Booking a moving company is a significant decision. Your belongings are being entrusted to people you have likely never met, on a timeline that often has very little flexibility. The questions you ask before signing a contract determine whether moving day goes smoothly or becomes the most stressful day of your year.

Here are the questions that matter most, and what the answers should tell you.

Are you licensed and insured?

This is the first question, not the fifth. Every legitimate moving company operating within a state should carry proper business licensing and liability insurance. For moves that cross state lines, federal law requires movers to hold a USDOT number issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

Ask for the USDOT number and verify it at the FMCSA website before you commit. An interstate mover that cannot provide a USDOT number is not legally authorized to carry your belongings across state lines.

Is your estimate binding or non-binding?

A binding estimate means the quoted price is the price you pay, provided the inventory does not change significantly. A non-binding estimate can change based on actual weight or time, sometimes significantly.

A not-to-exceed estimate is the most consumer-friendly option: it caps your cost at the quoted amount while allowing the final price to come in lower if the move is faster or lighter than estimated. Ask specifically which type of estimate you are receiving and get it in writing before moving day.

Who actually performs the move?

Some moving companies are brokers. They take your booking and sell the job to a third-party carrier you did not agree to hire. Brokers are not necessarily illegal, but if you are not aware that your move has been handed off, you lose visibility into who is handling your belongings and under what standards.

Ask directly: will the crew that shows up on moving day be your employees? If the answer is no or vague, ask who will be performing the move and request information about that company’s licensing and insurance separately.

What does your valuation coverage include?

Basic valuation coverage, which is included in every move by law, reimburses based on weight rather than value. For a 50-pound television damaged during a move, basic coverage at $0.30 per pound pays $15. That is not useful protection for most people.

Ask what valuation options are available beyond the basic coverage and what the cost is to upgrade. For high-value items, also ask about separate moving insurance from a third-party provider, which operates differently from valuation coverage and may offer more meaningful protection.

How do you handle damage claims?

Ask before the move, not after. What is the process for filing a claim? What documentation is required? How long does the resolution typically take? What is the company’s track record on claims?

A company that is vague about its claims process or that makes you feel like claims are unusual is showing you something about how it operates. An experienced, reputable mover handles damage claims as a standard part of doing business and can explain the process clearly.

Do you offer storage if my timeline shifts?

Moving timelines change. Closings get delayed. New homes need work before they are livable. If there is a gap between your move-out and move-in dates, you need somewhere safe for your belongings.

Ask whether the company offers storage and under what conditions. Ask whether it is climate-controlled, which is especially important for wood furniture, electronics, and other heat-sensitive items in Arizona. Ask whether storage is included or at an additional cost and for how long.

What is your cancellation and rescheduling policy?

Life changes. Ask what happens if you need to reschedule your move and how much notice is required to avoid fees. Ask what happens if the moving company needs to reschedule and how that is handled.

What should I do to prepare for moving day?

A good moving company will give you a clear, specific answer to this question. They will tell you what to pack yourself, what they will pack, how to label boxes, how to prepare large furniture, and what needs to be done before the crew arrives. If the answer is vague or generic, that reflects on how the company approaches its work.

If packing services are available and you are considering adding them, ask how the packing crew is scheduled relative to the moving crew, what materials are included, and how boxes are labeled and tracked.

One More Thing

After you have asked all of these questions, pay attention to how they were answered. Were the answers clear, direct, and consistent? Did the person you spoke with know their product and policies without hesitation? Did you feel like you were being sold to or informed?

The quality of a company’s communication before you book is usually a reliable preview of how they communicate when something unexpected happens on moving day.