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MoverCompass

The move itself

What can go wrong on moving day, and what do I do?

The short answer

The four that actually happen are a late crew, a truck too small for the load, a price revision at loading, and access problems at one end. Document everything as it happens, do not sign anything you disagree with, and keep the paperwork and the contact numbers on paper rather than only on a phone that may be flat.

If the price changes at loading

  1. Ask for the reason in writing, and for the clause in the contract that permits it.
  2. Check it against the inventory and the estimate type on your paperwork.
  3. Photograph the shipment and the paperwork.
  4. Do not sign a revised document you do not accept. Signing is the step that is hard to undo.
  5. If it is an interstate US move and you believe the demand is improper, FMCSA runs a complaints process; for other moves, your state or provincial consumer authority is the route.

If the truck is too small

This is a survey failure and it is the mover's. Ask what they propose: a second trip, a second vehicle, or a partial move. Get the arrangement and any cost in writing before anything is left behind, and photograph what stays.

Documentation, throughout

  • Photograph each room before loading and after, and the condition of anything valuable.
  • Keep your copy of the inventory and tick items off as they come off the truck at the other end.
  • Note arrival and departure times.
  • Note damage on the delivery paperwork before signing it. Signing a clean receipt for a damaged shipment is the most common self-inflicted wound in moving claims.

Have the contract, the inventory and the contact numbers on paper. Phones go flat on moving day with predictable reliability.

Also asked

Should I tip the crew?

It is customary in the United States and Canada for a move that went well, and it is discretionary. It is not a substitute for anything on the list above, and it should not be treated as a way to secure care that the contract already covers.

The long version

Moving day: what to expect at pickup and delivery

Know what happens on moving day, from inventory and contract checks to weight tickets, delivery windows, inspection, and payment.

Read the guide →

General information about moving and about hiring, not advice about your move. Interstate household-goods moving within the United States is federally regulated; local, intrastate and Canadian moving is regulated by each state or province, and the rules differ. The authority for your move is the one to check.