FAQ
Moving questions, answered
Short answers to the moving questions homeowners ask most, grouped by what you are deciding. Where there is no honest single number, we say so instead of inventing one.
Answer two questions first. Does my move cross a state line? That decides who regulates the company, whether you are priced by the hour or by weight, and what protections you have.
Is this company the carrier, or is it brokering the job to someone else? Those two answers reframe most of the questions below.
Using HyreMover
What happens after I submit a moving inquiry?
We read the move type, the zip code and your notes, then follow up. Company matching is still being built, so this is not an instant dispatch line. Where we can, we connect you with moving companies that serve your area. Your details are not sold, and no mover receives them unless you agree.
Read more: How HyreMover works
Is there a charge to request moving quotes?
No. Submitting the form is free and does not commit you to a moving company, a date or a valuation option. You decide whether to talk to anyone and whether to book.
Read more: Our lead quality standard
What a move costs
How much do movers cost?
It depends on the move. Local moves are usually priced by the hour for the crew; long-distance moves by weight and distance. Access, packing, specialty items, the date and the valuation you choose move the price. Estimates are only comparable if they used the same inventory and access notes.
Read more: What a move actually costs
How far in advance should I book movers?
As early as you can confirm dates, and earlier for summer, month-end and the first of the month — the busiest windows in the industry. Booking early also buys you time to get proper surveys and compare estimates rather than taking whoever is available.
Read more: The moving checklist
Can I reduce the cost of my move?
Yes, mostly by moving less and choosing when. Decluttering cuts volume, the base of the price. Mid-month and mid-week dates cost less than month-end and weekends. Packing yourself saves money if you accept the liability trade-off, and being ready when an hourly crew arrives saves hours.
Read more: Moving cost calculator
Estimates and paperwork
What is the difference between a binding and non-binding estimate?
A non-binding estimate can go up, because the final charge follows actual weight and services. A binding estimate is a fixed price for the listed inventory and services. A binding not-to-exceed estimate means you pay the lower of the estimate or the actual cost, so ask for it by name.
Read more: The three types of moving estimate
When will my long-distance shipment arrive?
Long-distance shipments are given a delivery window rather than a date, because loads are often consolidated. Get the window in writing on the bill of lading and plan the other end around the late edge of it, not the early one.
Read more: Long-distance moving
Liability, packing and damage
Are my belongings insured during the move?
Not by insurance. On an interstate move the carrier is liable under full value protection unless you waive it in writing for released value, which pays 60 cents a pound per article. Neither is insurance. Check your homeowners or renters policy, then decide.
Read more: Moving valuation and liability
Do movers pack your belongings?
Yes, if you pay for it: full pack, partial pack, or you pack everything yourself. Packing and materials are priced separately. Damage inside a box you packed is treated differently from damage to a box the carrier packed, so for fragile items the packing choice is also a liability choice.
Read more: Packing services
What should I do if something is damaged?
Note it on the inventory or delivery paperwork before you sign, photograph it, and file a claim within the time limit — which is stated in your paperwork and is not generous. Claims are far easier when you photographed condition before loading, which takes very little time on the day.
Read more: How a moving damage claim works
Hiring a mover
What is the difference between a carrier and a broker?
A carrier owns trucks and does the work. A broker sells the move and arranges for a carrier to perform it. Both are legitimate, but you should know which you are dealing with, because the company you booked may not be the company that arrives. Ask directly, and check the registration.
Read more: Choosing a moving company
How do I check a moving company is legitimate?
For interstate moves, look up its USDOT number and confirm it matches the company name and address in federal records. Insist on an in-home or video survey, refuse large up-front cash deposits, and get the estimate type in writing. Those four steps eliminate most of the risk in this category.
Read more: USDOT lookup steps
Where is the answer to what I am working out?
- Interstate moving: whether federal rules protect me
- What a move actually costs: why my two quotes are so far apart
- The three estimate types: whether this estimate is firm, and the 110 percent rule
- Valuation and liability: what I get paid if something breaks
- USDOT lookup steps: whether this company is real
- Storage: what to do about a gap between homes
- Moving scam warning signs: when something about this feels wrong
- Nine moving calculators: free, no email, built on your numbers
Still not sure what to do next?
Tell us about the move and where you are, and a person will read it. Matching is still being built, so this is not an instant quote. Or work through the free moving tools, none of which needs an email.