Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Moving Company

by Bill Gassett March 29, 2021

Are you going to be moving soon? Next to death and divorce, there are not many more stressful things in one’s life than moving. Let’s face it, moving is really strenuous work both from a mental and physical standpoint.

One of the more vital decisions is whether to make a DIY move or hire moving professionals. Given the fact that moving is so grueling, most people opt for hiring a moving company.

Before hiring movers, there are some questions that you should ask… about 15 questions actually. Moving is really important, and the quality of the company that you hire will mean the difference between an excellent moving experience and a disaster.

Let’s take a deep dive into what you should find out before hiring a moving company.

Smart Questions to Ask Movers

1. How many years have you been in business?

Start by gauging their expertise and longevity as a company, as they wouldn’t have survived if they weren’t good enough. Unfortunately, in the moving industry, many moving companies don’t last. Others change their name due to the horrible reputation they have created. Be leery if you find a moving company that has recently changed its name.

2. Do you have references for your service?

The moving company will more than likely direct you to their online reference site. Look for glowing reviews, however, somewhat unusual if every single review is over the top positive. It is not out the question the reviews could be made up.

3. Is the company licensed, bonded, and insured?

Ask if they are an updated certified company for moving. It is also advisable to ask to see evidence of the moving company’s credentials.

4. What document confirmation will I receive before moving day?

You are looking for what you have to sign and read, so there will be no last-minute hold-ups. Make sure you look at the small print to make sure there isn’t something alarming or questionable that you may come across.

5. How do you determine the cost of the move?

Ask how they work out their pricing structure. If you are hiring a professional moving company, they will give you a written estimate. If you are making a DIY move and renting your own moving truck, you will also want to get pricing upfront. Pricing with truck rental companies such as Home Depot or U-Haul is typically charged based on the time the truck is in use.

6. Is this a binding estimate?

You want a binding estimate, as a non-binding estimate could increase the price on the day of your move. Getting a higher figure on the day of moving is probably most will want to avoid.

7. Are there any extra fees I should know about?

Many companies charge extra on wet moving days to pull out a few tarpaulins, and you need to know about these costs in advance.

8. Will I be charged extra if the truck arrives before me?

Yes, you will be, so this all needs to be planned seamlessly in advance not to happen.

9. Is there an additional fee for big items?

Mention any big items upfront to be sure you don’t want any surprises. The best professional moving companies will visit your home ahead of time and take stock of what will be moved come moving day.

10. Are there surcharges for fuel?

Yes, there probably will be, but you need to know this before signing up with the company.

11. Do you offer packing services?

These can include packing, unpacking. If you are time-poor, packing services are essential. Full-service movers will do this automatically as part of their services, but you may need to confirm exactly what services are provided with smaller firms.

12. Who will do the loading and unloading?

This is a perfectly legitimate question, as you don’t want some older people with bad backs. Many folks have had experiences where two out three of the unloading team couldn’t lift anything heavy, which really changes the pace at which the move could occur. This becomes a waste of time and money, so you need to know that you are getting the right people with experience and are protected from liability.

13. Will you move my car for me?

Most moving companies do not offer this specialty service, so you will need to hire a company specializing in shipping cars from point A to point B. There are quite a few excellent companies that can ship a car. Needless to say, it is as important to vet an auto-transport company as it is with movers.

14. How often are your moving vehicles serviced?

You need to know that moving vehicles are properly maintained and won’t damage your stuff.

15. Do the movers offer liability insurance?

The company should cover their workers or don’t hire them. Most moving companies have this kind of coverage, but it never hurts to ask.

16. Are the moving team covered by worker’s compensation?

If they are contractors, it is their responsibility to have their own cover, but you need to ask them.

More Considerations When Hiring Movers

Moving can be either a horrible or a bearable experience, depending on how well the move has been planned.

The quality of your moving team is pivotal in the moving day running smoothly. If the team is professional and does it all the time for the same company, everything is likely to run a lot more smoothly than if the company just calls in many casual workers on an as needs basis.

Your Responsibility When Hiring a Moving Company

A lot of the move’s success will come down to your planning and attention to detail, and unfortunately, the more that we move, the more practice we get at asking the right questions and retaining the moving company. There are ways to identify a bad moving company, so it will be up to you to pay attention.

It is a good idea just to make a checklist of all the above questions and tick them off as they are answered. As the nearer, the moving day gets, the more stressed we tend to become, and we don’t want to forget anything.

Final Thoughts on Hiring a Mover

The right questions to ask when hiring movers have been carefully thought out to benefit less experienced people planning a move. If you are moving to another city, it can be even more stressful than just moving suburbs. So, don’t leave anything to chance, hire the best moving company for the job.

Hopefully, you have found these questions to ask the movers to be helpful.


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