Guidelines for Hiring a Moving Company

Call the mover and request a representative come to your home to give a full written estimate.
Share with the representative your move date. Ask if this date is in the busiest movement cycle of the month. Plan for weather delays.
Is your move a “local” move or a long-distance move? Local moves are usually charged by an hourly rate plus travel time to/from the move-out / move-in location. Long-distance moves are charged by the weight of the shipment by a published tariff.
Will there be an extra delivery drop-off?
Have the new address and all cell phone numbers typed out on paper.

Ask the rep, “Does your company make all the move-in arrangements with the apartment building including [reserving the move-in date with the front desk of the building, reserving the elevator for this date], and all other coordination required with the building to ensure that when the truck arrives that full delivery to the apartment building can take place on this date.
Ask the rep if they have worked in that building before, and if they are familiar with all the move-in requirements of the building.
If moving to a house or condo, is it in an association? What are the restrictions?
Do you want book boxes and linen boxes delivered in advance of the move for you to pack a few items?
Do you wish the mover to pack all the contents of the kitchen and the closets? Did you know that the more you pack yourself, the more money you save? A kitchen can take valuable time to properly pack.

Do you want the mover to pack lamps and all misc. items throughout the house?
At the new residence, you want the movers to place all the furniture, assemble the beds, remount the mirrors on the bureaus, and assemble any other furniture items that were disassembled for the move. Boxes will be marked Bedroom 1, Den, Living Room, etc. This makes the moving transition smoother.
Will the packers need to come to your home the DAY BEFORE the moveout date to pack up most items to ensure that you can move out and move in on your move-in date?
Inform the movers that all valuables [papers, jewelry, keys, sentimental items will be moved by you. You must make the time to place jewelry, passports, deeds, insurance papers, and all other critically important items in a box/container that you will have accompany you in your car. These do not go with the mover.
Ask about insurance coverage. Ask how many men will be working on your move?

Ask if it will be a “Straight Truck” or a Trailer Truck. Will an 18-wheeler fit in the driveway/roadway of your new apartment, condo, or home?
Mover’s method of payment----do not give them cash. They usually take credit cards, and it gives a receipt for tax deductions for the year.
Please make certain you get a business card from the rep---you need to have his/her full name and phone number.
Certainly, there are many questions for you to consider, so please use this as a reference in your moving file.
Each state has different regulatory requirements for movers
For those who do coach with me, I will have the company you are considering hiring vetted by the former director of household movements for the Department of Defense.

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