Questions to Ask Before Hiring Help for Your Long Distance Move

Today, with the help of moving companies like A Plus Moving & Storage, it has become somewhat effortless to move around.

However, the outcome of your move mostly depends on whether or not you do your due diligence, which involves asking the moving company of your choice the right questions. 

Don’t worry, we have compiled a comprehensive list of the questions you should ask before hiring help for long-distance moves. 

Before committing to any professional moving company, ask the following questions. 

1. Is Your Company Licensed? 

Reason to inquire:

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, a moving company being registered does not necessarily mean it is authorized to handle a move. Therefore, any professional company providing interstate moving services should be licensed according to the legislation of the states in which they operate. 

Normally, the FMCSA is in charge of registering interstate moving companies. If the company is fully licensed, the customer representative should answer the question upfront and affirmatively without going in circles. 

Also, they should proceed to provide you with the company’s USDOT number, which you can use to look up the company’s database using an online search tool to confirm if they are registered and authorized to handle moves.

Here is a list of the information you should review when searching the company’s database:

• Registration status

• Company’s safety information

• Any complaint information

• The company’s contact details

• The type of moving business

• Location of the company’s HQ

2. What Type of Insurance Does Your Company Provide?

Reason to inquire:

Typically, professional long-distance moving companies provide insurance coverage for your items, such as basic liability coverage, released value protection or full-value protection. In the case your goods get damaged or go missing the company should be able to compensate you. 

If the company at hand does not offer any type of insurance coverage, consider that as a red flag and look for another company offering insurance coverage. Also, it’s always essential to check out the federal requirements regarding the valuation coverage that interstate movers must provide and then compare it to what the company is offering. This will help you make better choices.

3. What Services Does Your Company Offer?

Reason to inquire:

Every company has a unique list of the services it provides. Therefore, don’t just assume that your chosen company offers all standard moving services. More often than not, you will find that the company does not offer a specific service that is very important to you, making it easier for you to seek another moving company that offers what you need.

Examples of the typical services that most moving companies might offer for long-distance moves include: 

• Storage units

• Custom crating

• Packing and unpacking

• Transportation of goods

• Loading and unloading

• Handling of specialty items like aquariums and pianos

If they don’t provide the service you need, look for another service provider.

4. Does Your Company Guarantee Delivery Dates?

Reason to inquire:

Any type of move needs an estimated delivery window. However, in some cases, you may feel the need to ask for guaranteed delivery dates, which is okay. Please note that some companies will ask you to pay for guaranteed delivery dates since they are not offered on the typical moving services menu. 

If assured delivery dates are a must and the company does not offer them, feel free to enlist the help of a company that does.

5. Does Your Company Offer Binding Quotes?

Reason to inquire:

Some companies may not have binding estimates, meaning they can increase their quotes during the moving day, inconveniencing you. A binding quote or estimate ensures that there are no extra moving costs throughout the move. 

In this case, the quotes given to you during the initial stages remain the same till the date of your move unless your inventory changes or you need additional services that were not accounted for. 

6. What Factors Does Your Company Use to Calculate Moving Prices?

Reason to inquire:

Every company has different moving costs and a way of calculating the final cost. Thus, asking about the cost calculation will help you budget for your move accordingly. According to WorldSupporter, various factors influence the cost of moving. 

Some common factors used to calculate the cost of moving include:

• Fuel charges

• Timing (peak or off-season)

• Per-hour labour rates

• Volume/weight of belongings

• Transportation distance

• Specialty and additional services

7. Does Your Company Have Unexpected Moving Fees?

Reason to inquire:

According to Hire a Helper, 12% more moving scam reports were filed with Better Business Bureau in 2023, with hidden fees being among the reported scams. While most trustworthy companies offer upfront charges, some may have unexpected or hidden costs. 

Therefore, do some digging and check the client reviews to see if there are recurring complaints about hidden fees since the customer support team may not give you a straightforward answer about whether the company has hidden costs or not. 

8. What’s Your Company’s Process for Handling Loss and Damage Claims?

Reason to inquire:

A professional and credible moving company should provide you with comprehensive steps for filing a loss or damage claim and detailed guidelines for how the whole process works. 

If they don’t give you a detailed guide on the proper steps to follow and how the process works, that shows that the company is not accountable and reliable.

9. Do You Offer Additional Services?

Reason to inquire:

Extra services may include post-move cleaning, shipment tracking, furniture disassembly and reassembly, and more. Ask the customer support agent if the company offers additional services that you may need. 

This will help you know what extra services the company is willing to offer before and after the move and whether and how much they charge for each additional service you need. 

Bottom Line

The main reason for enlisting the help of a moving company should be to make your move as seamless, comfortable, and easy as possible. By asking these questions, you can achieve that: a simple, easy, and comfortable move.