Justin: Welcome back to Moving Unboxed, presented by 495 Movers. I’m Justin.

Andrea: And I’m Andrea.

Justin: Today we’re talking about the important questions you should ask when vetting a moving company. In this episode, we’re diving into real scenarios and questions shared on Reddit by people who have either already moved or are preparing for an upcoming move.

Let’s dive in.

Our first question comes from Hollypop1986:

“I’m moving across state lines. I know that not all moving companies do long-distance moves. I can’t do this alone and need to hire a company to move everything for me. I have a five-bedroom home with a substantial amount of belongings between my four kids and myself. I’ve never used a moving company before, and I’m feeling overwhelmed trying to narrow down my choices. For those of you who have used movers, what kinds of questions are you glad you asked, and what questions do you wish you would have asked?”

There are a lot of questions and categories to consider when you’re vetting a mover.

Andrea: Absolutely. We can start with dates. You want to ask about whether the company offers open or fixed dates.

Some companies will tell you that you need to provide an exact date and that if the date changes, your cost could change too. They may treat it almost like an airline ticket: the earlier you book, the better value you get. But if you need to make a last-minute change, or even change your date in the weeks leading up to the move, you could see the cost change.

There are a few questions you should ask about the calendar.

First, is your target date available? Second, what happens if you need to change that date? If you’re a week away from your move and something changes, or if you have a closing that gets delayed, you may need to pivot quickly.

You want to know whether the mover you’ve selected is going to be another obstacle you have to overcome or someone who’s going to help you through that difficult period.

Are they going to charge you more? Are they going to make a big deal out of it?

At 495 Movers, we’re an open-schedule company. We can sell out of certain days, and those days could become more expensive if we need to add another job. But we’re not saying that moving on a Tuesday automatically costs less than moving on a Sunday. Our pricing is equitable.

That’s another factor you want to understand. Are you going to be charged more if you move on a weekend versus a weekday? You don’t want to go into the process blind.

Justin: I think seasonality is also huge. Typically, summer is going to be more expensive, while winter tends to have lower rates because there’s less demand.

Andrea: Exactly. If you can move in November, December, January, or February, you may find more competitive pricing.

That’s tough for a lot of families because kids are in school, so you don’t always have the flexibility to choose when you move.

For people in the DMV, there are also plenty of situations where you simply have to move. Maybe you’re in the military or relocating for a corporate job. You may not have the ability to choose your timing.

But if you do have flexibility, it’s worth asking about.

Ask About the Movers

Andrea: Beyond dates, you definitely want to ask about the labor force.

Are the movers experienced? How are they employed? Are they day laborers? Are they full-time or part-time employees? How does the company train them?

At 495 Movers, we have an upward mobility program. Employees can start by helping in the warehouse, then learn on the trucks, become movers, and eventually become foremen. We’ve also had employees move into office positions.

That type of career path creates accountability. People aren’t just coming in for one job. They’re building a career within the company and have a reason to hold themselves to a higher standard.

If a company tells you, “We keep costs down because we hire day laborers,” that’s something you should think about carefully.

These are the people who are going to be handling your fragile, breakable, and valuable belongings. Whether it’s something you bought at IKEA or something that was handed down from your grandmother, it’s your stuff and it’s important to you.

You don’t want random labor coming into your home with no idea whether they’ve been properly trained.

Ask how skilled the people actually coming to your home are.

Justin: I think another thing to ask about is the number of workers.

If a company tells you they have 50 or 60 movers, but everything else about the company makes it seem much smaller, that should raise a question.

Andrea: Right. You can also ask how many jobs they complete each year or how many trucks they have. Those numbers should generally make sense together.

If a company is overrepresenting itself, that’s a red flag.

It can also help you determine whether you’re actually talking to a moving company or a broker.

A broker is going to find a moving company for you, but they don’t always present themselves that way. At the end of the day, you may not know who you’re actually hiring to do the work.

Justin: Exactly. If you identify that you’re working with a broker and they’re overselling or overrepresenting the company that’s supposedly going to handle your move, that’s another red flag.

What Makes a Good Moving Experience?

Justin: Hollypop1986 also asks: If you’ve had a great experience, was there something specific about the company that made it great? And if you didn’t have a good experience, what would you have done differently?

Andrea: One of the biggest things is cost control, especially when it comes to materials and packing.

That’s where you can see a major difference between the original cost and the final cost. A lot of the time, it comes down to changes in volume, weight, or, most significantly, packing.

With some companies, packing costs can get out of control.

At 495 Movers, we include everything and keep it simple. We work somewhat counterintuitively to the rest of the industry.

A lot of movers leave the door open for additional charges.

For example, some companies charge $5 to $7 per roll of tape. They charge for shrink wrap, moving blankets, and boxes.

Let’s say you have a sofa with a fragile wood panel and want some additional padding. A mover might use a few boxes to protect the sofa and then charge you for those boxes.

There are lots of little ways that costs can add up.

The protection should be part of the mover’s job. You shouldn’t necessarily be paying extra simply because the mover needs to use additional material to protect your belongings.

So getting some control over packing materials is really important.

Justin: And if a mover is charging you separately for every box or piece of material during a full-pack move, that’s a huge red flag.

Andrea: Exactly. A full-pack move should be all-inclusive. I understand that not every company works the way we do, but generally, when you’re paying for a full pack, the materials and labor should be included.

If you’re trying to control the cost of packing, asking exactly what’s included is one of the most important questions you can ask.

Ask About Property Protection

Justin: I’ve also been to a few homes during moves where customers have told me, “My sister used another moving company, and they didn’t protect the walls and stairs the way you guys do.”

It’s pretty amazing watching our crews work.

I saw one of our movers practically doing the splits to make sure he had the right padding on the floors so they wouldn’t get scratched.

I hear that a lot from customers. They’ll say, “Someone else used these guys, but this move was completely different.”

Andrea: A lot of that comes down to protecting the home during the move.

That includes the floors, walls, stairs, doorways, and other areas that can easily get damaged.

It also includes disassembly and reassembly.

Not every moving company offers that, and some companies charge extra for it.

Justin: Exactly. That’s another area where 495 Movers offers a lot of value.

Any moving company that offers disassembly and reassembly is giving you an additional layer of protection because items can be more securely packed and transported when they’re properly taken apart.

Andrea: The big thing that jumps out to me is attention to detail.

Companies with attention to detail are always going to stand out, but that can be difficult to determine over the phone.

One way to see it is to have someone come into your home for an in-home estimate.

When I’m doing an estimate, I’m looking at everything: every cupboard, cabinet, closet, shed, crawl space, and storage area.

People will often say, “I didn’t even think about that.”

If you’re in an apartment building, I’m asking whether you have additional storage somewhere in the building.

Those little details show that the mover actually cares about getting an accurate picture of your move.

If a company doesn’t ask about storage, additional packing, or other areas of the home, that’s an opportunity for the mover to come back later and charge you more.

Understand How Your Price Can Change

Andrea: Another thing to ask is how your price changes if your inventory changes.

Let’s say you’re moving from the DMV to Florida and the mover charges you a dollar per pound for 7,000 pounds.

If your inventory increases to 8,000 pounds, some companies may charge a higher rate on that additional weight.

But what happens if your inventory goes down?

Let’s say you declutter and your move drops from 7,000 pounds to 5,000 pounds. Are you getting the same rate per pound back?

That’s an important question.

If it’s $1 per pound when the weight goes up, it should be $1 per pound when the weight goes down.

If the mover charges $1.50 per pound when you go over but only gives you a 50-cent credit when you come in under, that’s something you should ask about.

These are the kinds of questions that can help you identify red flags before the move happens.

Make Sure You Have Someone to Contact

Justin: Another thing that makes a move great is having someone you can actually reach during the process.

Andrea: Absolutely.

You want someone who can debrief you before the move and answer questions like:

“How should I pack this?”

“Where should I start?”

“What should I expect on moving day?”

You also want someone checking in on you during the move.

If you’re working with a broker and they hire another company to actually complete the move, what happens when something goes wrong? Who do you call?

You should be able to get in touch with someone at the company you’ve hired.

At 495 Movers, we have proactive quality control.

After you book, customer service calls to review the paperwork and make sure you understand what you’ve purchased.

Then we have a pre-move check-in to get updates on inventory and identify any details that may have changed.

We also want to know about anything specific in the home that the moving crew should be aware of.

The day-of-move call is especially important because we want to make sure what we sold the customer is what we’re delivering.

A lot of people can experience sticker shock when a mover walks in and immediately starts saying, “This is going to cost more. This isn’t on the inventory.”

That conversation can happen very quickly with a bad mover.

A proactive company addresses those issues before anything gets loaded onto the truck.

That’s a completely different experience than loading the entire truck and then trying to solve problems afterward.

Ask About the Truck

Justin: Let’s talk about trucks. What should people be asking about there?

Andrea: First, ask how many trucks the company owns or operates.

Then ask whether the trucks are actually theirs or whether they’re renting them.

If you’re dealing with a company that has a large fleet, that’s a good sign that they’re an established operation.

You can also ask about the age and condition of the trucks.

If you’re moving across the country, you want to know that the truck is reliable enough to make the trip.

You can also ask what happens if a truck breaks down.

What’s the company’s backup plan?

That’s another good question because you don’t want to be sitting in the middle of your move wondering what’s happening with your belongings.

Ask How Your Belongings Are Transported

Andrea: For long-distance moves, you also want to understand whether your belongings are staying on the same truck.

If you’re moving from Washington, D.C., to Chicago, for example, you don’t want your belongings unloaded in New Mexico, placed in storage, and then reloaded onto another truck without your knowledge.

There are legitimate situations where your belongings may need to be unloaded, such as putting them into storage for a month.

But you want to understand the process.

Ask the mover: “Will my belongings stay on the truck the entire time?”

And if they don’t, ask exactly where they will go and why.

You can also ask whether the company has a way to track your belongings.

Some customers choose to put a tracking device in a box or two themselves. The point isn’t to catch the mover doing something wrong. It’s simply another way to make sure you know where your belongings are.

You also want to understand how your belongings are kept separate if the truck contains multiple customers’ shipments.

Ask: “How do you keep my belongings separate from someone else’s?”

At 495 Movers, we use partition bars, cargo nets, and boards to separate inventory. We also label the sections and leave space between shipments.

You want a moving company to be able to clearly explain its process.

If the answer is simply, “We load everything onto the truck,” that’s not enough.

What If Your Quote Says “Non-Binding”?

Justin: We have another Reddit question about quotes.

Someone is moving a one-bedroom apartment down the East Coast. One company gave them an estimate of $5,000 based on weight. They said they’re selling some items, so the weight will go down, but the company told them the price wouldn’t change because they were being charged a minimum out-of-state cost.

The estimate says “non-binding,” and they haven’t signed anything or locked in a date.

They asked whether that sounds normal.

Andrea: It can be normal for a small move.

If a mover has a minimum charge and your inventory falls below that minimum, you’re still going to pay the minimum.

For example, let’s say a mover has an 1,800-pound minimum and your actual inventory is only 1,000 pounds.

You’re going to pay based on the minimum because the mover still has operating and logistical costs.

What I would ask for is written clarification.

Have the mover explain exactly what the minimum means and what would cause the price to increase.

If you’re well below the minimum, there may be a very low likelihood that you’ll exceed it.

But if you add a sofa or other significant items, the cost could change.

The problem comes when the language on the estimate is unclear or conflicting.

If you have questions about the quote, get the answer in writing.

Get Everything in Writing

Justin: That’s an important point. If someone tells you something over the phone, make sure it’s also reflected on the quote.

Andrea: Exactly.

I’ve seen people try to have us match a price from something someone typed up in Microsoft Word.

There’s nothing wrong with small businesses, but you need to understand that a casual quote on a piece of paper isn’t necessarily the same thing as a formal moving estimate and contract.

If you’re moving across the country, relocating to a new state, or moving an entire home, you want a professional process.

How to Compare Moving Quotes

Justin: We have one more Reddit question:

“How do I get accurate company quotes? I’m planning to move across the state next month and I’ve never really had to deal with moving companies before. I keep hearing horror stories about hidden fees and overcharging, so I want to make sure I get honest moving company quotes. I’ve called a few places, but they all have different prices and I’m not sure who to trust. What questions should I ask to make sure the quote is detailed and fair?”

Andrea: First and foremost, get an in-home estimate whenever possible.

You’ll be able to ask more questions in person, and you’ll get a better sense of how the company operates.

You also want a company that can actually explain its services.

Don’t just settle for, “Go read our reviews.”

Ask them to explain how the move works. Ask what happens on moving day. Ask about packing, protection, disassembly, reassembly, insurance, and anything else that’s important to you.

When you have multiple quotes, compare them carefully.

For example, if one company has an $800 packing charge and another has a $200 packing charge, don’t automatically assume the $200 quote is better.

Ask why they’re different.

Maybe one company is providing 60 boxes while another is providing 40. Maybe one includes labor and materials while another doesn’t.

Then compare that against a company like 495 Movers, where those materials are included.

The cheapest number isn’t always the best value.

You can also use tools like ChatGPT or other AI tools to help you compare estimates.

You can upload your quotes and ask the tool to identify differences, potential additional charges, unclear language, and questions you should ask the movers.

It can give you a blueprint for what to look at.

But don’t treat choosing a mover like a quick shopping trip.

This is a project that can take several days. You need to get companies into your home, compare estimates, ask questions, and understand what you’re actually purchasing.

Pay attention to how the company talks about its employees, too.

If someone constantly blames other people or talks negatively about their own movers, that’s worth noticing.

You want to work with a company where people hold each other accountable and speak well about the team.

Those little details can tell you a lot about how the company operates.

How Much Should You Tip Movers?

Justin: One question I get all the time is how much you’re supposed to tip movers.

Andrea: That’s a good one.

Moving is hard physical work. You’re carrying heavy furniture up and down stairs, through hallways, into homes, and everything needs to be handled carefully.

A general rule of thumb is around 10% of the move cost, divided among the movers.

But if you have a $10,000 move, a $1,000 tip may not fit your budget. That’s okay.

Even $25 per mover can be a thoughtful gesture.

The important thing is to tip within your means and in a way that feels meaningful to you.

Justin: And you should never feel pressured into tipping more than you’re comfortable with.

Andrea: Exactly.

Some customers provide food and drinks for the crew. That’s perfectly fine, too.

The movers are working hard, and taking care of them with water, lunch, or snacks is always appreciated.

At the end of the day, the goal is to make sure the people who took care of your belongings know that you appreciate their work.

Final Thoughts

Justin: I think that’s everything we had today.

Andrea: Sounds good to me.

Justin: We can’t wait until next time. We’ll be back every month with more moving tips and a little peek behind the curtain into the moving industry.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube, and don’t forget to listen to Moving Unboxed every month.

Thanks for joining us!