Choose a moving company and avoid moving scams
A shortlist process, questions to ask, and red flags to check before booking movers.
The prompt
Help me choose a reliable moving company.
Move type: [local / long-distance / interstate / international]
From and to: [CITIES]
Moving date and flexibility: [DATE, flexible?]
Home size and special items: [e.g. "3-bedroom house, piano, antiques"]
Services needed: [packing, storage, disassembly, full-service]
Quotes I have (optional): [PASTE QUOTES]
Give me:
1. How to build a shortlist and how to verify each mover: for interstate moves in the US, check the company's USDOT number and complaint history with the FMCSA; for local moves, check state or local licensing; plus reviews from multiple sites.
2. Questions to ask: binding vs non-binding estimate, in-home or video survey, what's included, extra charges (stairs, long carry, shuttle truck), delivery window, valuation/liability coverage options, and claims process.
3. If I pasted quotes: a comparison table (Company | Estimate type | Price | Included | Extra fees | Delivery window | Coverage | Concerns).
4. Red flags: no in-person or video survey, a quote far below others, large cash deposit, no physical address, different company name on paperwork, refusing to give a written estimate.
5. A moving-day protocol: inventory list, photos of valuables, never sign a blank or incomplete document, and how to note damage before signing delivery papers.
Don't make up company names or prices. Coverage rules vary by country and state - tell me to confirm with the official regulator.
Highlighted [brackets] are blanks to replace with your own details.
Fill in the blanks and use this promptMore Thinking & Decisions prompts
What to fill in
- local / long-distance / interstate / international
- CITIES
- DATE, flexible?
- e.g. "3-bedroom house, piano, antiques"
- packing, storage, disassembly, full-service
- PASTE QUOTES
How this prompt is built
This prompt follows the RTF structure (Role, Task, Format). RTF tells the model who to be, what to do and what shape the answer should take. It is the quickest structure that still gives noticeably better results than a bare request.
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