- Phil
- August 7, 2025
10 Essential Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Moving Company
Hiring the right moving company can save you stress, time, and money. Moving companies offer different services, so it’s important to understand exactly what’s included in the contract.
From proper packing to insurance coverage, the right questions help you avoid hidden fees and unexpected challenges. A reliable moving company should be able to give you clear answers, whether you’re moving your family’s home or handling a business relocation.
In this article, we’ll walk you through the 10 essential questions to ask before hiring a moving company. With these questions, you can confidently assess whether a moving company offers the level of service you need.
1. Is the Moving Company Licensed and Insured?
Before hiring a moving company, verify that they are both licensed and insured. This guarantees that they meet legal standards and provides protection for your belongings during the move.
Why It Matters
Licensed companies adhere to industry regulations, ensuring a higher standard of service. Insurance protects your goods from damage or loss, offering coverage beyond the basic liability. Always request proof of licensing and insurance to avoid potential legal and financial issues.
For interstate moves, the company should be registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), which oversees the moving industry and ensures companies comply with safety standards
2. What Types of Insurance Coverage Do You Offer?
Understanding the insurance coverage options available is crucial. Different moving companies provide different levels of protection, which could impact the security of your move.
Why It Matters
Basic liability only covers a portion of the value of your items, while full-value protection covers the full replacement cost in case of damage. Clarifying the insurance options beforehand ensures you’re protected based on your needs.
3. How Do You Calculate Moving Costs?
Understanding how a moving company calculates its charges is key to avoiding surprises. Whether it’s hourly, based on distance, or weight, knowing this will help you manage your budget effectively.
Why It Matters
Some companies may charge a flat rate, while others charge hourly or by the weight of your items. Additional services like packing or handling bulky items can also influence the final cost. Get a detailed breakdown of the pricing structure to avoid unexpected charges.
It’s always better to choose a company that charges from the time work starts at the job site, rather than from when they leave the warehouse. This ensures you’re only paying for the time spent actually moving your items, rather than the time spent traveling to and from the warehouse.
At A Great Moving Crew, the clock starts when work begins at the job site and stops when the last item is moved. This is in contrast to most Eugene moving companies, which begin charging as soon as they leave their warehouse and only stop when they return. |
4. Are There Any Hidden Fees?
It’s crucial to inquire about hidden fees that could add unexpected costs. A reputable company should provide a clear estimate without any hidden charges.
Why It Matters
Additional fees are common in the moving industry and can include charges for things like stairs, elevators, long carries, or moving bulky items like pianos. These costs can quickly add up and result in a final price much higher than expected.
Make sure to ask for a comprehensive breakdown of potential extra charges upfront, such as for packing materials, handling fragile items, or dealing with difficult access points at your new home.
5. Do You Offer Binding or Not-to-Exceed Estimates?
Asking about binding estimates ensures that you will not be charged more than the quoted price, offering price predictability.
Why It Matters
Binding or not-to-exceed estimates guarantee that the cost won’t exceed the agreed-upon amount. A binding estimate is a fixed price for the entire job, meaning the total cost will not change. A not-to-exceed estimate is similar but allows for a lower cost if the job takes less time or requires fewer resources than originally anticipated.
Both types of estimates protect you from unexpected price increases, ensuring that the final cost aligns with what was initially agreed.
6. What Services Do You Provide?
Not all moving companies offer the same services, so it’s essential to know what’s included in your moving package. Understanding the range of services helps you choose the right company for your needs.
Why It Matters
Moving companies often provide a variety of services, which can vary from one provider to another. Here are some common services to consider:
- Packing Services: Many companies offer full packing services, where they handle the packing of all your belongings, saving you time and effort.
- Storage Solutions: If there’s a gap between your move-in and move-out dates, some companies offer temporary storage to hold your items securely.
- Specialty Item Handling: For delicate or large items such as pianos, artwork, or antiques, companies may offer specialized handling and transportation.
7. What is Your Policy on Delays or Schedule Changes?
Sometimes, delays are inevitable due to traffic, weather, or unforeseen complications. It’s important to understand how a moving company handles these situations to manage your expectations effectively.
Why It Matters
A reliable company should notify you promptly if there are any delays or schedule changes. Clear communication is key to managing your time and coordinating with other service providers. Ask if there’s a policy for compensating delays or if there are penalties for missing the estimated delivery window.
8. Can You Provide References or Reviews?
Requesting references or checking reviews is one of the easiest ways to evaluate a moving company’s reliability. Positive feedback from past customers can give you confidence in their ability to deliver quality service.
Why It Matters
Reviews and references provide real-world insight into how the company operates and treats its clients. By checking these, you gain a better understanding of their service quality, customer satisfaction, and reliability.
9. What Is Your Availability Around My Preferred Moving Date?
Confirming the moving company’s availability on your preferred date helps avoid any scheduling conflicts. Popular moving days can get booked quickly, so it’s important to secure the date early.
Why It Matters
Moving companies often have limited availability during peak seasons or weekends. Early confirmation ensures that your moving day aligns with their schedule, preventing delays or rushed service. For residential moving, weekends or school holiday periods are often the busiest times, as families prefer to move during these breaks
10. Are Your Employees Background Checked?
It’s vital to know that the movers handling your belongings are trustworthy. Ensuring that a company conducts background checks on its staff is an important step toward ensuring safety during the move.
Why It Matters
Background checks on movers ensure that only qualified and trustworthy individuals are involved in handling your personal property. This provides added security and peace of mind, knowing that your belongings are in safe hands. This is particularly important during commercial moving, where the safety and confidentiality of business materials must be a top priority.
Frequently Asked Questions
A moving broker acts as an intermediary between the customer and a moving company, often outsourcing the actual move to a third party. A carrier, on the other hand, handles the entire moving process with its own staff and equipment. Knowing the difference is important as brokers may offer lower prices, but this can sometimes lead to miscommunication and unexpected costs.
Moving companies generally calculate costs based on factors such as the weight of the shipment, the distance of the move, and the seasonality of the move. Additional charges may apply for services like packing, fuel, or specialty items. It is essential to clarify how costs will be calculated to avoid unexpected charges.
Many moving companies have specific guidelines on the types of items they can transport. Commonly restricted items include hazardous materials, perishable goods, firearms, and pets. It is important to clarify what items are excluded from the move to ensure everything is properly accounted for ahead of time.
Some moving companies provide shipment tracking, allowing customers to receive real-time updates on their belongings during transit. This service can range from GPS tracking to customer support, providing updates upon request. Shipment tracking can help keep customers informed about the status of their move.
