The Moving Planner Blog

It is amazing how many people book movers and don’t ask them any questions. Is it that they are nervous to ask them, or that they are so excited and/or stressed about the day that they simply forget. Of course, it could also be that they want to ask questions, but they don’t know where to begin. Well, if any of these scenarios sound like you, it is important that you do ask questions, even those ones that may make them squirm a little.

This is a huge day for you. It does not matter if you are making a short move to the other side of the city, or relocating to another state, the movers you hire will impact your day either positively or negatively.

What type of insurance do you have, and are my items covered?

Insurance can be a very tricky topic. Not only does the moving company need to be licensed and insurance, you need to know that your belongings are also covered. Some movers may try to sell you additional coverage that you don’t need while others won’t have enough coverage that you do need. Ask about declared value, lump sum value and full value protection.

What is the breakage-to-move ratio for your drivers?

If they can’t give you a figure, there is a problem. It is highly unlikely that any company would have zero breakage unless they were brand new. They should be keeping track of breakage so they can work on improving to reduce the risk of future breakage.

How do you determine how much my shipment weighs?

Not all companies charge by weight, but some do, especially for large or long-distance moves. You should know how they are coming up with the weight of your shipment. If they are going by a standard two bedroom house, but you are not moving any appliances, and you sold your bedroom set to buy a new one, there is a good chance that you are being overcharged.

What does your company consider to be extra services, and what are their charges?

Some moving companies charge if they need to carry your belongings more than a certain distance, or if they have to use a service elevator. Some charge recycling fees, if they unpack your belongings and need to dispose of boxes, and almost all charge a fuel fee, but this should be agreed upon ahead of time.

Other Helpful Questions

Although the above list of questions are some of the most important, there are others it never hurts to ask, such as:

• Do you have references you can give me to check?
• If I have any complaints or disputes, who will handle them?
• What supplies are included in the price?
• Are pickup and delivery dates guaranteed?
• What is your cancellation policy?
• Is there a travel time charge from your business to my house?
• Do your employees receive any incentives to encourage them to do a good job?
• What is double driving time?
• What is the hiring process for your company?
• Do your employees go through any training?