How to Choose a Moving Company: 10 Questions to Ask Before Booking

The moving industry is one where the gap between excellent and terrible companies is enormous, and the stakes of choosing wrong are high — your possessions, your money, and your peace of mind. The most important first step is to verify that any moving company you are considering is properly licensed and insured. In Massachusetts, movers operating intrastate must be registered with the Department of Public Utilities. For interstate moves, companies must be registered with the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) and have a valid USDOT number you can look up online. Any company that cannot produce a USDOT number or gives you a vague answer about their insurance coverage should be immediately eliminated from consideration. Legitimate movers are proud of their credentials and share them freely.

Ask for three written quotes — not verbal estimates, written ones — from different companies. Review each carefully for what is included and what is excluded. Key questions for each quote: Is travel time included in the hourly rate? Is there a truck fee, fuel surcharge, or stair fee? Is full-value replacement coverage included in the quote, or only the federally mandated minimum liability coverage (60 cents per pound)? Are there any cancellation or rescheduling fees? Is the quote binding or non-binding? A non-binding estimate can grow dramatically on moving day if additional items or difficulties are encountered. If a quote is suspiciously low compared to others, ask why — low-ball estimates are a common tactic used by fraudulent movers who add fees on delivery day when they have leverage over you.

Online reviews are valuable but need to be read critically. Look at the distribution of reviews — a company with 200 four-to-five star reviews and a handful of resolved negatives is very different from one with 50 perfect-star reviews and nothing else (which can indicate review manipulation). Read the negative reviews carefully: are complaints about genuinely serious issues like damaged goods and billing fraud, or are they about minor communication issues? Look at how the company responds to negative reviews — a professional, solution-oriented response is a good sign. Check reviews on Google, Yelp, and the Better Business Bureau for the most complete picture. The BBB accreditation and rating is not everything, but a pattern of unresolved complaints is a meaningful red flag.

Finally, do not underestimate the value of a phone conversation before booking. Call the company — not just email — and pay attention to how they handle your questions. Do they pressure you to book immediately? Do they have clear, direct answers about pricing and insurance? Do they ask good questions about your move (floor level, number of rooms, parking situation) to give an accurate quote, or do they quote a price without asking anything? A company that takes the time to understand your move is far more likely to show up prepared on moving day. Boston Best Rate Movers offers free phone and online quotes with no pressure — we would rather you ask us hard questions before booking than discover something unexpected on moving day.