1. Does your moving service perform their own work, or do they outsource?
This is important to be aware of because if your moving service does their own work then their own employees will be handling the work. If this is not the case, subcontractors that may not care about the experience you have may be doing the work.

2. Does your moving service have insurance?
Moving services should have insurance to cover broken, damaged, or lost items that they work with, but be sure to double check. As with any service, the consumer must never assume that insurance is provided.

3. What does your moving service’s insurance cover?
Some insurance plans only cover the retail value of the item that was broken, damaged, or lost. If you paid $1,000 for a television 5 years ago, that same television is probably not worth $1,000 anymore. The same model may be able to be purchased in a store for $500. However, since your television was 5 years old, the insurance company could say that they will not insure you for the full $500 it would cost to replace the television because it is used. This could leave you only getting a fraction of the cost of replacement for an item.

4. Have the movers been background checked and drug tested?
The last thing in the world that you want is to have your moving day stress escalate because you cannot find your precious jewelry when you are unpacking. You don’t want to have to question whether or not the moving services are hiring employees that have a criminal record, thereby forcing you to wonder if your jewelry found a new owner.

5. Does the service charge hourly?
Sometimes an hourly rate can assist you in getting the best deal possible, especially if you are able to help with some of the labor. Alternatively, it can also be the worst possible deal if the moving services are hiring unmotivated movers.

6. Does the service offer a flat-rate?
Many moving services will offer a flat-rate service in which they agree to move a certain amount of furniture for a set price, regardless of how long it takes.

7. When are the movers available?
Sometimes it is difficult, if not completely impossible, to locate movers on holiday weekends. This can be especially inconvenient, since this is when many people choose to move.

8. How far in advance do you need to make a reservation?
Some moving services plan several months in advance, whereas others only deal a few weeks or days in advance.

9. Is a deposit required?
Some moving services require that you prepay for your move, while others require a deposit, and some only require payment at the time services are rendered.

10. What happens if my movers call in sick?
Large moving services usually do not have a problem ensuring that a move is taken care of. Smaller companies, however, rely on their staff to show up everyday. Be sure to know if a mover getting sick will force you to reschedule.