Review the gaps
These categories are questions to ask, not claims that every mover adds a fee. A service may be included, billed separately or unavailable. Get the answer for your actual move.
| Potential omission | Clarifying question |
|---|---|
| Travel and minimums | When does billing start/stop? Is return travel included? |
| Stairs and carry distance | Does the quote reflect both actual entrances? |
| Materials and assembly | Which supplies and tasks are included? |
| Waiting and failed access | What happens if keys or the elevator are unavailable? |
| Storage and redelivery | Are handling, duration and final delivery all quoted? |
Avoid changing the scope silently
Adding a basement room, leaving packing unfinished or changing the destination affects the plan. Notify the provider before the move and obtain written approval of the revised scope. Photograph difficult access so a stair surcharge or additional crew is not first discussed after arrival.
Keep a record if the bill differs
Save the accepted quote and messages approving changes. Request a breakdown that identifies the disputed item. Consult the OPC’s moving guidance for consumer information; this guide does not replace advice on an individual dispute.
Spot differences between a low rate and a low total
A low headline rate can still accompany a minimum charge or exclusions that matter to your move. Ask whether the clock covers travel, setup, loading, waiting, unloading and any return leg. If packing is excluded, compare what it would cost to add the actual materials and labour you need. The objective is a complete budget, not a list of fees that every provider must charge.
An access problem can become additional work
Consider a hypothetical condo move: the truck fits the street but cannot enter the reserved loading dock. The crew may need a longer carry or another agreed vehicle arrangement. A quote assuming direct dock access no longer describes the same job. Check height, turning clearance, door access and elevator booking before accepting the scope. In a walk-up, confirm turns and landings rather than reporting only “two flights”.
Find scope gaps before booking
A low advertised rate does not show every task or condition in the final job.
Storage is more than the duration charge
If possession is delayed, ask about intake handling, packing requirements, the storage period, retrieval access and final delivery. A quote for transport from one ready property to another may not include these stages. Confirm the release notice and any minimum period before the shipment enters storage. Keep documents, medicines and work items with you so retrieving a single carton does not become another unexpected task.
A useful written clarification request
Send the provider a short list of unresolved items: “Please confirm whether the quoted amount includes the stated travel time, stairs at both addresses, packing materials, bed assembly, waiting if keys are late, and applicable taxes.” Replace those items with your own move’s details. Keep the answer with the accepted quote. If there is a dispute, retain the agreement, amendments and itemized invoice rather than arguing from a screenshot of an advertisement.
Look for missing scope rather than only suspicious line items
A moving cost can feel hidden when the household assumed a task was included but the quote did not describe it. Ask explicitly about packing materials, furniture preparation, stairs, long carries, storage handling, later delivery and specialist work where relevant. Identify what you will do yourself. If a service is conditional, record the condition and how the charge is determined. Avoid treating every extra as misconduct; first compare the work with the agreement and any authorised changes. Equally, do not accept an unexplained invoice line simply because moving day was busy. In Quebec, consult current OPC guidance for questions about invoices and contractual obligations. Keep the quote, scope and change approvals so you can describe the issue clearly. That record is more useful than trying to reconstruct what several people said while the truck was being loaded.
Prevent access and timing surprises before collection
Send photographs and details of the real loading route. A parking space nearby does not necessarily mean the truck can stop there legally, and a passenger elevator does not guarantee moving access. Confirm permits or management rules, reservation duration and the path to each room. If possession is uncertain, discuss storage rather than leaving the crew without a receiving plan. Tell the coordinator about additions to the inventory before arrival. Ask what the agreed process is if access becomes unavailable or the household requests extra work. The prevention step is not simply “choose the cheapest mover.” It is to make the shipment and conditions visible early enough that the offer can describe them accurately. Use the table below to attach evidence to the costs most likely to be overlooked in your own property.
Find unanswered billing questions
Use this sheet to uncover missing scope before approving a quote.
| Possible extra item | What to record | Question before booking |
|---|---|---|
| Travel time | Where the billing clock starts and stops. | Is travel separate from work at the addresses? |
| Minimum booking | Minimum duration and time rounding. | How is a shorter job billed? |
| Long carrying route | Actual truck-to-door distance at both homes. | Does distance affect time or another charge? |
| Access delay | Key handoff and reserved building windows. | How is waiting handled if access is delayed? |
| Materials | Cartons, wrap and protective supplies requested. | Which materials are included in writing? |
| Unfinished packing | Rooms or loose items requiring assistance. | Can added packing be approved before work? |
| Temporary storage | Possible gap between pickup and possession. | What separate handling or storage is proposed? |
| Changed inventory | Items added after the original survey. | How will the quote be revised and confirmed? |