able. And, as we mentioned above, you could be saving money on your auto insurance. Our team would be happy to help. Get started with your quote by filling out our online form, giving us a quite, or LiveChat messaging us.

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If you’re a first-time homebuyer, you’re probably just about overwhelmed with the seemingly never-ending list of tasks you have to accomplish. Buying a house is not for the faint of heart. One of the looming tasks on that list might be getting Atlanta home insurance. You might be dreading the price tag on that insurance, which is understandable. However, there are a few discounts you as a first-time homebuyer should know about. And discounts means you get to save money!

Home insurance discounts to know about if you’re a first-time homebuyer.

1. New home purchase discount.

Now, if you’re a first-time homebuyer, we’re operating under the assumption that you’re, well, buying a home…and that could work in your favor. The reason we say that is a lot of insurance carriers offer a discount to customers who have recently purchased a house. So, when you’re looking for home insurance, be sure to bring that up. You could set yourself up to save some money on your premium, which is always appreciated. Don’t underestimate the power of a good discount.

2. Bundling.

So, if you’ve got a car, you’ve got car insurance, right? And you’re buying a home. Believe it or not, that could work in your favor where your overall insurance situation is concerned. Why, you may ask? Well, once again you could end up seeing lower insurance rates because you could get a multi-line discount. So, if you have to get both car insurance and home insurance, you might want to consider bundling these coverages and investigate whether this is the best option for you. It’s definitely something to think about.

3. Having a security system.

If you’re going to get a burglar alarm, that’s another great way to score some savings on your insurance. Lots of insurance carriers offer a discount if you have a qualifying security or safety system. So, if you’re looking to get some peace of mind by protecting your new house with a burglar alarm, you could also get a pleasant surprise in the form of a home insurance discount. (Security systems are deterrents to burglary, plus they summon the police ASAP if there’s trouble, so home insurance companies are fans.)

4. Paying in full.

Okay, the sticker shock might be unpleasant, but you might end up paying less for your home insurance if you pay for it in full. It’s something to consider if you feel like you’d be comfortable doing that, so you might want to weigh the options.

Pro tip: Remember that these aren’t the only discounts you could qualify for! There are plenty of ways to save on home insurance.

Buying a home can be stressful and you might dread having to deal with getting home insurance as a first-time homebuyer. However, there are discounts to help you get better rates. If you want to explore your Atlanta home insurance options, we can help. Our agents can help you get quotes, and they can help you find out what discounts you might be eligible for. You can get in touch with our team by filling out our online form, giving us a call, or messaging us on LiveChat.

So, as of publication time for this article, Georgians have been informed that we’re under a “shelter-in-place” quarantine order until April 30^th. (Governor Kemp placed the order earlier this month.) Everyone has been adjusting to the new reality of being at home and not leaving the house except for what is deemed essential.

Read more

As a homeowner, you might be pretty content with your Atlanta home insurance. Maybe you don’t think about it too much, or maybe it falls into the “out of sight, out of mind” category. But what if there are a few things that could improve your insurance situation in the form of lower insurance rates? Intriguing, right? There are a few things that could really help when it comes to your insurance. If you’re in any of the following boats, you might want to think about your homeowner’s insurance.

5 times your home insurance situation could get better.

1. Getting married.

Getting married is exciting, and it’s an occasion worthy of congratulations. It’s a really important milestone and it’s worth checking into your insurance situation with your partner. There’s a possibility that you’re in a position to get better home insurance rates. Tying the knot can be helpful to your home insurance situation for that reason, but you could be in a great place if you’re buying a home with your partner. Maybe home insurance companies offer discounts for being a new customer when you’ve bought a house. So, that’s something that you may want to look into if you’re a newlywed and you’re looking for home insurance.

2. Raising your credit score.

If you’ve been working hard at improving your credit, that can also be a good thing for your home insurance. Your credit score can be a factor in determining your home insurance rates, so if you have a better credit score you could see better premiums. (And a poor credit score can lead to some not-so-great insurance rates.) So, it’s important to work on keeping up good credit. You can see it pay off when it comes to your insurance, so if you’ve seen your credit score get better, don’t keep it to yourself. Use it to your advantage and see if you can score better insurance rates.

3. Having a new roof.

Your roof might just seem like the convenient hat that keeps the rain out of your house, but it’s more than that. It takes the biggest beating when it rains, when it snows, when there’s sleet, and all of that nasty weather. A sturdy roof is likely going to be more effective at protecting your home than an old roof that’s weathered many a storm (literally). So, lots of insurance companies offer discounts for homes that have recently gotten new roofs made of certain materials that will hold up well in the midst of a storm. If you’ve gotten a new roof recently, don’t forget about your insurance. You might find that you’re in a better insurance situation.

4. Bundling.

If you also need auto insurance, you might want to consider getting your home insurance and car insurance from the same carrier. (This is called bundling in insurance-speak.) There are a few reasons to consider bundling. First of all, it’s convenient because you’re only dealing with one insurance company. (The fewer people you have to contact to deal with your insurance, the better, right?) So, there’s that. But the other great thing about bundling is that a lot of carriers offer discounts if you get more than one line of coverage from them. And that means that you could save money over getting these two coverages separately. You may want to give it some thought and see if this is a good option for you.

5. Claims-free.

Another thing that could help your insurance situation is if you’ve gone a long time without having to file an insurance claim. Being claims-free can earn you another discount – you could see lower premiums. So, having a clean claims history is something to be quite pleased about, and not just because it means you haven’t had anything go wrong with your house. You may find yourself in a better insurance situation if you haven’t had claims, so keep that in mind.

So, these are just a few things that could help you find yourself in a better home insurance situation. It can also help to get Atlanta home insurance quotes, and our team can help you with that. We strive to make insurance easy and help people save money on their insurance. Get started with your quotes for Atlanta home insurance by filling out our online form, giving us a call, or messaging us in LiveChat.

If you’re planning on moving, you’ve got a lot on your plate. From house-hunting to actually buying a house to selling your current place, you might be at your wit’s end. But there’s one important piece of the puzzle that deserves special attention – and that’s choosing a moving company. You have to do your research and choose the right company, and here’s how you can do that. 

Tips for choosing a moving company. 

1. Get estimates from multiple movers. 

You ought to get an estimate from several moving companies to see what kind of pricing you’re looking at. (Yes, it might be a bit of a sticker shock, but better to know early on in the game than at the last minute, right?) Keep in mind that these estimates ought to be based off an actual in-person inspection of your belongings. An online estimate or a number given over the phone is probably not going to cut it. 

2. Make sure that the mover is properly registered when choosing a moving company.

If you are moving between states, know that the moving company needs to have a USDOT Number. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has a Mover Search Tool that you can use to look into different moving companies. Make sure that the company is properly insured and that they are registered to transport household goods from state to state. (Keep in mind that if the moving company doesn’t have a USDOT Number and MC Number listed in their advertisements, that’s not a great sign.

(Now, if you aren’t moving to a different state, you can check with your state Attorney General’s office to see what you should be looking for.) 

3. Look into the moving company’s history of complaints. 

The FMCSA also allows you to look into the complaint history of the moving company. You can get an idea of what kind of experience other consumers have had when they worked with the company you’re considering. You can also look at the Better Business Bureau for more information. Don’t underestimate the importance of doing a little bit of online research from reputable sources (like the FMCSA and the BBB) before hiring a moving company. 

4. Read through the resources you need to review. 

Your mover should supply you with a pamphlet entitled “Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move” if you are moving to a different state. Make sure you take the time to look over this pamphlet, as it details helpful information about what to do if your belongings are lost or damaged. It also gives you an overview of the important documents you’ll have to sign.

5. Look over the documents provided by the moving company. 

It’s also important that you read over the documents provided by your moving company. The following are some of the documents you will probably see from the moving company: 

Estimate – Provides a description (in writing) of all charges and services that the mover has billed. 

Order for Service – Gives a list of all the services the mover is going to provide and gives the dates of pickup and delivery. 

Bill of Lading – The contract between you and the mover and the receipt of your belongings. (You should be given a partially completed copy before the mover leaves.) 

Inventory List – The receipt that shows every item you shipped along with its completed along with its condition. (You should get a written copy of the inventory after your belongings are loaded.) 

PRO TIP: Don’t sign documents that are blank or incomplete. 

6. Look into how your belongings will be protected. 

You also have to consider what kind of insurance will be covering your belongings. Do you want Full Value Protection for your belongings? Does your home insurance say anything about this situation? It’s important to figure out how you’re going to make sure your prized possessions are protected as they’re transported to your new home.

7. Make sure that you supervise loading and unloading. 

You’ll probably want to take care to supervise the loading and unloading process. Not that you want to be hovering or anything, but it doesn’t hurt to politely oversee what’s going on. These are your belongings, after all, and you want to make sure they are all properly packed and arrive safely at their destination. 

8. Know the “red flags” you should look out for when choosing a moving company.

It’s also a good idea to be aware of the “red flags” that should make you think twice about working with a moving company. There are a few tip-offs that should make you a little leery and make you consider taking your business elsewhere. Here are a few…

• They don’t do an onsite inspection of your belongings.
• They want cash or want a big deposit. 
• They want you to sign documents that are blank or not complete. 
• There is no written estimate (whether that estimate is binding or non-binding). 
• They don’t give you a copy of the Your Rights and Responsibilities brochure or FMCSA’s Ready to Move brochure. (Movers are required to provide these if it is a move from one state to another.)
• They do not have an address or registration/insurance information on their website. 
• They claim that their insurance covers “all goods”. 
• They don’t have a phone greeting giving the specific name of the company. 
• The mover claims that they’ll determine the charges after they load the goods.
• They show up with a rental truck, not a marked fleet truck or a company-owned truck.

PRO TIP: If the mover claims you have more belongings than expected, have the mover give you a revised estimate. This should list the extra items or services the mover will be providing along with a price that you both agree to and sign off on. Be sure this happens before the movers start packing or loading. (And get a copy of the revised estimate.) 

So, that’s what you need to know if you are moving! It’s important to choose your moving company carefully so that you end up working with a reputable, trustworthy mover. Of course, there are plenty of wonderful moving companies that operate with integrity, but it doesn’t hurt to do your research and protect yourself against potential scams.

Need Atlanta home insurance quotes? We would be happy to help. Get in touch with our team by filling out our online form, giving us a call, or messaging us on LiveChat.

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