Congratulations! you’ve decided to move to a new place and this time you’re getting some help. While hiring a moving company will considerably lessen the stress of moving, it’s essential to get some key questions answered before hiring to ensure the process is as painless as possible. Below we’ve listed the top 12 questions you need to ask moving companies before hiring them.

This question, hands-down, is the most important question to ask to avoid scams and being taken advantage of. Whether or not a company is licensed and registered is the difference between a legitimate company or just a front for one.

If the company you’re looking into can’t provide proof that they are licensed, registered, or insured, don’t hire them! We know that price point is important and you might be tempted when they are cheaper, but you will find yourself with a load of issues if something happens during your move and they have no means to replace your valuables.

Moving can be a messy business, no matter how prepared you are or how well you packed your belongings, something can still happen. So you’ve asked your moving company for proof of insurance, but did you ask which type of insurance they have including their coverage limits?

Legitimate moving companies offer various insurance options, two of which are mandated by federal law. These types are Released Value Coverage and Full Value Protection. According to Statefarm, the ‘released value coverage, or basic carrier liability, is the most basic coverage package which covers up to 60 cents per pound for an item. On average, a 60-inch Samsung TV weighs about 50 pounds, which means if something happens to that TV during the move, you would be paid out less than $50 for a TV that costs over $1000. Quality Moving Solutions have liability coverage of up to $1 million.

This might have been what drew you to this company in the first place, but if you haven’t checked yet, take a moment to read reviews on their business page, Google, Yelp, etc. A good company will have testimonials and reviews to back up their claims! It’s inevitable that you may find a couple of bad reviews, but if the majority are good reviews, chances are that they are a good company to work with.

If you are providing access to a company to your home, future home address, and inventory of all of your possessions, it’s vital that you are choosing someone you trust. Even if something isn’t being stolen at that moment, you don’t want someone with a history of priors making a mental note of your address and personal belongings.

Quality Moving Solutions does a background check on every individual that comes to work for the company. We take your safety and the security of your belongings seriously.

Be weary of companies that provide a flat estimate for the entire move. You might be surprised later with several surcharges including gas, a late fee, furniture assembly, etc.

At Quality Moving Solution, our hourly rate does not change and you will never see a surprise charge. One of our skilled professionals will take a visual inventory of your home and provide you with an estimate based on how many hours it will take us to move your belongings. The more honest you are about the number of things you own and we’ll be moving, the more accurate your estimate will be.

Life is unpredictable and sometimes there can be delays or unexpected changes. This is why it is important to find out a moving company’s cancellation policy from the beginning, thus ensuring you are prepared in case you need to cancel. Quality Moving Solutions asks that you let us know of any changes or cancellations 48-hrs prior to the service date.

Moving expenses can start adding up quickly, so take a moment to budget the total expenses and make a plan to pay for everything. Be sure to ask your moving company what types of payments they accept so you’ll be prepared when the bill comes. Unfortunately, not all moving companies will accept credit cards or checks as payment. Quality Moving Solutions accepts Debit, Credit, Cash, and Checks as forms of payment.

If you plan on packing your own belongings, it’s important to ask the moving company beforehand if there are any restrictions on how and which items should be packed. Most moving companies won’t move poorly packed or damaged boxes for liability reasons. We ask our clients to please be sure to securely wrap, pack and tape each box to make sure items arrive at their new destination in one piece. We also ask that the homeowner use no more than 2 different sized boxes to maximize the space within the moving truck. If we will be moving furniture, all drawers must be completely emptied beforehand. We do not move pianos or large safes.

As the saying goes, practice makes perfect! The question might not occur to you, but don’t be afraid to ask how long they’ve been in the moving business. Usually, a young company emphasizes quick service above quality service.

At QMS, we want each and every one of our customers to have an exceptional experience! We take the time to carefully cover areas of your home that are more susceptible to damage during the move and make sure your items are securely packed and moved from one location to another.

Planning on moving, but don’t need the whole package? Some situations only call for a helping hand as opposed to a whole moving team with a truck. It’s not always easy to find, but some companies like Quality Moving Solutions offer ‘labor only’ packages for just those occasions. We’ll send movers (without the truck) to your home to help get you packed or even just load the boxes and furniture onto the truck for you if that’s what you need. Whatever your needs, we can customize a plan for you!

Though it’s not standard practice for a moving company to offer discounts, many will offer seasonal promotions or discounts for special clients like Military members. It never hurts to ask! Quality Moving Solutions currently offers 10% off your first move with us and 10% for Military members (discounts cannot be combined)

Worried about moving costly items like your TV or electronics? We understand it can be stressful figuring out how you’re going to get these items from A to B in one piece. Check to see how the moving company you’re hiring handles items like these. Do they have boxes and wrapping supplies for these items since most clients don’t keep the original boxes? It’s important to find out what the moving company is planning to do with these items beforehand so you can plan accordingly.