Count the shipment before movers price the job

Walk the home in the same order a mover would

Start at one entrance and move room by room, including the garage, attic, basement, balcony, shed, and storage unit. List furniture pieces and estimate box counts by size. Take photos for your own reference, but do not include account numbers, IDs, or other sensitive papers.

Mark items that need disassembly, crating, appliance preparation, or special handling. Pianos, safes, exercise equipment, large mirrors, artwork, aquariums, motorcycles, and oversized furniture can change the crew, equipment, or price.

Describe access at both addresses

Tell movers about flights of stairs, elevator reservations, long carries, narrow halls, low clearances, parking restrictions, loading docks, and building move-in rules. A truck that cannot park near the door changes the work even when the inventory stays the same.

For apartments and managed buildings, ask about certificates of insurance, protected elevator times, deposits, and allowed moving hours before requesting the final quote.

Give every mover the same service list

Separate what you will do from what you want the mover to do. Then use the same list for each quote.

• Packing and unpacking by room.
• Boxes and packing materials.
• Furniture disassembly and reassembly.
• Appliance disconnect or reconnect where offered and allowed.
• Temporary storage or overnight holding.
• Debris, unwanted furniture, or packing-material removal.
• Vehicle transport or third-party specialty services.
• Valuation or liability coverage options.

Update the inventory before move day

If you add a room of boxes, buy furniture, change dates, or lose elevator access, send the update before move day and ask whether the written estimate changes. A good comparison depends on every company pricing the current version of the move, not the version you described weeks ago.

Understand how the mover built the estimate

Local moves are often priced from time, crew size, truck, travel, materials, and added services. Interstate estimates may use shipment weight or another permitted method, mileage, services, and access charges. Ask what unit drives the price and what can change it. A low hourly rate with a smaller crew or extra travel charge may not produce the lowest final bill.

For an interstate move, review whether the estimate is binding, non-binding, or binding-not-to-exceed and what each term means in the mover's written documents. Federal rules and required consumer information apply to many interstate household-goods moves. The FMCSA Protect Your Move site explains registration, estimates, paperwork, and complaint resources.

The forgotten-item sweep

Do a second pass for items that are easy to overlook because they are outside the main rooms or will be used until the last day.

• Patio furniture, grills, planters, hoses, ladders, and outdoor storage.
• Garage shelving, tools, spare tires, bicycles, and sports equipment.
• Attic, crawlspace, basement, and under-stair storage.
• Wall-mounted televisions, mirrors, art, curtain rods, and shelving.
• Food, pantry items, wine, cleaning supplies, and items movers cannot transport.
• Office files, safes, printers, standing desks, and monitor arms.
• Cribs, adjustable beds, gym machines, pianos, aquariums, and oversized furniture.
• A storage unit, items at another address, or deliveries that will arrive before the move.

Compare more than the total

Put the inventory date, estimated volume or weight, crew, trucks, hours, travel, packing, materials, access charges, storage, valuation option, cancellation terms, and total into one table. Mark any service included by one mover and omitted by another. Ask for a revised written estimate when a difference is important.

Check the mover's identity, registration, complaint information, and written documents through the appropriate authority. For interstate moves, FMCSA provides a registration search and consumer resources. Be cautious if the company refuses an in-person or virtual survey for a complicated shipment, demands a large cash deposit, gives a blank document, or will not identify the carrier that will transport the goods.

A practical seven-day update plan

About a week before the move, recount boxes, confirm large items, photograph the condition of valuable furniture, verify elevator and parking arrangements, and send changes to the mover. Confirm arrival window, contact number, payment method, documents, and what you must keep with you.

Carry identification, medication, keys, chargers, critical papers, valuables, basic clothing, and anything needed on arrival. Do not place these in the moving truck. Keep the written estimate and mover contact details accessible rather than sealed in a box.