I’ve spent years in the moving industry, and I help run Call The Movers—a licensed moving company, not a broker. I wrote this guide because I know exactly how movers should be judged, and I’d rather hand you the checklist than watch you guess. Ask these 11 questions of every company you’re considering—including us.
Moving is one of the most stressful events in a person’s life. Unfortunately, it is also one of the industries where consumers are most vulnerable to unexpected costs, poor service, and outright scams. Most people focus on one thing when comparing movers:
Price.
That’s a mistake.
The biggest risk in the moving industry isn’t paying a few hundred dollars too much. The real risks are:
- Damaged furniture and belongings
- Hidden fees and surprise charges
- Delayed deliveries
- Lost or missing items
- Poor communication
- Moving brokers selling your move to another company
- Unlicensed or underinsured movers
- Claims that become impossible to resolve
According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), movers generate roughly 13,000 complaints and negative reviews each year, with hidden fees, delivery delays, and damaged goods among the most common issues reported. In 2024 alone, consumers made more than 100,000 inquiries about movers on BBB.org, and those who fell victim to moving scams reported a median loss of $754. Interstate moves are regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, which can fine fraudulent movers and brokers, revoke their operating authority, and support enforcement actions against them.
The reality is simple:
The cheapest mover is rarely the safest mover.
Instead of focusing only on price, consumers should evaluate moving companies based on reputation, transparency, licensing, communication, and complaint history.
Why I Trust Google Reviews, BBB, and Angi More Than Company Websites
Every moving company claims to provide excellent service. Every moving company claims to care about customers. Very few openly discuss complaints, damaged items, billing disputes, or claims. That’s why I primarily rely on three independent review sources:
Google Reviews
Google usually provides the largest sample size. A company with hundreds or thousands of reviews leaves a much larger trail of customer experiences than a company with only a handful of testimonials on its website.
But I don’t start with the 5-star reviews.
I start with:
- 1-star reviews
- 2-star reviews
I’m looking for recurring patterns such as:
- Damaged furniture
- Hidden fees
- Late arrivals
- Missing items
- Poor communication
- Delivery delays
One negative review means very little. Ten customers describing the exact same issue usually means there is a systemic problem.
Better Business Bureau (BBB)
Google shows what customers think.
BBB shows how a company responds when things go wrong.
When reviewing a moving company’s BBB profile, I look at:
- Accreditation status
- Business rating
- Number of complaints
- Types of complaints
- Whether complaints were resolved
A company doesn’t need to be perfect. But it should demonstrate professionalism when resolving customer disputes.
Angi
Angi provides another layer of verification because many reviews come from customers who actually hired the company through the platform.
I use Angi to evaluate:
- Professionalism
- Punctuality
- Service quality
- Communication
- Consistency
The best movers tend to perform well across Google, BBB, and Angi—not just one platform.
The 11 Questions Every Homeowner Should Ask Before Hiring Movers
1. Are You an Actual Moving Company or a Broker?
This is the most important question you can ask. The answer you want to hear:
“We are the actual carrier.”
Many moving complaints originate from brokers who sell the move to a third-party company that the customer never researched or approved. If you’re not hiring the company that will actually perform the move, your risk increases significantly.
At Call The Movers, the answer is simple: we are the actual carrier. We perform your move with our own crews and trucks—your belongings are never sold off to a third party.
2. Are You Properly Licensed and Insured?
Ask for:
- USDOT Number
- MC Number (required for interstate moves; in-state moves are regulated by your state, not the FMCSA)
- State Household Goods Mover License and Bond (required in the state where the company is based)
- Certificate of Insurance
Any legitimate moving company should be able to provide this information immediately. If they hesitate or avoid the question, consider it a warning sign.
3. Do You Offer an In-Home or Video Estimate?
Be cautious when a company provides a quote after only a brief phone conversation.
Professional movers typically offer a free estimate and will:
- Visit your home in person, or
- Conduct a detailed video walkthrough
The more accurate the inventory assessment, the less likely you are to experience surprise charges later.
4. Is This a Binding Estimate?
This is the most important question you can ask. The answer you want to hear:
“We are the actual carrier.”
Many moving complaints originate from brokers who sell the move to a third-party company that the customer never researched or approved. If you’re not hiring the company that will actually perform the move, your risk increases significantly.
At Call The Movers, the answer is simple: we are the actual carrier. We perform your move with our own crews and trucks—your belongings are never sold off to a third party.
5. Is Your Estimate Fully Itemized?
One of the biggest red flags in the moving industry is receiving a quote that simply says:
“Total Cost: $3,500”
Without explaining how that number was calculated.
A professional estimate should clearly break down:
- Labor costs
- Transportation charges
- Packing services
- Packing materials
- Stair fees
- Long-carry fees
- Heavy-item fees
- Storage charges
- Fuel surcharges
- Valuation coverage
- Additional services
You should never have to guess what is included. The more detailed the estimate, the lower the risk of billing disputes on moving day.
When comparing moving companies, compare far more than the final price. Compare what is actually included.
Just as important, compare apples to apples—not apples to pears. Make sure every estimate covers the same scope and is priced the same way before you compare totals. For a local move, for example, check the hourly rate per mover (the per-man, per-hour rate), how many movers are included, and the estimated number of hours. Two quotes can look very different simply because one assumes a smaller crew or fewer hours—not because it is actually a better deal.
6. Will My Belongings Stay on One Truck?
Ask:
“Will my belongings remain on the same truck throughout the move?”
The ideal answer is:
- One truck
- One crew
- Minimal handling
Every transfer increases the possibility of:
- Damage
- Loss
- Delays
- Miscommunication
Fewer touchpoints usually mean fewer problems.
7. What Happens If Something Gets Damaged?
Ask:
“What is your claims and damage process?”
A professional company should immediately explain:
- Valuation coverage options
- Claims procedures
- Filing deadlines
- Resolution timelines
Most importantly, do a final walkthrough and inspection once everything is unloaded, so any damage or missing items are documented before the truck leaves. You should understand exactly what happens before a problem occurs—not after.
8. How Many BBB Complaints Have You Had in the Last Three Years?
Most consumers never ask this question.
You should.
Then compare the answer to the company’s BBB profile.
Pay attention not only to the number of complaints, but also to the types of complaints and how they were resolved. A company’s response to problems often reveals more than its marketing materials.
9. Who Will Be My Point of Contact?
Ask:
“Who will be my primary point of contact throughout the move?”
You should receive:
- One dedicated contact person
- One phone number
- One email address
Poor communication is one of the most common themes found in negative moving reviews. Great movers usually have great communication systems.
10. How Long Have You Been Operating in This Market?
Experience matters.
While newer companies can certainly provide excellent service, I generally place greater trust in movers that:
- Have operated for 10+ years
- Maintain a physical office
- Have an established reputation in the local market
Longevity alone doesn’t guarantee quality. But it often reduces risk.
11. Why Should I Hire You Instead of Your Competitors?
This is my favorite question.
Ask:
“Why should I choose your company over other movers?”
The best companies talk about:
- Service quality
- Employee professionalism
- Communication
- Claims resolution
- Customer experiences
- Operational processes
Weak companies usually focus only on price. If the only advantage they can articulate is being cheaper, that’s usually not a strong competitive advantage.
How to Make a Moving Company Shortlist (and Use AI Wisely)
If I were hiring movers today, I would create a shortlist of five companies and ask every company the exact same questions—including Call The Movers.
Start where real customers leave real feedback: Google, the BBB, and Angi. Pull together five local movers that look credible and have a meaningful track record of reviews—not just a polished website.
You can use AI tools to speed up that first search, but treat their suggestions with caution. AI analysis tends to be surface-level. It usually surfaces the biggest, most advertised, or most well-known companies—not necessarily the best mover for your specific move.
If you do use AI, spell out the criteria that actually matter in your prompt: your location (for example, the DMV area or Fairfax County), a BBB-accredited company, the best reviews and BBB ratings, the fewest complaints (ideally none at all), and not necessarily the largest company. That keeps the results closer to “best for my move” than “most famous name.”
So don’t outsource the judgment. Read the reviews yourself, especially the 1- and 2-star ones, look for recurring complaint patterns, confirm licensing and insurance, and run all 11 questions above on every company on your list. You’re looking for the best mover for you—not the most famous name.
My Moving Company Evaluation Formula
I would request:
- A binding, not-to-exceed, or flat-rate estimate
- A fully itemized estimate
- A competitive, market-based rate
- Proof of insurance
- Licensing information
- References
Then I would evaluate them using the following framework:
| Criteria | Weight |
| Review Quality (Google, BBB, Angi) | 30% |
| Complaint History | 20% |
| Estimate Transparency | 20% |
| Licensing & Insurance | 15% |
| Communication | 10% |
| Price | 5% |
Notice that price is only 5%.
That’s intentional. Most moving disasters don’t happen because a company was expensive. They happen because consumers ignored warning signs in reviews, complaints, communication, or estimate transparency.
Final Thoughts
The goal is not to find the cheapest moving company. The goal is to find a reliable company with fair pricing—the company least likely to:
- Damage your belongings
- Surprise you with additional charges
- Lose your items
- Miss delivery deadlines
- Create problems that are difficult to resolve
A great moving company provides more than transportation. It provides peace of mind. And that’s worth far more than saving a few hundred dollars on a quote. Keep in mind, too, that a quote is not the same as your final price—people often confuse the two. A quote is only an estimate of what the move may cost; only a binding or not-to-exceed estimate locks in what you’ll actually pay.
Here’s my challenge to you: take these 11 questions and ask them of every mover on your shortlist—including Call The Movers.
We’re fully licensed and insured, BBB-accredited, and among the highest-rated movers on Google, BBB, and Angi. We want to win your trust through quality and honesty—every criterion behind those 11 questions. But we also know price matters just as much to you, so we always quote a competitive, honest rate with no hidden fees, no moving-day surprises, and no upfront payment. You pay only after your move is complete and you’ve received our service. That’s our guarantee of quality.
When you’re ready, request a free in-home or video estimate from Call The Movers. You’ll get a binding, fully itemized estimate, proof of licensing and insurance, and one dedicated point of contact from your first call through final delivery.
Get your free estimate today at callthemovers.com or call us at 703-577-9227.
Rasa Naujale
Co-Founder, Call The Movers
CALL THE MOVERS – WE KNOW THE WAY