What Questions Should You Ask a Moving Company Before Hiring Them?

The moving industry has a trust problem. Hidden fees, no-show crews, damaged furniture, and bait-and-switch pricing are common enough that most people approach hiring a mover with genuine anxiety. And that anxiety is justified — a bad moving company can turn one of the biggest days of your life into a nightmare.

The good news: the right questions, asked before you book, will separate a trustworthy company from a problematic one almost every time. Here are the questions that matter most — and exactly how GoodGuys answers each one.

1. Are You Licensed and Insured?

This is the non-negotiable starting point. Any legitimate moving company operating in Georgia must be properly licensed and carry liability insurance. If a company can't confirm both immediately and clearly, stop the conversation.

Unlicensed movers have no accountability if something goes wrong. No recourse for damaged items. No protection if a crew member is injured on your property. No legal obligation to honor any quote they gave you.

How GoodGuys answers: Yes — fully licensed and insured on every job. We can provide documentation to any building, HOA, or customer that requires proof.

2. Do You Background Check Your Employees?

You are inviting strangers into your home, around your family, and in contact with everything you own. A professional moving company should be able to tell you clearly whether their crew members have been background checked.

This question matters especially for high-end homeowners, families with children, and anyone moving high-value items. It's not an unreasonable ask — it's a basic standard of professionalism.

How GoodGuys answers: Every GoodGuys crew member goes through a background check before they step foot in a customer's home. No exceptions.

3. Are You a Carrier or a Broker?

This is one of the most important questions almost nobody thinks to ask. Here's the difference:

• A carrier owns their trucks, employs their crew, and handles your move themselves from start to finish

• A broker takes your booking and sells it to a third-party moving company — often one you've never heard of, haven't vetted, and have no relationship with

Brokers aren't inherently illegal, but they are the source of many of the industry's worst horror stories. You book with a professional-looking website, and a random crew shows up in an unmarked truck. The broker has already been paid and has no real incentive to ensure the job goes well.

How GoodGuys answers: We are a carrier. We own our trucks, employ our crew, and never subcontract your move to a third party. The company you book with is the company that shows up.

4. Can I Get a Written, Itemized Quote?

Verbal estimates are meaningless. A legitimate moving company will put everything in writing — hourly rate, crew size, travel fees, minimum hours, deposit amount, and any other charges — before you commit to anything.

The moving industry is full of companies that give a low verbal estimate to win the booking, then present a very different number when your belongings are already on the truck. A written itemized quote is your protection against that.

How GoodGuys answers: We send every customer a written quote with all fees listed as individual line items. And we don't just email it and move on — we call you when we send the quote so we can walk through every line together, answer any questions, and make sure there are zero surprises before moving day. You will know exactly what you're paying and why before you commit to anything.

5. What's Included in the Rate — and What Isn't?

Some companies advertise a low hourly rate and then charge separately for the truck, fuel, moving blankets, shrink wrap, tape, stairs, and anything else they can think of. Always ask specifically what is and isn't included.

How GoodGuys answers: Our rate is $75/mover/hr on weekdays and $85/mover/hr on Saturdays. Moving blankets, shrink wrap, and tape are always included at no extra charge. The truck is included. A flat $100 travel fee applies to all in-state moves. Boxes are charged separately if we supply them — which is why we always recommend customers pack and source their own boxes to save money. There is a 3-hour minimum on all moves. Everything is disclosed in your written quote before you book.

6. Who Actually Shows Up on Moving Day?

Some companies sell you on a polished sales experience and then send whoever is available that day. Ask specifically: who will be on my crew, and will the same people be there start to finish?

How GoodGuys answers: In the vast majority of moves, the same crew is with you from start to finish. For large, multi-day jobs — and we've handled moves that span up to seven days — some crew members may rotate based on availability. But the crew lead is always the same, no matter how large or long the job.

More importantly: every crew member who comes to your move — regardless of whether they were on the original team — arrives that morning having come directly from a meeting with GoodGuys' founders. In that meeting, they learn about you, your home, your specific situation, and what matters most to you before they ever knock on your door. It’s not a briefing sheet. It’s a conversation about your move specifically.

7. Will You Show Up on Time?

Showing up late is one of the most common complaints about moving companies — and the consequences ripple through your entire day. Elevator reservations missed. Building access windows closed. Lease overlaps stretched. Everything costs more when the crew is late.

How GoodGuys answers: We give every customer an arrival window of 8:00–9:00 AM. On the morning of your move, your crew lead will call and text with an exact ETA so you're never left guessing. We take Atlanta traffic seriously — our dispatch leaves the warehouse at 7:45 AM every morning specifically to get ahead of it. Punctuality is a commitment, not an aspiration.

8. How Do I Reach a Real Person If I Have Questions?

Some companies are easy to book and impossible to reach after that. Before you hand over a deposit, make sure you know how to get a real human on the phone if something comes up before or on moving day.

How GoodGuys answers: Call us. The founders and management are available during business hours any day, and if you call after hours we'll call you back first thing in the morning. We intentionally recommend phone over email or even our estimate form because we believe a conversation is almost always more useful than a message. Communication is one of our core commitments — not a support ticket system.

9. What Is Your Insurance Coverage for Damaged Items?

This is a question most people forget to ask until something breaks. Georgia state law requires moving companies to carry basic liability coverage of $0.30 per pound per item. That means a 40-pound antique lamp is covered for $12. For everyday items, this is a baseline. For high-value belongings, it won't cover replacement cost.

Ask your mover about this specifically — and ask whether they offer additional coverage options.

How GoodGuys answers: Georgia's $0.30/lb coverage is embedded in every quote at no extra charge. For customers with high-value items — art, antiques, pianos, electronics — we offer additional coverage options and walk through the cost transparently so you know exactly what you're getting. We also recommend checking your homeowner's or renter's insurance policy, as some plans extend coverage to belongings during a move.

10. Can I See Your Reviews?

A moving company's reputation is the most honest signal available. Look for consistent patterns — not just star ratings. What do people say about punctuality? Communication? How they handled something that went wrong?

How GoodGuys answers: Our Google reviews are 5 stars, and we encourage every customer to read them before booking. But if you really want to know who you're dealing with, check our Instagram — we post daily. You'll see our actual crew, real moves, and the culture of the company firsthand. We believe in radical transparency: don't take our word for it, just look.

A Note on Trusting a Newer Company

GoodGuys was founded in January 2025. We know that's a short track record compared to companies that have been around for decades. We don't hide from that.

What we will say is this: we started GoodGuys specifically because we believed the moving industry had let people down for too long. Hidden fees, no-shows, damaged furniture, indifferent crews — these aren't flukes. They're the product of a race to the bottom that rewards low quotes over genuine service. We built this company to be the alternative.

Every standard on this list — background checks, written quotes, carrier status, crew briefings, transparent insurance, proactive communication — we hold ourselves to it every single day. Not because we've been around long enough to coast on our reputation, but because we're still in the process of building it.

We think that hunger makes us better. And our reviews suggest we're right.

The Quick Checklist

Before booking any moving company, confirm:

• Fully licensed and insured — documentation available on request

• Background-checked crew members

• Carrier (not a broker) — they own their trucks and employ their crew

• Written, itemized quote with all fees listed

• Clear breakdown of what’s included vs. charged separately

• Same crew lead from start to finish

• Defined arrival window with day-of communication

• Real person reachable by phone before and on moving day

• Transparent explanation of liability coverage and additional options

• Verifiable reviews on Google or social media

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I verify a moving company is licensed in Georgia?
For intrastate moves, Georgia movers are regulated by the Georgia Department of Public Safety. You can request a company’s license number and verify it directly. For interstate moves, check the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) database at protectyourmove.gov.

What’s the difference between a moving broker and a carrier?
A carrier owns their trucks and employs their crew. A broker takes your booking and assigns it to a third-party company. Always ask which one you’re dealing with before you book.

What should a written moving quote include?
At minimum: hourly rate, crew size, travel or fuel fees, minimum hours, deposit amount, cancellation policy, and any charges for specialty items or packing materials. If any of these are missing, ask before you sign anything.

Is GoodGuys licensed and insured?
Yes — fully licensed and insured. We can provide documentation to any customer, building, or HOA that requires it.

How new is GoodGuys?
We’ve been in business since January 2025. We’re a young company, and we’re proud of it. Every move we do is an opportunity to prove that the moving industry can be done right. Read our reviews and see for yourself.

Think GoodGuys sounds like the right fit? Get a free estimate — we’ll send you a written quote, call you to walk through it, and answer every question you have before you commit to anything.