Moving guide · Hiring a mover
How to Compare Moving Quotes
Two estimates can describe different moves even when both say “three-bedroom house.” Put the scope beside the price and resolve the differences before you choose.
The short answer
Compare written moving quotes against the same inventory, addresses, access and packing scope. Check what is included, what could change the total and how changes are approved. Ask about travel, materials, extra stops and booking terms before choosing a company. A lower total means little if it covers less work.
Send each mover the same brief
Use one inventory, one set of property photos and the same preferred date for every estimate request. Include the basement, garage and outdoor items. Explain elevator reservations, stairs and the distance between the loading space and the door at both ends.
Ask each company to distinguish moving from packing. If one estimate includes the kitchen and another assumes sealed boxes, they are not directly comparable. A second destination, such as a storage unit in Wallingford, belongs in every version of the brief.
Write a comparison that exposes omissions
Create a sheet with one column per company. Use rows for loading, transport, unloading, packing labor, packing materials, disassembly, reassembly, travel and extra stops. Mark each line included, excluded or awaiting clarification. Save the written answer for anything you had to ask about.
Then add the pricing basis and the conditions that allow it to change. Ask how a longer carry, more boxes or a delayed key handover affects the estimate. You need to understand the agreement, not reverse-engineer it from an attractive total.
Check the business and the booking terms
Use Connecticut’s consumer and transportation resources to check the registration relevant to your route. Compare the business name on the estimate with the company you contacted. A federal identifier and authority for your specific move are different questions; ask the company to explain both when relevant.
Before paying, obtain the deposit, cancellation and rescheduling terms directly. Ask what protection applies to belongings and how concerns are reported. This website does not publish Major Movers rates or contract terms; the team supplies the details for your booking.
Choose after the open questions are answered
A complete quote makes the decisions visible: who packs the glassware, who reserves the elevator, whether a second stop is included and what happens if the inventory changes. If a company answers only with another price, return to the unanswered scope questions.
Once you choose, save the agreed estimate, inventory and building instructions in one place. Confirm your moving contact and tell the other companies you are no longer seeking dates. An inquiry alone should never be treated as a confirmed slot.
Before you confirm the move
- Use one inventory for every quote.
- Compare inclusions line by line.
- Clarify changes, materials and travel.
- Save the agreed estimate and booking terms.
Common questions
General guidance. Your own route, date and access still need confirming directly.
Is the lowest moving quote a bad sign?
A low price is a reason to compare the scope carefully, not proof of a problem. Ask what the estimate covers and what can change the total.
Can I compare an hourly quote with a fixed quote?
Yes, but first understand the work included, any minimums or additional charges, and the conditions behind each estimate. Ask the companies to explain their pricing in writing.
Does a quote reserve my moving day?
Do not assume it does. Confirm the booking process and obtain written confirmation from the moving company.
What if my inventory changes after I accept?
Send the change promptly and ask for an updated written scope and any price or scheduling effect before moving day.
Sources and useful references
- CTDOT: household goods movers and estimates
CTDOT explains written quotes, mover verification and questions about damage coverage.
- Connecticut DCP: movers and moving
State and federal oversight depend on the route. Use this state resource to check the authority relevant to your move.
Planning a move?
Get a quote from Major Movers.
Share the route, the date and the help you need, and someone follows up to confirm the details and availability. Based in Hamden, serving all of Connecticut.
Read next
The guides people open after this one.
Ready when you are
Make the next move feel manageable.
Send your move details in a couple of minutes, or call and talk it through.