Moving services: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What moving services is

A full-service household move has a crew pack, load, transport, unload and unpack your belongings, with protective materials for furniture and boxes along the way. People book it for a home move across town or across a larger distance when they do not want to do the heavy lifting themselves.

Signs you need it

  • The move involves more furniture and boxes than a few people and a rented van can handle in one trip
  • You have a move date that is fixed and you cannot spend days packing and loading yourself
  • Your home has stairs, tight hallways or a second story that make hand carrying slow and risky
  • You have valuable or fragile pieces, such as glass tables or antiques, that need careful padding
  • Your work or family schedule leaves no time to coordinate a truck, helpers and an unloading plan

What the pro does

  • Walk the home and the destination with you to plan the truck size, the crew size and the parking or permit needs
  • Wrap furniture in moving blankets, protect corners and doorways, and box and label belongings
  • Disassemble beds, tables and shelving that need it, and bag and tag hardware for reassembly
  • Load the truck in a planned order so heavy items sit low and the most-needed boxes come off first
  • Transport the load and unload at the destination, placing furniture in the rooms you choose
  • Check the inventory against the list, note any damage on a report, and reassemble items if agreed

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Distance between the two addresses and the route the truck must take
  • Size of the home and the number of rooms, boxes and large furniture pieces
  • Number of crew members and the time needed for loading and unloading
  • Stairs, elevator access, parking distance and any permit needed to park the truck
  • Packing services, such as full packing of the kitchen and the wardrobe boxes
  • Specialty items such as pianos, safes, large appliances or exercise equipment

What a written quote should spell out

  • The truck size, the crew size and the estimated time on site at each address
  • How the move is priced, whether by time, by weight or by a flat fee, and what can change it
  • The packing and unpacking services included and the packing materials supplied
  • Valuation and liability coverage, with the amount of coverage and the claim process spelled out
  • The pickup and delivery windows and what happens if a delay occurs on either end

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Is the company registered and insured for moving household goods, and can I see the paperwork
  • How is the move priced, and what can make the final amount change on moving day
  • What valuation coverage is included, and what does it not cover
  • Who is on the crew, and are they employees or subcontractors
  • How do you handle stairs, tight access and parking for the truck at each address
  • What is your process for a damage claim, and how long does it take to resolve

Red flags

  • A quote given by phone with no in-home or video walkthrough of the belongings
  • A company that asks for a large cash deposit before any written contract
  • No registration number or insurance paperwork when you ask for it
  • A contract that does not state the valuation coverage or the claim process

What you can do yourself

You can pack clothes, books and kitchen items, label the boxes by room and clear the rooms of small items before the crew arrives. Call a professional for large furniture, stairs, heavy appliances and any item that needs disassembly or a truck with a lift.

Licenses and permits

Moving companies that carry household goods are commonly required to be registered and insured. Interstate moves are commonly subject to federal registration as well, so check with your state or local licensing agency and the transport authority that covers interstate carriers before you book.

Moving services questions

Should I be home during the move?

It helps. Someone who knows the home can answer questions about where items go and can check the inventory as it is unloaded. You can leave once the walkthrough and the inventory are agreed.

What does valuation coverage mean?

It is the amount the company is liable for if an item is lost or damaged. Basic coverage is often much lower than the value of the goods, so ask what is included and consider extra coverage for high-value items.

Can I pack my own boxes?

Yes, but ask the company which items they will not transport if they are packed by you, and whether they will repack anything they consider unsafe.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

Edit history

How it works

  1. 1. Describe the job

    Pick the service, add your ZIP and a sentence about what is going on.

  2. 2. Pick the pros you want

    See screened pros who serve your ZIP and choose who you want to hear from.

  3. 3. They reach out

    They contact you the way you chose: phone, email or in-app messages.

More moving and junk removal guides

Find a pro near you

Find a pro

About this guide

Request moving services