It’s common to put down some money if you are booking a flight, restaurant table, cinema tickets, or other service. Therefore, you should know that some moving companies require a deposit in advance too. Movers want a guarantee that you won’t cancel the move at the last moment and bail out because that costs them money too. Now, let’s see if you should pay a deposit when you are moving. To help you when you are booking a mover, we at Number 1 Van Lines Hamilton Ontario have created this guide to help you determine whether you should pay a deposit on moving day.
Do you need to pay a deposit on moving day?
Moving in Canada can be challenging simply because the country is so large. A long distance move requires a lot of planning and preparation, so the best movers in Hamilton Ontario usually require some sort of insurance so that their hard work will not be in vain. Moving is expensive and most moves that are scheduled usually go through as planned. Still, life is unpredictable and sometimes people have to cancel a move. At that time, professional movers usually suffer some losses, whether they actually did any work or not. Even if they did not do any work before the cancellation, they could potentially lose some business if the cancellation was sudden and there was no time for another move to be scheduled.
Because of this, a professional moving company such as movers Oshawa will most likely ask for a deposit in advance. Therefore, you won’t pay a deposit on moving day. Instead, you will need to do that much earlier, especially if you are booking the moving company a few months ahead. You will put some money down when you hire a moving company and schedule the moving day. Most of the moving companies require a deposit if you are booking one of the peak season dates. Their services are in high demand then, and if they don’t have a guarantee and you change your mind at the last moment, they will lose money.
Why do you need to pay a deposit before moving day?
We have already established that you won’t pay a deposit on moving day but a few weeks or days before. A deposit is insurance for the mover because if you, as a customer, cancel the service, they can have some compensation for their lost business. So, the best professional movers Milton will probably require a small fee in advance as security. Still, you should know that the deposit is refundable most of the time, and it should be only a small amount. Therefore, before you hire a moving company, it is highly recommended to compare their prices and ask if they are charging a deposit or not.
It’s not strange if your professional movers Etobicoke ask for some deposit in advance in order to secure the moving day. But, you should know that not all the movers will ask for a deposit, it really depends on the company and its policy. According to the law, every professional mover can set their own rules for payments and deposits. However, they are obligated to describe these rules to their customers in writing. It doesn’t mean that every mover will ask for a deposit. However, most professional movers with a good reputation will, especially in big cities where the rate of house movers is very high. So, you should not be surprised if your movers ask for a deposit. Just make sure to confirm that it is not an additional cost and ask whether it is refundable in case of cancellation. Just in case, you should include the cost of paying a deposit when you’re making your moving budget.
Reasons why movers require a deposit
Almost every moving company has a reservation calendar that helps them plan the jobs and do as many as they can. Also, they will always try to satisfy their customers and provide the best services. So, let’s see now why, for example, North York movers require a deposit.
- If their services are in high demand, they have to be careful when they are accepting new jobs.
- They will always think and take care of their reputation.
- Last-minute cancellations disrupt their jobs and affect other customers.
- A moving deposit means a commitment, both from the client and the movers.
However, paying upfront can give you a headache if you have to cancel the reservation. You have to be careful because there are some scammers who will take your deposit upfront and then disappear. When paying a deposit, as the best movers Vaughan ON about the cancellation policy and always sign a contract before you pay.
A reasonable moving deposit
As we already mentioned, asking for a deposit is a common movers’ practice nowadays. Every moving company has its own rules, policies, and conditions. A moving deposit varies from one mover to another and on the type of relocation. The professional movers Markham ON can charge a different deposit based on the type of move. It is not uncommon for a company to ask for a higher deposit for a long-distance move. These are the things you should know about the moving deposit:
- The moving deposit will be higher if the city is expensive, because the cost of the moving labor will be higher.
- The deposit will be higher if you choose to move during one of the peak days or seasons.
- Long-distance movers will charge more than your local movers.
- The moving deposit depends on the size of your move.
Are moving deposits refundable?
If you want to know if your deposit is refundable, ask your professional mover since every company has a different cancellation policy. Usually, deposits are refundable within a certain period of time. Most of the time, you will get a 100% refund if you cancel on time. Or, you may decide to change the day of your move. In this case, you probably won’t have any rescheduling fees if you notify your Kitchener movers at least five business days in advance.
Be careful when a mover asks you for a moving deposit
It’s normal if the mover asks for a moving deposit. But, there are some things you should pay attention to in order not to get scammed:
- The deposit should be a small amount of money. The deposit should not exceed more than 25% of the total moving cost. If local movers Toronto ask you for more money (over 50%), consider hiring another professional mover.
- The deposit should always go toward the final cost of the move. That means there will never be a separate fee.
- There’s a difference between a broker and a professional moving company. A moving company may or may not ask for a deposit, but a broker will always ask for it.
- Do not ever pay for a moving deposit in cash. Always use a credit card or check. If something goes wrong, it will be easier to get your money back later on.
As we have seen, some moving companies will require you to pay a deposit on moving day. Most companies will require a deposit before moving day as insurance in case of a cancellation. When hiring a professional mover, it is best to get informed about their cancellation policy and about any deposits you may have to pay. Getting as much information as we can is the best way to spot a scam and to make sure we have hired the most legitimate company we possibly can.