What Should You Ask a Moving Company Before You Book in Tucson?
What Should You Ask a Moving Company Before You Book?
Before handing over a deposit, you want to know three things: whether the company is properly licensed, exactly how they charge, and what happens if something goes wrong. A few targeted questions before you book can save you from a stressful, expensive surprise on moving day.
The Questions That Actually Matter
Are You Licensed and Insured?
This is the first thing to ask, and it should come with a real answer. In Arizona, movers operating locally need to be registered with the Arizona Corporation Commission, and any company doing interstate moves needs a USDOT number you can look up. If a company hesitates or gives you a vague response, that’s a red flag worth paying attention to.
Proof of insurance matters just as much as the license. Ask specifically what valuation coverage is included in your quote. Basic released-value protection typically covers only 60 cents per pound per item, which means a smashed 50-inch TV might net you a few dollars. If you want real protection, ask about full-value replacement options. You can also read more on E-Z Move’s moving insurance page to understand the difference before you commit.
How Exactly Do You Charge?
Local moves are almost always billed by the hour, including drive time from the company’s location to your home. Long-distance jobs usually shift to a weight-based or flat-rate model. Either way, ask the company to walk you through every potential charge that could appear on your final bill.
Stairs, long carries from a truck to your front door, bulky items like a piano or a safe, fuel surcharges — these are all things that can push a quote higher than you expected. A good company won’t hide these; they’ll explain them upfront. If the estimate sounds suspiciously low compared to others you’ve received, that’s worth questioning directly. Learn more about how E-Z Move prices its services to get a realistic benchmark.
Who Is Actually Doing the Move?
Some moving companies subcontract their jobs to third-party crews. This isn’t automatically bad, but you should know about it. Subcontracted moves can mean different crews, different equipment, and sometimes different levels of accountability if a claim comes up. Ask directly: “Will your own employees be handling my move, or will it be subcontracted?”
Also worth asking: how long has the crew been with the company? High crew turnover is common in the industry, and experience genuinely matters when someone is carrying your grandmother’s antique dresser down a narrow hallway in the Rincon Heights neighborhood or loading a truck in tight Sam Hughes alleyways.
A Few More Things Worth Asking
What’s Your Claims Process?
Nobody wants to think about damaged furniture, but you should know the answer before anything breaks. Ask how long claims typically take to resolve and what documentation you’ll need. Reputable companies have a clear, written process. E-Z Move publishes its claims process openly, which is the kind of transparency worth looking for in any company you hire.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Protect Your Move resource also outlines your rights as a consumer, including timelines movers are legally required to follow for claim resolution. It’s worth a quick read before moving day.
Can You Provide References or Reviews?
Recent reviews tell you a lot more than a polished website. Look for patterns: are complaints about damage handled professionally? Do customers mention the crew being on time? A company with 200 reviews and a 4.7-star average is a much safer bet than one with 12 reviews and no response to criticism. Ask the company directly if they can point you to their review page or connect you with a past customer in the local area who had a similar move size.
Related Questions
Is a verbal quote from a mover legally binding?
No. A verbal estimate carries very little legal weight. Always get your quote in writing, and make sure it specifies whether it’s a binding or non-binding estimate. A binding estimate locks in the price; a non-binding one is an approximation that can change based on actual weight or time. Never sign anything until you’ve read through what type of estimate you’re agreeing to.
What's a reasonable deposit for a moving company to ask for?
Most legitimate moving companies ask for a deposit somewhere between 10 and 25 percent of the estimated total. Be cautious if a company demands a large upfront payment, especially in cash, before the move. That pattern is common in moving scams — you can read more about how to spot them on E-Z Move’s moving scams guide.
