{"id":1514,"date":"2025-11-11T15:29:17","date_gmt":"2025-11-11T20:29:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.move-tastic.com\/blog\/?p=1514"},"modified":"2026-02-19T15:25:01","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T20:25:01","slug":"choosing-a-long-distance-mover-in-chicago","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.move-tastic.com\/blog\/choosing-a-long-distance-mover-in-chicago\/","title":{"rendered":"What to Look For When Choosing a Long-Distance Mover: How to Hire an Interstate Moving Company in Chicago"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Choosing a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.move-tastic.com\/interstate-movers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">long-distance mover<\/a> for your relocation to or from Chicago is a big decision. Oftentimes, it\u2019s difficult to know where to start looking when you need to hire an interstate moving company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To help you have the smoothest move possible, we\u2019ve put together these tips to help you find an outstanding moving company that\u2019ll deliver the service you deserve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Hire an interstate moving company with the proper license and insurance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Your first step in choosing a long-distance mover is to ensure that they\u2019re a legitimate business. Only look at moving companies that are properly licensed and insured. One way to find legit movers in Chicago is to look them up on the <a href=\"https:\/\/safer.fmcsa.dot.gov\/CompanySnapshot.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">United States Department of Transportation (USDOT website<\/a>, where you\u2019ll find a listing and the license number for legitimate movers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Several things can happen if you end up choosing a long-distance mover that\u2019s not licensed and insured:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong><em>No coverage options.<\/em><\/strong> If anything is damaged or lost during your move, you\u2019ll have to pay to repair or replace it, as illegitimate moving companies won\u2019t have insurance or be able to offer you any coverage options.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><em>Injury risks.<\/em><\/strong> If someone is injured during your move (whether it\u2019s a mover or a customer), there\u2019s no liability protection. You could end up paying for pricey medical bills.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><em>Lack of reliability.<\/em><\/strong> If you hire an uninsured and unlicensed company, there\u2019s no guarantee that they\u2019ll show up on your move date\u2026and if they do, they could be first-time movers who haven\u2019t gone through proper training.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Feel free to ask your interstate mover\u2019s customer service team for the company\u2019s credentials. If they\u2019re truly a legitimate business, they should be happy to provide that information to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Avoid red flags when choosing a long-distance mover<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Choosing a long-distance mover involves knowing what red flags to look out for. Although you won\u2019t have to worry about this with most fully licensed and insured companies, it\u2019s still important to have an idea of what\u2019s ok\u2026and what\u2019s not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some examples of red flags:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Their estimate is verbal or via text instead of an official document that you can formally sign.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They don\u2019t have a physical address.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It\u2019s difficult to find them online, or their website and social media just don\u2019t exist.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They have a lot of negative online customer reviews.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They\u2019re not very responsive or helpful during the estimate process. &nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Trust your gut when you hire an interstate moving company. If you notice some red flags\u2014or if something just doesn\u2019t feel quite right\u2014chances are you\u2019ll be anxious and stressed throughout the move. It\u2019s best to find movers that you know you can trust and rely on. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Find the most reliable and trusted Chicago movers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you\u2019ve found some licensed and insured companies, do some research to make sure you feel comfortable with their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.move-tastic.com\/blog\/hiring-reliable-long-distance-movers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">reliability and trustworthiness<\/a>. If they\u2019ve been in business for a long time, have a professional-looking and up-to-date website, and their customers leave positive online reviews, chances are they\u2019re a solid company that can easily handle your long-distance relocation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You might also want to check out their social media pages to get a sense of their vibe and culture. Moving companies that post success stories and fun tidbits about their team members likely treat their employees well, and that can translate into outstanding moving service. &nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Understand how to compare long-distance moving estimates<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>At first glance, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.move.org\/what-goes-into-moving-estimate\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">moving estimates<\/a> can seem pretty intimidating. There\u2019s usually an outline of your estimated charges, followed by a whole lot of terms and conditions. Having a grasp of what to look for in the paperwork can be crucial to making the right choice when you hire a long-distance mover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Best practice is usually to obtain moving estimates from at least three different companies so you can compare rates and options, and make sure you\u2019re getting a good deal from a solid company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you\u2019ve received the estimates, start by looking at the line-item charges on each one. Take a look at how many movers and trucks they\u2019re estimating, plus their rate per cubic foot and any additional fees. Most moving companies will charge extra for things like materials, oversized items, and additional flights of stairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ll also want to read all the fine print on each estimate to make sure there won\u2019t be any hidden fees or other unpleasant surprises come moving day. Go through each document, and remember: the best way to control your costs is to provide an accurate home inventory list. If you notice that any of your belongings aren\u2019t included on an estimate, contact the companies right away for updated pricing. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Know what questions to ask a long-distance moving company<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As you get close to choosing a long-distance mover, have a list of questions at the ready to ask each company. Here are a few recommended questions that may help you make the best decision for your unique move:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Will there be any extra fees on moving day that aren\u2019t outlined in the estimate?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Are there discounts available if the move dates are flexible?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Do you offer <a href=\"https:\/\/www.move-tastic.com\/chicago-packing-service\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">packing service<\/a> before the actual move?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What will the timing be for the load at my old home, transportation, and the unload at my new home?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Is there anything your movers can\u2019t pack or transport?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What happens if there\u2019s inclement weather during my move?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The more questions you ask, the better prepared you&#8217;ll be for your interstate move\u2014and the more answers you have, the more comfortable you\u2019ll feel throughout the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Need help choosing a long-distance mover? Start with the most trusted moving company in Chicago!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We consider ourselves a hospitality-based moving company. We pride ourselves on delivering outstanding service from the moment you request your long-distance moving estimate all the way through the unload at your new home. We are Chicago\u2019s most trusted movers. We\u2019ve worked hard over many years to earn that reputation, and it\u2019s a title that we don\u2019t take lightly. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let us help make your upcoming interstate move a smooth operation. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.move-tastic.com\/contact\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Connect with our long-distance moving specialists<\/a> today, and get your obligation-free estimate!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Choosing a long-distance mover for your relocation to or from Chicago is a big decision. Oftentimes, it\u2019s difficult to know where to start looking when you need to hire an interstate moving company. To help you have the smoothest move possible, we\u2019ve put together these tips to help you find an outstanding moving company that\u2019ll [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":1516,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":[],"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","footnotes":""},"categories":[277,278,269,184,6],"tags":[275,270,8,24],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.move-tastic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1514"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.move-tastic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.move-tastic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.move-tastic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.move-tastic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1514"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.move-tastic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1514\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1520,"href":"https:\/\/www.move-tastic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1514\/revisions\/1520"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.move-tastic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1516"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.move-tastic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1514"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.move-tastic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1514"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.move-tastic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1514"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}