Different moving companies offer various services depending on their size, capabilities and insurance protection. According to the Moving Company Guide, these services may include packing objects in boxes or supplying packing materials to homeowners who prefer to pack themselves, loading items onto a moving truck, transporting items, and unloading the items into the new location. Some moving companies also offer short-term or long-term storage facilities.
A moving company usually requires customers to schedule their move in advance, sometimes by paying a reservation fee. According to Relocation.com, local movers then perform an estimate based on the number of hours the job will take and how many crew members must participate as well as any difficulties posed by breakable or valuable items. Long-distance moving costs depend on the weight of the items moved and any additional services the move may involve, such as crating, assembly or disassembly and varying labor costs from one location to another.
Reputable moving companies include some degree of insurance against problems that can occur during a move such as theft or damage, according to the Moving Company Guide. Customers should acquaint themselves with the "fine print" of a moving company's insurance offerings before the move date. If, for example, the homeowners have packed their belonging themselves, the moving company will not insure against damage to these items that occurs during transportation. Relocation.com adds that the law generally requires moving companies to carry a minimum level of valuation protection, averaging 30 to 60 cents per pound on damaged goods.
The moving industry operates under less regulation than it once did. Until 1995, the Interstate Commerce Commission regulated moving companies. Congress then transferred this regulatory authority to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, which according to the American Alliance of Ethical Movers, has largely made consumers responsible for handling their own legal disputes or actions against movers.
People selecting a moving company can avoid disappointments and problems by taking a few simple steps, according to the American Moving & Storage Association. An in-home estimate that includes the contents of all rooms plus any outdoor spaces and items will provide a far more accurate quote that an online or telephone quote. Customers should get at least three such estimates, avoiding any unusually high or low deviations and avoiding companies that request large reservation fees. Customers moving across state lines should find out about the movers' interstate arbitration program.
