Do removal companies take deposits?

If you have hired a team of removals companies to move you out and are now wondering whether or not they take a pre-deposit, the answer is maybe. Although you will need to discuss this with your team, there will likely always be some kind of advance payment or deposit handling before the actual move. 

In any case, you should expect some kind of advance payment when hiring any moving company. Advance payment is a typical protocol for most companies to get you on schedule and be relieved of any scams. - Yes, scams. Believe it or not, there are many cases of scams that happen to both movers and clients. 

It is why most companies have started to take deposits and advance payments in the first place. However, every removal company will go by its own set of rules. So, it is vital you do check in with them. 

What if your removal company is asking for a complete payment upfront? 

At ILikeTo, we never ask our clients for full payment upfront. We believe you should be wary of companies that do. It just seems a little sketchy. Complete payment upfront is a lot more sketchy than an advance deposit or no fee at all. After all, you should pay the full amounts once your work concludes. 

If you’re worried because your removal company is asking for total payments ahead of work completion, make sure to at least check their business out. We advise you to have a look for any reputable reviews, word of mouth, or anything that indicates they have been in the market for some time. 

Doing so helps ease the client into at least being prepared for getting a good job done. Otherwise, total payments upfront do not seem ideal. 

Other factors to look out for 

To make sure you’re avoiding faulty companies and scams, there are a few things you can do:

Looking for reviews and word of mouth is just one of them. - If you’re trying to be extra careful, speak with the team of movers yourself. Discussing every aspect of the move should give you a pretty good idea as to how professional they are. 

For example, if you notice their answers seem sketchy and don’t match the kind of work you were expecting, that is your first red flag. A reputable moving team will possess the knowledge and skill it takes to move you out flawlessly. They will let you know every aspect and what you’ll need to do on your part. 

At ILikeTo, our team offers online and on-site surveys to help us get to know your property and prepare for the whole moving process. Companies like this exist, but you will need to find them on your own too. 

How much money should you deposit? 

The answer to this question will depend on your specific property, the number of items to move, and the additional services you will be purchasing (if any). If you would like to know about costs ahead of time, an on-site survey will allow your team to determine them for you. 

It helps clients prepare for costs and diminish any confusion that could otherwise occur.