Hiring a moving company is one of those things you only do a few times in life. Most people get burned once and then learn. I'd rather you learn from other people's mistakes.
What to Look For
Start with licensing and insurance. For interstate moves, a USDOT number is required — look it up on the FMCSA site. Local moves vary by state, but any legitimate company should carry basic liability and cargo coverage. Also check if they’re a broker or an actual carrier. Brokers just sell your job to the lowest bidder, and you lose control.
Questions to Ask
Ask if they do an in-home estimate or just quote over the phone. In-home is the only reliable way to get a realistic price. Then ask how they handle extra charges — stair fees, long carries, heavy items, packing materials. If they dodge the question or say 'don't worry about it,' that means you will worry about it on moving day. Finally, ask what happens if your stuff arrives late. Get their policy in writing.
Red Flags
A big deposit request upfront is a huge warning. Any company that demands more than a small percentage before the truck is loaded is playing games. Also watch out for estimates that are suspiciously low — those guys will jack up the price once your furniture is on the highway. No physical address? Run. And if they show up in a rented truck with no company markings, cancel then and there.
How Ratings Help You Choose
Ratings matter, but only if you read between the lines. A five-star average with ten reviews means almost nothing. Look for companies with hundreds of reviews, and sort by most recent. Read the one- and two-star reviews carefully. Patterns — like mysterious weight increases or damage disputes — tell you more than any star count. Don't ignore the lack of negative reviews either; some companies scrub them or pay for fake ones.
Before you book anyone, compare local moving companies on RatingsNearMe and read the real customer stories.