Terms of Service

TERMS OF SERVICE

Big Man’s Moving company takes moving your personal belongings very seriously. Preparation and proper planning is the key to a successful move. We encourage all of our customers to know their rights and responsibilities prior to their move by reading our terms below and reviewing the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s website here.

Insurance of Items

• Website: www.cafcps.org (select “File a Claim”)
• Phone: 800-414-5441
• Email: cs@cafcps.org

Optional Valuation Insurance:

We encourage every customer to purchase our optional valuation insurance or supplemental insurance from their homeowner’s insurance company. If purchased by the customer, our valuation insurance will be on a separate line item on the invoice at an agreed-upon price depending on the quality of the furniture. If the valuation insurance is not outlined on a separate line item on our invoice the customer did not purchase this optional insurance. This insurance goes above and beyond the state requirement of 60 cents per pound. Please inquire to find out the level of protection, deductible, and cost.

Protect your items:

Unless we agreed on packing services prior, the customer is to have everything packed, boxed, sealed, and ready to go. If the customer’s items are not protected, wrapped, boxed, or sealed when we arrive, extra charges will apply, or the client will be responsible for taking these items in their personal vehicle. If these items go on our truck and are overlooked by our teams, Big Man’s Moving assumes zero liability for these items if damage were to occur. Items included, but not limited to: TVs, Peloton Screens, computer screens, any exercise equipment screens, vacuums, loose glass, glass tables, art, pictures, mirrors, lamps, lampshades, knick-knacks, vases, china, stone tops on furniture, statues, etc.

Big Man’s Moving Company is not liable for potential damage to any of these fragile items if they are not protected, wrapped, boxed, and sealed. Stone items, statues, marble, granite, and anything made of stone should be packed in professional crates by a 3rd party. Bumps in the road or any sudden bumpy movement or shifting of the load can crack these items, so they need to be professionally crated for safe transport. Big Man’s Moving Company isn’t liable for any item we didn’t pack unless we are negligent and drop the box or piece. Mattresses should go into our thick 3 mil mattress bags to keep them clean and in good condition.  We can provide mattress bags for a small additional cost. If the customer provides the mattress bag, we aren’t liable if the bag rips or if the mattress gets dirty or damaged, because we didn’t provide the bag. Many retail stores sell cheap mattress bags that rip easily and offer very little protection.

Reporting Damage or Issues:

We highly encourage real-time communication regarding any concerns or issues that arise during your move. Addressing matters immediately—while the team is still onsite—allows us the best opportunity to resolve them promptly and to your satisfaction. The most effective way to reach us during your move is by calling or texting our office directly.

For any damages, written notification must be submitted to our office the same day as the move to be eligible for review and potential compensation, regardless of whether optional valuation coverage was selected. Reports received after this window may not qualify for consideration.

If you have any questions about damage coverage, deductibles, or valuation options, please don’t hesitate to contact our office in advance. We’re here to help ensure your move is smooth and well-protected.

Artificial Wood:

Big Man’s Moving Company is not responsible for any damage done to any item of furniture made of artificial wood unless we drop the item in a negligent matter. Often these pieces are weak, unstable and artificial wood is impossible to repair. Real wood is strong, hard to damage and easy to repair.

Hire a professional handyman:

Big Mans moving doesn’t disconnect or reconnect any appliances or shut off/turn on valves. We also don’t install or remove hardware nailed/screwed into walls or ceilings that support TVs, chandeliers, shelves and pictures/art. We don’t unclip TVs from wall mounts or re-clip them back to the wall mount. In the event the customer needs assistance with any of this they are to call the owners first for special approval. The customer would waive all liability from any potential damage that may occur from any of these activities.

Furniture:

All dressers, nightstands, desks, or any item with drawers must be emptied in advance so we can wrap them and take them to the truck. Leaving the drawers in and items inside can result in damage to the internal drawer mechanisms or legs. We are not responsible if the legs or drawer sliders on any dresser get damaged unless we physically drop the dresser out of negligence. Lastly, any furniture item that has a mirrored finish needs to be disclosed days prior to the move. These items need special attention, packaging and the knobs must be removed by the customer prior to our team’s arrival. If damage happens to any mirrored piece and it’s not packaged prior, we are not liable for any damage.

Floors, Stairs and Carpet:

Big Man’s Moving will not move anything up or down more than 3 flights of stairs without special approval and or specific details being agreed upon prior to the move date. If a customer has hardwood floors or any flooring material that can scratch, the customer is required to protect their floors and stairs. The customer is to have coasters under all furniture legs, protection on wood stairs/floors, protection on new or light color carpeting, and protection in other high traffic areas with soft floors.

Wood stairs are very challenging to maneuver with large furniture so they must be protected/padded well. It rains frequently in Florida and asking our team to take their shoes on/off and move furniture is dangerous and increases the chance of injury. Home Depot and Lowe’s both sell paper, self-adhesive plastic, rubber material and other solutions to protect sensitive floors. Big Man’s Moving has 1 runner in each truck to protect the front entry area which is the highest traffic area in the home.

*****If sensitive floors and stairs are not protected, the customer waives all liability of damage or stains. *****

Hanging wall art, hanging mirrors, chandeliers and wall-mounted lights:

Our movers are always as careful as they can be when carrying furniture. Hanging wall art, hanging mirrors, low hanging chandeliers or wall-mounted lights need to be removed and or moved prior. This will prevent our team from striking or bumping into these items while carrying large pieces in the home. This is especially true in stairways where we have less control of larger items due to the turns and steps. If the customer doesn’t secure these items prior to the move, Big Man’s Moving will not be liable to fix damage to wall hanging art, wall hanging mirrors, wall-mounted lights or chandeliers.

Walls/Doors/Door frames:

If a customer has large/heavy/awkward items that need to be moved through tight hallways, stairs or doorways there is a chance these items won’t fit without rubbing the wall, door or door jam.  Big Man’s Moving Company takes extra precautions moving these items as safely and slowly as we can. If the item is too large to fit without rubbing the wall, door or door frame Big Man’s Moving Company is not responsible for any minor scratches, dents or paint scuffing that may occur. These situations are all very easy for the homeowner to fix with some drywall Spackle, sandpaper, spray texture and paint.

Driveways/Sprinklers/Outdoor Lighting:

Unless otherwise specified in the agreement, Big Man’s Moving Company will park our truck in the driveway or the closest available location to the front door. If the customer has a newer driveway or concerns about potential damage, we recommend requesting our team to park on the street, understanding that this will add time to the job due to the increased carry distance.

We strongly advise homeowners against allowing service vehicles on their driveway due to the potential for weight-related stress or fluid leaks. If the homeowner instructs our team to park in the driveway, they assume full responsibility, and Big Man’s Moving Company is not liable for any damage that may occur. Additionally, if the driveway or parking surface has a steep slope and the underside of the truck makes contact with the ground, we are not responsible for any resulting damage.

For sprinkler systems, customers should assist in guiding the truck during parking and identify any sprinkler heads that may be vulnerable. Big Man’s Moving Company is not liable for damaged sprinkler heads unless they were specifically pointed out by the customer in advance.

If the customer has any outdoor lighting fixtures, such as ground-level or low-profile lights around the driveway, walkway, or entry points, we are not liable for any damage to those fixtures. We recommend that customers do one of the following to avoid potential issues:

• Clearly point out the location of any lights to the crew before the move begins.
• Temporarily remove the fixtures.
• Ensure our team is working at least 5 feet away from any outdoor lights.
• Taking these proactive steps helps protect your property.

Storage Unit Moves:

If a customer moves into storage, they are responsible for providing moving blankets to pad their items. We provide stretch wrap, but stretch wrap alone does not protect furniture. If the customer doesn’t supply ample moving blankets to protect their furniture, we do not take any responsibility for damaged items. Also, if couches or chairs or any items that can obtain impression or weight related damage have to be stacked on or stood up due to space constraints, we are not liable for impression damage. Many times, the only way to avoid this is getting a large enough storage unit so the couch and chairs can all be sat alone on the ground the way they would be with nothing stacked on top of them. If a past customer hires another moving company to move their belongings out of storage that we previously moved in, we are not liable for any damage. The last company to handle the customer’s items is liable and responsible for any and all damages. We always recommend climate-controlled storage and are not liable for any issue or damage that may arise due to the Florida weather elements if a customer chooses to keep their belongings in a non-climate controlled unit

POD/Container moves:

If a customer moves into a container/POD we recommend they secure additional insurance for their move. These container companies won’t sell insurance to protect your items from their harsh handling. For example, when these companies pick the containers up or set them down, your entire container is on a steep angle forcing everything inside to shift. In addition, the customer is responsible for providing moving blankets so we can blanket/wrap everything going into the container. We provide stretch wrap but stretch wrap alone does not protect furniture. If the customer doesn’t supply ample moving blankets to protect their furniture we do not assume any liability for damaged items. Also, if couches or chairs or any items that can obtain impression or weight related damage have to be stacked on or stood up due to space constraints, we are not liable for impression damage. Many times, the only way to avoid this is getting a large enough container so the couch and chairs can all be sat alone on the ground the way they would be with nothing stacked on top of them. If a past customer hires another moving company to move their belongings out instead of Big Man’s Moving Company, we are not liable for any damage since another company has now handled the items. ONCE OUR TEAM CLOSES THE CONTAINER ON-SITE, BIG MANS MOVING COMPANY HAS ZERO CONTROL OVER WHAT HAPPENS NEXT AND WE ARE NOT LIABLE FOR ANY FUTURE DAMAGE CAUSED DURING TRANSPORTATION AND WAREHOUSING.

Appliances:

Big Man’s Moving Company is not liable for any interior mechanical issues, leaking valves or any plumbing-related issues that might exist with the washer/dryer/refrigerator/dishwasher before or after a move. Due to liability, we do not disconnect or reconnect any appliance. If the appliance is not new in the original box it can be really challenging to move it safely through skinny doors/hallways/turns. Washers and dryers don’t move safely when stacked so we require them to be unstacked and completely disconnected prior to our arrival. If our team is forced to move them stacked, the customer waives all liability of damage since we didn’t install the bracket to stack/connect them and we have no idea if they are secured properly or not. It’s very easy to scratch or dent washers and dryers when unstacking so Big Man’s Moving does not perform this task. We pad/wrap these the best we can but if a minor scratch/scuff occurs we are not liable since the item isn’t in a proper box. If the fridge depth doesn’t have at least 3″ of clearance to fit through a doorway the customer is to remove the front handles and doors of the fridge. The 3″ will give our team enough clearance to properly pad the item before approaching the doorway. Big Man’s Moving doesn’t disassemble or assemble appliances and if the customer doesn’t have the handles/doors removed and allows our team to move it “as is” the customer waives all liability of potential damage to the fridge or door frame.
**Appliances may incur an extra fee and we don’t move refrigerators up or down any steps.**

Baby Grand Pianos, Upright Pianos, Hot Tubs, Treadmills, Large Safes, and Large Items:

We do not move grand/baby grand pianos, hot tubs, or 500+ pound safes. In addition, we don’t move refrigerators, treadmills, exercise equipment, oversized armoires, larger safes, and any other item over 200lbs upstairs or downstairs due to the risk of someone getting hurt and the risk of damaging your item and/or home. If the customer fails to disclose any of these items going upstairs we will move them into their new home on the ground level or into their garage as “part of the move” but they will have to hire another company at their expense to move these items up or down the stairs. If a treadmill or piece of equipment won’t fit free and clear through all doors standing up the customer is to call a specialist to assist with assembly/disassembly of a treadmill prior to and after the move is complete. Moving these items is very difficult and if there are any sharp objects or corners under any of these items we are not liable for any potential floor damage that may occur.

**Many of these items mentioned above incur an extra fee to move and must be disclosed with specifications and photos prior to the move.**

Items movers can’t move:

Jewelry, money, firearms, ammunition, gas cans, live plants, propane tanks, paint, flammables or small valuable items. If these items end up on the truck for any reason the customer waives all liability of damage or loss and take full responsibility in the event we receive fines. The customer is to secure and hide all valuables like money, gold, jewelry, etc. prior to our arrival. If these items are negligently left out and get lost in the moving shuffle Big Mans Moving doesn’t assume responsibility for misplaced or lost valuables.

Specialty Beds:

Any specialty mattresses like Tempur-Pedic or Sleep Number beds with electronic bases need special care.
We simply unplug the power chords, wrap them and move them assembled. We are not liable for any mechanical issues or if anything gets unplugged during the move. If the customer wants to ensure everything works on both ends they should have the manufacturer disassemble/assemble these specialty beds prior to the move.

Antique/Old Items:

The client is responsible for disclosing any old, antique, fragile, broken, damaged or flimsy furniture prior to the move. If our team deems an item to be “at risk”, the client will be presented with 2 options:  1. The client will move the piece of furniture with their personal vehicle. 2. We carefully carry those items and place them safely in our truck. If these “at risk” items fall apart during transit for any reason, Big Man’s Moving Company is not liable for any damage done to those pieces of furniture. If the customer has an antique or old item with a high dollar or sentimental value we recommend purchasing our optional valuation insurance outlined below or moving it in their personal vehicle. Many times these old items are compromised especially around the hardware over the years due to weather, contact, prior moves, lack of wood conditioning/maintenance, etc. making them very difficult to move safely in a large truck next to other items.

Furniture Assembly/Disassembly:

If the customer requests we disassemble any furniture, they are to provide us with instructions on how to put any item back together in a situation where it is complicated. Big Man’s Moving Company is not liable for the assembly of any furniture unless all the hardware is present and in good condition along with an instruction manual. If any of the current hardware is damaged, stripped or missing we will point this out to the client on the job. This scenario might result in an item not being able to be moved if we can’t take it apart safely.

Customer wants to assist with the move:

If the customer wishes to help with their move, they can move things they can carry by themselves. They are not to pick an item up with an employee of Big Man’s Moving Company. If they encourage an employee to pick up an item with them and that item gets dropped or damaged, we are not liable for that item. The customer may not enter the moving truck at any time.

Canceling/Rescheduling:
As a small business, any changes or cancellations to your moving reservation can significantly impact our operations. Please note that the booking fee is non-refundable and isn’t a credit toward the balance. If you cancel within 72 hours of your scheduled moving date, we will charge the credit card provided at booking for the minimum billing amount outlined in our signed agreement plus the extra truck/fuel/tools/wrap fee. In most cases, this fee is one additional hour unless the pricing document states otherwise. This policy is non-negotiable because last-minute cancellations affect our teams’ ability to schedule work. The minimum charge helps ensure that we can continue to fairly compensate our employees and retain skilled movers to deliver exceptional service.

Payment Terms:

All balances on moves are to be paid in cash or card upon completion of the move unless discussed otherwise ahead of time. The moving clock starts upon arrival and finishes when the customer is ready to pay their bill. If we have to wait for the customer to arrive or if they have to run to the bank the clock continues to tick. Withholding any amount of payment other than the full balance for any reason is not acceptable. Big Man’s Moving Company does not accept personal checks.

Agreement not approved or reviewed by the customer ahead of time:

Big Man’s Moving Company provides every customer a copy of their agreement/estimate to review and approve prior to their move. The customer is responsible for reviewing 100% of this information. When the customer provides us with a credit card deposit or opens their front door on moving day to let us in, they automatically agree to the terms of service outlined above.

Failure to pay or insufficient funds:

In the event a customer refuses to pay for a service rendered, under any circumstance, they understand that Big Man’s Moving Company has the right to and will file a “construction/laborers lien” against their home until payment is received. If any form of payment received by the customer is canceled or denied for any reason, and not settled immediately by the customer, Big Man’s Moving Company will take the customer to small claims court. According to Florida law, the customer can be liable for up to 3x the amount of the original balance due.

Out of State Moves and Packing Jobs:

Credit card deposits provided by customers for out of state moves are non-refundable. We have to prepay for many expenses and clear our schedules to accommodate these multi-day moves. The customer receives an electronic contract to sign and approve ahead of time to ensure a mutually agreeable move. Any customer that requests packing services for their job pays for their supplies up front since we have to pay for them and supply them for the move. Supplies that we order prior to any moving job are non-refundable and many times we are stuck with this for months before we can use them again.

Weather – Rain/Extreme Heat

Big Man’s Moving Company moves rain or shine since we can’t control the weather or dates our customers move. In the scenario of heavy rain, the moving clock is still running and the customer is paying for this time. The customer is to provide towels to dry their items off if they get wet coming into the home. Big Mans Moving is not liable for any water spotting or water damage that may occur if items get wet inside or outside of our trucks at any time. The inside of box trucks are not waterproof and we always encourage customers to secure additional content insurance prior to moving, especially during the rainy season. If the customer doesn’t want us to continue moving in the rain we can always reschedule the move. In this scenario, they would be charged a $150 cancellation/rescheduling fee and whatever time has accrued up to that point. If we keep a customer’s belongings overnight or for any extended period of time in our trucks, we are not liable for any heat damage. The back of moving trucks can get very hot, especially in the summer months and items like leather, art, electronics, certain species of wood, etc. sometimes don’t fare well in extreme heat. Any item that might be sensitive to extreme heat the customer should make other arrangements for prior.

Additional Cleaning Fee:

To ensure a smooth and sanitary moving experience, please adhere to the following guidelines:

• Furniture Cleaning: All furniture with excessive dust or pet hair must be wiped, vacuumed, or cleaned prior to the move. If not, a cleaning fee will be applied.
• Patio Furniture: Please tilt and drain any patio furniture in advance to remove rusty water from internal tubing.
• Sanitary Conditions: We maintain high cleanliness standards and protect your furniture using our clean, high-quality blankets. However, we will not move items infested with live or dead bugs, feces, rodent droppings, or other unsanitary conditions unless deemed safe by our movers.
• Cleaning Fees: If excessive pet hair, dirt, dust, or unsanitary conditions contaminate our truck or blankets, we must immediately deep clean at a commercial facility, which incurs a $200 cleaning fee.

We appreciate your cooperation in keeping our moving environment clean and efficient!