Licensed Household Goods Carriers Alpharetta, Ga

Top Dawg Movers

905 Union Hill Rd
Alpharetta, GA 30004
GaPSC: 8834
678-567-6683

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Two Men and A Truck

GaPSC: 204394

1640 McFarland 400 Drive Alpharetta, GA 770-887-3204

If you’re considering making a household goods move in Georgia you need to beware. Illegal movers are a threat to you and your wallet. It’s an unfortunate truth but there are many unscrupulous men and women that operate as illegal and unauthorized movers.  

As a potential customer you book a move with the belief that you are being served by a company that is professional and trustworthy. However if the moving company is an unlicensed illegal mover, often referred to as gypsy or rouge movers, then you are at high risk

Georgia requires that all household goods movers be licensed and registered. Licensing does not simply mean having a business license. In order to be certified as a legally licensed mover, a potential licensee must pass scrutiny. They must provide the appropriate level of required insurance, submit a background check, provide inspection reports for their vehicles and attend a training class. In training potential licensees are instructed on how to properly operate their moving business under the rules, regulations and laws that govern the moving industry. Successful completion of training must be achieved prior to a mover being issued a Certificate.  The Certificate grants the mover legal authority to handle and transport a customer’s household goods. 

A licensed moving company is held to a higher standard than an unlicensed company. Legally certified movers must follow all state and federal regulations which means that they are more likely to take the necessary steps to protect your belongings.

As previously mentioned, a licensed moving company is required to carry sufficient insurance. By maintaining adequate insurance coverage customers are protected against catastrophic loss. Additionally a legitimate mover will have the experience and expertise to handle a customer’s move. They will also have the necessary equipment and know-how to pack, load and transport a customer’s belongings safely and efficiently.

Illegal movers are a public menace because they prey upon prospective patrons by agreeing to move furnishings at unrealistically low prices. Often unlicensed movers have inadequate insurance coverage or no insurance at all. They may refuse to process a customer’s claim for damage or loss or they may hold a customer’s possessions hostage for exorbitant and unexpected fees. Sometimes illegal movers never return the customers belongings instead they sell them and pocket the proceeds. So moving can be a caveat emptor business. That’s why it’s imperative that a potential customer makes sure that any move they consider be done by a legally licensed household goods mover.      

So if you’re looking for a moving company that’s trustworthy, that will protect your belongings and will move your valuables in as stress-free a manner as possible then be sure to choose a legally licensed moving company. The following recommendations will serve as a guideline for helping to select a qualified mover:

·         First, do your homework. Treat your move like you were making an investment. A wise customer understands that they must be their own advocate and investigator. Check with the governing regulatory agency to make sure that the mover is legitimate. In Georgia all intra-state household goods moves are regulated by the Georgia Department of Public Safety. As such a legitimate mover will have a Certificate granting moving authority. It would be wise to request a copy of the mover’s Certificate, again not to be confused with a business license.  

·         Thoroughly research and read reviews with consumer advocacy groups like Clark Howard, (https://clark.com), Angie’s List, (www.angi.com) and web sites like movingscam.com or moverescue.com. The Better Business Bureau is also a good source of information. Ask the mover for several references from recently performed moves. By doing thorough research you’re likely to lessen the chances of having a stress filled and unhappy moving experience.  

·         Get quotes from several different moving companies. The estimate that you receive is exactly what it implies; it’s an anticipated expectation of what the mover thinks the cost of the move will be. In other words it’s the mover’s best guess based on the information you provide. It’s not uncommon for the original estimate to vary or differ from the final cost of the move. Unless a customer has secured a Binding Estimate or a Not To Exceed Estimate, (locked in prices), then the quoted estimate may not be the same as the final cost of the move.  And remember, the price quoted is not the only consideration in selecting a mover.

·         Read the documents and literature that the company provides. You should receive a pamphlet called “Moving Guide.” This will have valuable information. When requesting a moving quote you should obtain a written estimate which specifically details the cost for any materials and for the services that will be rendered. Having a written estimate which provides clear and unambiguous information will help you to compare costs and services from one company to another.

·         Ask the moving salesperson questions. Ask about the company’s moving experience. How long have they been in business?  How many moves do they make a year? If there is damage during the move ask how that is handled? It’s worth noting that claims handled by a third party tend to result in a negative moving experience. So a prospective customer should query a mover as to whether they process claims in-house or do they use a third party to handle their damage claims? Since damage claims are the number one grievance post move, and it happens even with the best moving companies, it’s highly recommended that you have a conversation with the company Claims Manager prior to booking the move.

By following these tips and by putting a little up front effort into selecting a reputable moving company, you can make sure that your move goes as expected and without any undue surprises. A legally licensed moving company will have the same objective as you: a worry free move where your household furnishings are transported from one place to another in a safe, timely and efficient manner.  

 About the Author

Robert West has extensive experience in the moving industry. Working for the Georgia Department of Motor Vehicle Safety, the Georgia Public Service Commission and the Georgia Department of Public Safety, Mr. West held regulatory authority over all intra-state household goods moves. He managed over 250 motor carriers with responsibilities covering all aspects of the moving industry. Audits, safety, licensing, damage claims and the training of new carriers were all part of his expertise. Additionally, Mr. West has worked for over a decade in the private sector managing the Claims Department for Mark the Mover, one of Atlanta’s top moving companies. Mr. West has also appeared in television spots and on the radio offering advice to customers about their moves.    

JD Power and associates did a consumer satisfaction survey on big moving companies and Mayflower came out best. What was really interesting about the Mercury News article was that they also mentioned a site called movingscam.com that we recommend a lot. A quote from the article;

“If you’re going to hire a big, full-service moving company, Mayflower Transit looks like your best bet.”

Before you rule Mark the Mover out for your move, we are too small a company to be included in their survey. We are, among Georgia based moving companies, in the top eight. So we try harder. But my real point is that this survey of moving companies concentrated most of their focus on long distance moving companies. There were a few local moving companies mentioned but the best they did was average. At Mark the Mover, we get a lot of repeat moving business because we do a great job for our moving customers.

Now don’t get me wrong, not every customer that has ever called Mark the Mover is happy, in fact some never use us, because they think they are getting a better deal somewhere else. But we try to charge a fair price and do an excellent job. And unlike the many low price moving scams on the internet, we refuse to joim the race to cut prices and service in a challenging economy. But I don’t want to talk about all the games played, you can find out more about that at movingscam.com

New Moving Company Reviews Startup from Homefinder.com

A new Moving Company Reviews has started at moving waldo which we learned about at an American Moving and Storage Association trade show. The moving review site will get traffic from Homefinder.com and will screen reviews with the Bill of Lading number, allowing consumers to be certain that the reviews are real, and from consumers that really used the moving company in question. Relocation reviewers are still in the beta stage, yet in our latest conversations they said that they had worked closely with regulators in the state of Florida to insure moving companies complied with state and local regulations, an excellent first step for consumers to avoid companies that specialize in hostage loads and low-ball estimates to hook the moving customer, only to provide an expensive and poor quality service.

From Reuters and Yahoo, existing home sales fell in April 2023, but narrowly missed a number guessed at by economists in a Reuters poll. Here are the facts:

• U.S. existing home sales declined for the second consecutive month in April, potentially delaying the housing market recovery. The National Association of Realtors reported a 3.4% drop in existing home sales to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.28 million units in April.
• Economists polled by Reuters had predicted a decrease to a rate of 4.30 million units.
• On a year-on-year basis, home resales plummeted by 23.2% in April.
• The Federal Reserve’s aggressive monetary policy tightening, with higher mortgage rates, has significantly impacted the housing market.
• The average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage was 6.35% last week, higher than the previous year’s 5.30% but down from a peak of 7.08% in November, the highest since 2002.
• Limited housing supply is making it challenging for potential buyers to take advantage of lower mortgage rates. Homeowners are living longer in their properties due to the still-high mortgage rates, resulting in persistently tight housing supply.
• Shortages of building materials, including transformers, have slowed down the completion of new homes. Tightening credit conditions could further hinder builders’ ability to finance new projects.
• The median price of existing houses fell 1.7% to $388,800 in April compared to the previous year. However, price gains were reported in the Northeast and Midwest regions.
• Lawrence Yun, the NAR’s chief economist, noted that roughly half of the country is experiencing price gains, even in markets with lower prices.
• There were 1.04 million previously owned homes on the market in April, a 1.0% increase from the previous year.
• At the current sales pace, it would take 2.9 months to exhaust the existing inventory of homes, up from 2.2 months a year ago. A healthy balance between supply and demand is typically considered to be a four-to-seven-month supply.
• Properties remained on the market for an average of 22 days in April, down from 29 days in March. Approximately 73% of homes sold in April were on the market for less than a month.
• First-time buyers accounted for 29% of sales, up from 28% the previous year.
• All-cash sales represented 28% of transactions, while distressed sales, including foreclosures, made up only 1% of transactions.
• Regionally, home sales declined in all four regions: Northeast, Midwest, South, and West.
• Home sales in the Northeast fell 1.9% from March and 23.9% from April 2022 levels. The median price in the Northeast increased by 2.8% to $422,700 compared to the previous year.
• Sales in the Midwest decreased by 1.9% from the previous month and 21.5% from the prior year. The median price in the Midwest rose by 1.8% to $287,300 from April 2022.
• The South saw a 3.4% decline in sales from March and a 20.2% decrease from the previous year. The median price in the South dropped by 0.6% to $357,900 compared to April 2022.
• In the West, sales dropped 6.1% from the previous month and 31.3% from the previous year. The median price in the West fell by 8.0% to $578,200 compared to April 2022.
• The shortage of homes for sale has boosted confidence among single-family homebuilders, as more buyers turn to the new-home market. In April, over a third of homes on the market were new construction, compared to the typical share of 13%.
• The scarcity of housing stock is primarily due to the mortgage rate trap, with homeowners reluctant to sell as it would result in higher borrowing costs. Approximately 83% of homeowners have mortgages with rates below 5%, while the average rate on a 30-year mortgage has remained above 6% since mid-September.

Existing home sales fall again in April amid continued inventory woes

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/existing-home-sales-fall-again-in-april-amid-continued-inventory-woes-140207284.html

US Existing-Home Sales Fall to Three-Month Low, While Prices Retreat

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-existing-home-sales-fall-140745956.html

This Kennesaw museum called the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History is generally open between 9:30 and 5pm on Tuesday through Saturday.

Read more at Big Shanty Steam Museum

Click on map for Google Maps

Using a VPN can help you in a few ways.

• Access to more content. Netflix has different libraries of content in different countries. This is because the company has different licensing agreements for different countries. By using a VPN, you can connect to a server in a different country and access that country’s Netflix library.
• Bypass geo-restrictions. Netflix sometimes blocks access to certain content in certain countries. This is usually due to copyright restrictions. By using a VPN, you can connect to a server in a different country and bypass these geo-restrictions.
• Increased privacy. When you use a VPN, your internet traffic is encrypted. This means that your ISP cannot see what you are doing online. This can be useful if you are concerned about your privacy.

However, it is important to note that Netflix is constantly working to block VPNs. This means that you may need to try different VPNs or servers in order to find one that works. Additionally, some VPNs may not be able to unblock all of the content that you want to watch.

If you are considering using a VPN with Netflix, I recommend doing some research to find a reputable VPN service. You should also test the VPN with Netflix before you subscribe to a service.

Device Specific VPN

There are many VPNs available for the Amazon Fire Stick. Some of the most popular VPNs for Fire Stick include:

• ExpressVPN
• NordVPN
• CyberGhost
• Surfshark
• Private Internet Access

These VPNs offer a variety of features, including:

• Fast speeds
• Secure connections
• Access to geo-restricted content
• Easy to use

To install a VPN on your Fire Stick, you can follow these steps:

1. Go to the Amazon App Store.
2. Search for the VPN that you want to install.
3. Click on the “Install” button.
4. Once the VPN is installed, open it and sign in to your account.
5. Select a server location and connect to it.

Once you are connected to a VPN server, your Fire Stick will be able to access geo-restricted content. You can also use a VPN to protect your privacy and security online.

It is possible to implement a VPN that covers the whole house including wifi. There are a few different ways to do this.

One way is to use a VPN router. A VPN router is a router that has a VPN built-in. When you connect your devices to the VPN router, they will automatically be connected to the VPN.

Another way to implement a VPN is to use a VPN server. A VPN server is a computer that is connected to the internet and has a VPN running on it. You can connect to the VPN server from your devices using the VPN client software.

If you have a small home network, you can use a VPN router. However, if you have a large home network, you may need to use a VPN server.

Here are the steps on how to implement a VPN that covers the whole house including wifi:

1. Choose a VPN provider. There are many different VPN providers available. Do some research to find a provider that meets your needs.
2. Purchase a VPN router or set up a VPN server. If you are using a VPN router, simply connect it to your modem and configure it according to the manufacturer’s instructions. If you are using a VPN server, you will need to install the VPN software on the server and configure it according to the VPN provider’s instructions.
3. Connect your devices to the VPN. Once the VPN is set up, you can connect your devices to the VPN. If you are using a VPN router, your devices will automatically be connected to the VPN when they connect to the router. If you are using a VPN server, you will need to connect to the VPN using the VPN client software.

Once your devices are connected to the VPN, all of your traffic will be encrypted and routed through the VPN server. This will protect your privacy and security online.

Here are some of the benefits of implementing a VPN that covers the whole house including wifi:

• Increased privacy: When you use a VPN, your internet traffic is encrypted. This means that your ISP cannot see what you are doing online. This can be useful if you are concerned about your privacy.
• Increased security: A VPN can help to protect you from cyber attacks. When you use a VPN, your traffic is routed through a secure server. This can help to protect you from hackers and other online threats.
• Access to geo-restricted content: A VPN can help you to access geo-restricted content. For example, if you are in the United States and you want to watch a British TV show, you can use a VPN to connect to a server in the United Kingdom. This will allow you to watch the show as if you were in the UK.
• Improved performance: A VPN can sometimes improve your internet performance. This is because a VPN can help to reduce latency and improve packet loss.

If you are looking for a way to increase your privacy, security, and access to geo-restricted content, then implementing a VPN that covers the whole house including wifi is a good option.

To install a VPN for a DD-WRT router, you will need to follow these steps:

1. Choose a VPN provider. There are many different VPN providers available. Do some research to find a provider that meets your needs.
2. Download the VPN configuration files. Once you have chosen a VPN provider, you will need to download the VPN configuration files. These files will contain the information that your router needs to connect to the VPN.
3. Log in to your router. You will need to log in to your router using a web browser. The login credentials are usually located on the bottom of your router.
4. Navigate to the VPN settings. Once you are logged in to your router, you will need to navigate to the VPN settings. The location of these settings may vary depending on the make and model of your router.
5. Upload the VPN configuration files. Once you have found the VPN settings, you will need to upload the VPN configuration files. These files will usually have a .ovpn or .conf extension.
6. Configure the VPN settings. Once you have uploaded the VPN configuration files, you will need to configure the VPN settings. This may involve entering the VPN username and password, as well as the VPN server address.
7. Save the settings and restart the router. Once you have configured the VPN settings, you will need to save the settings and restart the router. Once the router has restarted, you should be connected to the VPN.

If you have any problems installing a VPN for your DD-WRT router, you can consult the DD-WRT documentation or contact the VPN provider for support.

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