A Complete Guide to Choosing the Best Full-Service Moving Companies

The boxes, the bubble wrap, the rolls of packing tape. The phone calls, the appointments, the endless to-do lists. There’s no getting around it — moving is a big endeavor, especially without the support of a reliable moving company.  

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the moving process, working with a trustworthy company that offers full-service moving packages can alleviate relocation challenges. Instead of handling everything yourself, professional movers can pack your belongings, load the truck, transport your furniture, unpack your things and even reassemble tricky items at your new house. Hiring someone to take care of these tasks will give you more time to handle things you can’t easily entrust to someone else — like finding new schools for your kids, switching all your magazine subscriptions or taking a much-needed spa day. (Go on — you deserve it.) 

Follow this checklist to find the best full-service movers. 

All-Inclusive Services 

A full-service moving company should offer a diverse suite of services and be able to handle everything from packing to logistics. The best movers will also offer the flexibility to customize moving packages to your needs, so you only pay for services your family requires.  

Here’s a list of services any full-service moving company should offer: 

• Loading, transport and unloading of household belongings  
• Transport of standard appliances 
• Standard furniture placement  
• Disassembly and reassembly of standard bed frames 
• Qualified drivers and equipment 
• A personal moving coordinator 
• Full-Value Protection  

Additional moving services companies may offer: 

• Packing  
• Unpacking 
• Crating services for items like antiques, artwork or unique furniture 
• Specialty item handling (such as pianos or oversized wardrobes) 
• Electronics de-installation and reinstallation (such as wall-mounted TVs or home theatres) 
• Identity theft protection 
• Debris removal 
• Car shipping 
• Storage 

Be sure to ask all the companies you’re interested in what services they provide and which ones are included in your package. You don’t want to wind up paying extra for services you thought were covered.  

Licensing and Insurance

Moving scams are one of the biggest things you must watch out for when you move. Unlicensed carriers, fraudulent bids and rogue movers are an unfortunate hazard of this business. Follow these tips to avoid them: 

• When selecting a mover, always check with the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) to make sure you are hiring a licensed, registered mover  
• Check the safety records, vehicle maintenance violations and driving violations of any carrier registered with the U.S. DOT 

It’s also important to be on the lookout for red flags from movers. Use the following as your guide: 

• The mover isn’t registered with the U.S. DOT. All interstate moving carriers must be licensed by the U.S. Department of Transportation to legally operate in the U.S. Don’t be shy about asking to see a copy of a company’s certifications. 
• Suspicious Moving Quotes. Low bids, sight-unseen bids and one-size-fits-all-bids should be met with suspicion. Your moving carrier should understand exactly what they are moving before they give you a formal estimate. (Learn more below in the Estimates section. 
• Hidden Moving Fees. Insist on signing a completed contract before movers take possession of your belongings to ensure you’re not on the hook for surprise costs for things like climbing stairs or additional packing fees.  
• Deposits for Moving Services. While it’s normal for companies to request a credit card close to your scheduled move date, a reputable company will never ask for a deposit to book a move or insist on a down payment for a move.  

Get five tips to protect yourself from moving scams. 

Experience and Reputation 

Working with an experienced, full-service moving company makes all the difference. While it may be tempting to go with a bare-bones bid, the wear and tear on your belongings (and your mental health) is hardly worth it. Established moving companies have experience packing unwieldy and fragile items, dealing with unpredictable road and weather conditions and even confusing municipal ordinances and eyebrow-raising HOA rules. They’ll also know what questions to ask in advance of your move so that avoidable problems don’t arise in the first place. 

Whichever carrier you entrust with your move should have positive online reviews, strong recommendations from customers and be fully licensed by the U.S. DOT. 

Customer Service and Professionalism

You deserve to work with a trustworthy and professional relocation team. That includes:  

• Packers and movers who will treat you, your home and your belongings with care and respect  
• Responsive customer service agents who keep you informed throughout the moving process  

From requesting a quote to receiving your last box, you should know that you are in capable hands at all stages of your move. 

Detailed and Accurate Estimates 

Moving quotes may vary from company to company. Unfortunately, it may feel like you’re comparing apples and oranges. Here are a few things to look for when you’re receiving an estimate so you can tell the good apples from the bad ones. 

• Companies should provide clear, detailed quotes without hidden fees; you should know up front if you’ll be charged extra for moves that involve climbing stairs, wrapping furniture and more 
• Your estimate should be based on a visual assessment of your items, evaluating your home room by room — including your closets 
• By law, moving quotes must be based on both the size and weight of your belongings, so carriers who charge only by the cubic foot should be avoided 
• You should be able to speak with a company representative directly about any questions you have regarding your move

Moving Soon? Let Mayflower® Help Get You There 

For nearly a century, families across America have relied on Mayflower to move them from one city to another. While many things have changed since our early days, one thing remains a constant — our expert movers are ready to help you no matter what your needs are or where your next home may be. You can rely on us to make the moving process a smooth and seamless experience for your family. 

Get a moving quote today from Mayflower. 

When you’re looking for a reliable, licensed, full-service moving company, Mayflower checks all the boxes. Here’s what makes us one of the best in the business: 

• We offer flexible, full-service moving packages that you can customize for your unique needs 
• We provide a dedicated move coordinator — yes, a real human being — who will be your single point of contact for your move 
• The details of your move are accessible online 24/7 in the MyMayflower Move Portal 
• We provide Full-Value Protection for every move, and additional protection packages are available.  

Get your personalized, no-obligation moving quote from us today!