Moving FAQs

By hiring a professional moving company, like one of our Preferred Movers, you can save time and the stress of having to worry about getting your items moved into your new home safely, and without loss of items or damage. Your professional moving team takes care of everything from start to finish, quickly and safely.

A moving broker is someone who does not have trucks or movers of their own but instead arranges to book your move, and works with an actual moving company to carry out the job. A moving company has actual moving trucks and movers of their own and will work directly with you throughout the entire process.

You will see that every moving company talks about local moving and long-distance moving. Many people see or hear this and assume that it simply means how long your move is. However, local and long-distance moving can really be broken up into in-state moving and out-of-state moving. A move is local until you cross state lines once you do it becomes a long-distance move.

This will depend on what you want. Any established, full-service moving company will offer both packing and unpacking services. While this will cost a little more money, you will save time while resting assured that your items are taken care of as they are packed by experts with all of the right packing supplies.

Be sure to ask if your moving company’s packing services are tailorable. It is good to have the option of having just some of your belongings packed, such as larger or more difficult to pack items. A reputable moving company works with you.

There are certain items that cannot be moved in moving trucks. Those items include:

• Combustible Liquids (rubbing alcohol, antifreeze, cleaning materials, etc.)
• Corrosive Liquids (Acid, Bleach, etc.)
• Explosives (Fireworks, Ammunition, Dynamite, etc.)
• Flammables (Aerosol Cans, Gasoline, Kerosene, Ammonia, Propane, etc.)
• Food Items (Nothing perishable, subject to freezing, or sold in a bag or box)
• Plants (No live plants or soil)

Any valuable items and important documents should be packed and moved by you personally. These items include:

• Important Documents (Birth Certificates, Social Security Cards, Passports, Mortgage Papers, etc.)
• Laptops and Portable Electronics
• Medications
• Jewelry
• Money

From belts to bubble wrap to dollies, moving blankets, moving boxes, and totes, there’s a lot of packing supplies needed for a safe move. Be sure to start getting these items together early on if you are packing yourself.

First, check to see if your friends and family have any supplies left over from a recent move. After this, check in with your movers. They typically will sell all of the packing supplies you could need at a great price or will include them with your move.

This is coverage for your belongings that financially protects them when lost or damaged. Most moving companies offer different levels of valuation and some offer separate liability coverage. All established movers will offer a level of free valuation, and then you can pay for extra protection. That cost will be based on the weight and value of your items. Speak with your moving representative to learn more about moving valuation, or insurance.

There are three levels of valuation. The basic plan is typically called “Release Rate Liability” and will pay you a certain amount of money per pound which is generally a fraction of what your item’s value is.

You can also get “Full-Value Coverage” which means that, if your belongings are lost or damaged, will be repaired, replaced with like items, or you get a cash settlement.

Lastly, you will be able to mark your items on a “High-Value Inventory” list. All items that are valued at over $100 per pound must be on this list. This can be anything from jewelry to art to antiques and more.

Simply put, a quote is an exact price for a job set by the mover while an estimate is the mover’s best guess as to how much it will cost, subject to change. A quote is set in stone, unless there is a variation to your contract, which would include extra work or a change in the scope of a job. There is no such thing as a binding estimate, your contractor can change the price for a variety of reasons.

No! As virtual options have become more popular, moving companies have followed suit. Any top moving company will allow remote options for your quote survey.

Now, when looking for virtual options, remember how important it is to have a good, thorough walk-through. There are some moving companies who will offer “instant quotes” or quotes over the phone. These should be considered as a “ballpark” estimate to be finished up later. Instead, look for an option over video chat where the moving representative sees your house and the items to be moved via their cell phone.

With how big the moving industry is, it can be pretty difficult to determine who the best moving company is for you. Here are some of the key things to look for when researching a moving company:

• Badges: Look to see if they have any certifications or if they are accredited by the BBB. These will also show you if they have won any awards for top service.
• Experience: You may want to avoid movers that are relatively new. Experience is key to a good move. This could be listed anywhere on the site, but the most surefire location is in their About Us page.
• Reviews: Find online reviews. If a moving company has less than a 4-star average rating on their Google Reviews, there is most likely an issue there.
• Family-Owned and Operated: This is always a big plus. Not only will this help you avoid shady moving companies, but it will also help you avoid ones that are too big to genuinely care about your move.

The only way to know for sure is to do in-depth research. As you narrow down your list, look more and more into these aspects of the company to find the best one for you.

Yes! Your moving company will be happy to take your items to their warehouse storage. To make storing your belongings easy, look for a full-service moving company that provides warehouse storage with climate-control and 24/7 surveillance.

With warehouse storage, your movers will pack up your items, load them up in their truck, store them in their warehouse, then deliver it to your new home when you’re ready. In fact, for those with a full house, storage can be even easier with On-Demand Storage options.

There isn’t a true answer to this. There are distinct seasons, but you have to decide which is best for you.

The first is summer. This is the busiest season. But there’s a reason it’s so busy. For families with kids, this is when school is out and they have more time. For everyone else, this is when the weather is at its best. There also aren’t any major holidays to work around.

While summer is a great time to move, it’s super busy. You’ll have to schedule your move in advance and the price could be higher. Planning for a winter move means a simpler moving process.

All moving companies listed in the Preferred Movers Network can be trusted. They have a proven track record and a history with their local community. For international moves, the best place to start is with a company near you that is an agent for an international van line.

These are companies that work with a vast network of independently-contracted moving companies to facilitate relocations around the globe and hold the necessary licenses for national and international logistics.

Be sure to find out whether the company you contract with has experience preparing the customs paperwork required to facilitate the move. Also, if you are a member of the military, make sure the moving company you choose specializes in military relocations and is a GSA-approved carrier. This means they meet the federal government’s service standards.

These companies often provide comprehensive support for Permanent Change of Station (PCS) moves, including packing, unpacking, storage, and assistance with reimbursement documentation.