How to Pick a Mover

what really matters

Rest assured that:

1. Movers must give written estimates.
2. Movers may give binding estimates.
3. Non-binding estimates are not always accurate; actual charges may exceed the estimate.
4. You may request from your mover the availability of guaranteed pickup and delivery dates.
5. You have the right to be present each time your shipment is weighed.
6. You may request a reweigh of your shipment.
7. Movers must offer a dispute settlement program as an alternative means of settling loss or damage claims (though details vary per mover--ask about this). You may request complaint information about movers from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration under the Freedom of Information Act. You may be assessed a fee to obtain this information.
8. You should seek estimates from at least three different movers. You should not disclose any information to the different movers about their competitors, as it may affect the accuracy of their estimates. See our Tips On Negotiation.

Tips for dealing with moving companies:

1. If your mover provides you (or someone representing you) with any partially complete document for your signature, you should verify the document is as complete as possible before signing it. Make sure the document contains all relevant shipping information, except the actual shipment weight and any other information necessary to determine the final charges for all services performed.
2. Be sure you understand the mover's responsibility for loss or damage, and request an explanation of the difference between valuation and actual insurance.
3. If you agree to move under a non-binding estimate, you should confirm with your mover - in writing - the method of payment at delivery as cash, certified check, cashier's check, money order, or credit card.
4. You should ask the person you speak to whether he or she works for the actual mover or a household goods broker. A household goods broker only arranges for the transportation. A household goods broker must not represent itself as a mover. A household goods broker does not own trucks of its own. The broker is required to find an authorized mover to provide the transportation. You should know that a household goods broker generally has no authority to provide you an estimate on behalf of a specific mover. If a household goods broker provides you an estimate, it may not be binding on the actual mover and you may have to pay the actual charges the mover incurs. A household goods broker is not responsible for loss or damage.

Here are some questions to ask your prospective movers:

Q. How do you charge for moving services?

A: Our best experiences have been with 400N Tariff companies (see our overview of the 400N Tariff). These companies charge by weight and miles, not volume. Volume-based estimates are notoriously inaccurate and we often hear of customers who are charged more when their stuff arrives because the volume-based estimate was wrong. We'd also be skeptical of movers that charge only based on the weight (regardless of how far you are shipping your items).

Q. Can you guarantee that the estimates you give won't be exceeded?

A: The sales line we hear often is "sure, I typically over-estimate to be safe, so your charge will probably be less." It sounds like a great line, but it's not true. Some 400N Tariff movers WILL offer a not-to-exceed estimate based on your accurate representation of the inventory. However, they're estimates are generally quite accurate. They're professionals at this and have incentive not to scare you with a high price.

Q. Are you a broker or the actual mover?

A: Many movers that you find online are brokers (people who coordinate local movers, cross-country shippers, packers, insurance, etc). They're effectively move coordinators. Although you won't be dealing with the moving company directly, brokers have direct contact with the moving companies, and drivers and generally detailed tracking tools. We have had equal success with both brokers and moving companies.

Q. Do you offer temporary storage if I need it? How much does it cost? What if I need it longer? Is there an additional cost if I need to get into it while it's in temporary storage?

A: Many carriers offer free temporary storage for a month (particularly for big moves) including the transportation to and from the temp storage while others charge. If the first month is free, make sure you understand the costs for additional months and any hidden costs (like if you need to get into your stuff while it's in storage).

Q. Are all the players (packers, movers, etc) fully bonded and insured?

A: There are a surprising number of fly-by-night operations. Asking some basic questions about the company should help give you a sense of how long they've been around.

Q. What payment methods do you accept?

A: While some moving companies accept credit card payment for the full cost of the move, many do not. You should ask and not assume.

Q. What's your refund policy?

A: Many moving companies have very flexible refund policies (e.g. fully refundable if you cancel within a week or two). This should help alleviate any fear you have booking early with one company.

Other pieces of advice:

• Don't be afraid to check the Better Business Bureau for reputable movers
• Book early! The moving business is a bit like the airline industry: it's a competitive industry and you can often find deep discounts if you are able to book early, but those discounts disappear if you wait and don't book until the last minute.