Start with the truck
Before anything else, settle who supplies and drives the vehicle. Our truck and driver handle transportation on a full-service move. Labor-only work uses the truck or container you have arranged. The crew’s job is the carrying: loading, unloading, and placement.
If you are renting a truck, match the size to the load and tell the crew what you booked. A 10-foot box truck loads differently from a 26-foot box truck, and rental company instructions still apply when hired movers do the work.
If you plan to use a portable storage container, say so when you request the quote. The crew needs to know whether the container sits in a driveway, a parking space, or a loading dock, and how far the carry is from the unit.
Pads, straps, and packing materials
Labor-only sounds like muscle alone, but the crew still needs the right gear and supplies. Packing materials — boxes, tape, paper, and wrap — are included in the price of the job, so you don’t need to buy them separately.
Confirm what moving equipment the crew supplies before the day, especially how the load will be secured in the vehicle. Straps and other tie-downs are not automatic on every job, so ask who provides them and how the truck or container will be secured for travel.
Knowing that split ahead of time prevents last-minute trips to the store and keeps the quote honest.
Travel time and the second address
A local move has three parts: loading, the drive, and unloading. Ask how the middle part is billed. Does the rate include travel from the first address to the second? Does the clock start when the crew arrives at your door or when they leave their base? Is there a trip charge for a distant area?
The second address deserves the same access check as the first. Is there an elevator that needs a reservation? A long walk from the curb to the unit? Stairs the building allows or restricts? Building rules come from the building office, not the mover, so call both addresses and write down the answers. The apartment moving checklist has the full list of access questions.
Minimums, inventory, and your date
Before booking, we provide a written breakdown of crew size, charging basis, any minimum, travel charges, and extras. That document is what you compare against the final invoice, so keep it.
Give the crew a rough inventory so the breakdown matches reality: number of rooms, boxes, and anything heavy like a piano, treadmill, safe, or pool table. Ask how furniture disassembly and reassembly is handled and what the breakdown says about it, so there is no surprise at the door. If an unusual item exists, name it in your request.
An estimate is not a reservation. If your date matters, ask what locks it in.
Send one clear request
Write your request like a short brief and put your assumptions in it. Send it by email or go over it on the phone when the coordinator calls you back. A useful example:
“We are moving from a two-bedroom apartment to a house. I have arranged a rental truck and plan to have it at the first address by 9 a.m. We need two movers for loading and unloading at both ends. Please confirm the charging basis, minimum hours, travel charge, what moving equipment is included, and how the load will be secured. Also confirm that the written breakdown lists packing materials at no extra charge.”
That message covers transport, equipment, travel, and minimums in a few lines. Go over these details with the coordinator before booking.
Checklist before you book
- Does the booking include a truck and driver, or do I arrange the vehicle?
- When does the clock start, and does it include travel between addresses?
- Are furniture pads, dollies, and floor protection included?
- Is there a minimum number of hours, and how are extra items handled?
- What are the elevator, stairs, and parking rules at both buildings?
- What confirms the date?
Compare labor-only help with a full local move before deciding. The right choice depends on whether you already have access to a suitable truck.