Tips

Always try and get referrals from human beings who you know and whose homes you have seen - Many of the referral sites have, as a function of referring, been paid to refer specific companies or individuals
What's in Your Box?

Price

We all want the Lowest Cost for the Highest Quality Service.

The trucks, pads, dollies, pads, boxes, etc. cost roughly the same among competing companies UNLESS your using LESS.

A painter yesterday is a cheap mover today.   A professional mover/packer team with 10 years experience WILL cost more than one 10 year mover and a crew of high school students (nothing against Painters/Students but please remember that this is a seasonal business with historically low employee retention).

Quality

Do your Homework.

A Company either trains its' employees or the customer (and their furniture) trains its' employees.   Again, high retention and training helps to ensure that whatever comes up during your move, the Movers can handle it Safely and Professionally.   When you have a referral of a companies high quality of work remember that that is the referral of one mover team on one day 1-10 years ago (Employee Retention).  

Please ask as many folks as possible for referrals before you Choose your Mover.  Better yet, choose the company which has grown, and maintained its growth, because that in itself is a great indicator of QUALITY.  You simply can not grow doing bad work.

Speed

Compare Each Companies Total Hours or Weight

The good news is This Should Not Matter. Students, Painters, Laborers and Movers Walk at the same speed UNLESS unmotivated for your Referral (Employee Retention).  

Anyone can have have a bad day a year and there is no way for you to know which guy and what day.

Remember, they can be walking a splintered Buffet OR the same Buffet you remember under all that padding.. ...ALL at the same speed (Training).   If you have an estimate with significantly less hours/weight compared to other estimates...that person thinks you have a smaller job.   Please, make sure you are covered in TIME and WEIGHT.
Links
 How a Move is Measured and Are you Covered in Time, Weight and Boxes?

If you were buying a single product, price is usually the foremost reason to buy and is easily comparable...like a shoe on a self, you can compare "apples to apples" between shoe stores. What you are "buying" in a Move is Either the # of men @ Actual Hours OR Actual weight and boxes packed.

..But I have a Flat Rate on my Move?

Flat Rate movers do exist. They have to bet with their estimate that they win (profit).  Because most folks choose solely on Price, their bets are usually off and thus can't stay in business or have to stay in a small sector of local or interstate moving (small moves). 

 for Interstate Moves
Brand Name interstate movers also can advertise on your estimate "Gauranteed Price". They Gaurantee the cost of the amount of weight, boxes and services listed in your "table of measurements" (estimate inventory). You have to read the 3 font to find this out.   Many also then charge MORE for what is outside the scope of the estimate.   lease get your magnifying glass and read your contracts. 

 for Packing on Interstate and Intrastate Moves..tariff, where the price of the box includes labor, paper,tape and pads.  You only have to compare boxes. 
 for Interstate and Intrastate Moves..tariff moves where the company follows a tariff pricing and guidelines...charged by actual Weight and Actual # of boxes Packed with addition of charges for things that either take more time (truck can't get close to home) or things that weigh nothing but take up alot of space (boat).

Read the 3 FONT
Bound, Binding, Comfort Pricing, Super Duper NOT TO EXCEED, Price Assurance are all terms to sell you a false sense of security.
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The Price is not to exceed THE EXACT NUMBER OF ITEMS ESTIMATED. ...remember 1 bed = 6 to 10 items
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YOU are the Estimator, THEY will find the TRUE weight
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PRICE is BOUND to THE EXACT NUMBER OF ITEMS ESTIMATED - Will charge you 72 cents to move, if YOU MOVE LESS we will GIVE YOU 32 cents
   for Local Moves
so your Buying 6 men and 2 trucks at however long you choose to use them. Your estimate was an estimate. This is why it is soo important to compare the # of man hours at each companies hourly rate.   That is apples to apples on an hourly estimate.  There is always a travel fee and sometimes a fuel fee.

 for Packing on Local Moves
..time and material
Compare the time (man Hours) and the number of boxes in each box category.
small-1.5cf-heavy
medium-3.0cf-medium weight
large-4.5cf-light weight
dishpack-5.0cf-for glass, china, etc.
In your Home, do you have
..a lot of fragile items..then you should have a lot of dish packs.
..a lot of linens and textiles..then you should have a lot of large boxes.
..a lot of pots, pans, non fragile decorative items, table lamps.. then you should have a lot of medium boxes.  Don't forget to look for paper, tape and paper padding..it is needed and will be charged if omitted.

Call/email today for your free Estimate 
703.928.4428       [email protected]

Sales Shtick - Ask Questions not answered in the Brochure

Most of the folks giving you estimates are in Sales (Salaried folks may not be as motivated by repeat customers as Salespersons).  The Brochure is manufactured by a Marketing Company.  If Sold the lowest cost you might ask about the average age of your trucks?, do you employ a mechanic?, and then show me how you Retain and Train Employees?  Above all, if sold a date of delivery or pick-up, get it in writing and find out what are consequences to the Company if those dates are not met.
Compare Line Items - Look for Holes

Try and use a spread sheet showing each company, each line item on the estimate, and its' corresponding cost.  If there is an empty cell you may ask the consultant about it and get the answer in writing.  Many times a cost of a service (known to be needed) can just be noted on the 4th page of your estimate (not in your page 1 total).