Movers DC to MD
Published by Chris Townsend
Moving Companies Washington DC To Maryland
Moving from Washington DC to nearby Maryland is a local move, but also an interstate move. Maryland is the 19th most populous of the states, with little change over the last decade, and approximately 6 million inhabitants. Almost half of those living in Baltimore, with 2.8 million which indicates maximum moves are from DC to Baltimore. The DC metro area holds over 5 million people, many of whom are Maryland residents, and only 720,000 live within the City limits.
How do I find the best moving company from Washington, DC to Maryland?
Finding the right moving company for a short distance move involves determining what is important to you, doing some research, and being careful to avoid shady moving services. Moving company fraud is a growing problem in the US, and it's up to each of us to protect ourselves from local moving companies trying to take advantage of consumers. Luckily, there is some help available.
Interstate long distance movers are licensed and regulated by the Department of Transportation, which oversees interstate commerce. There is a specific agency within DOT called FMCSA, which stands for Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
It develops moving company regulations and maintains a database of companies that are licensed. It also has information on their safety records and customer complaint history. FMCSA has developed resources to helfp consumers understand the moving business and protect themselves against unscrupulous companies.
One publication they created is called Important Information for Persons Moving Household Goods, and your moving company is obligated to provide you with a copy. Still, it's a better idea to read it before you hire a mover. This document explains moving company jargon, describes the different types of estimates, and how insurance works, and tells you what to do if you have a claim.
So, let’s say you have some ideas about professional movers to consider for your upcoming move to Maryland. Perhaps you have friends or family members who recently moved, or maybe you did a search on the internet and came up with a few names. How do you know if they will do an amazing job or not?
Movers with exceptional service
What makes a good moving company?
First, be aware that interstate moving companies must come to your residence to complete a visual survey of your household goods before they give you a free moving estimate. FMCSA requires this survey, and it makes sense if you think about it.
Some companies will claim that they can determine how much your household contents weigh just by listening to you describe it over the phone or by reading a list that you complete online. But one couch can weigh as little as 100 pounds or close to 1000 pounds.
A dining room table can be lightweight or have a massive pedestal that adds hundreds of pounds to the weight. If you take these differences and multiply them through all the items in a house, you can see why the physical walkthrough is essential.
So, be suspicious of any company that claims it does not need to do the in-person inspection of your shipment and asks you to waive the requirement in favor of a verbal or online list. (Currently, some companies are offering a virtual video walkthrough as a substitute for entering the home—accepting this may be a good option). The inventory that the mover creates during the walkthrough is crucial for determining the shipment's weight and moving costs.
The estimate that the mover gives you after that step will specify whether it is binding or nonbinding. Some companies charge to prepare a binding estimate because that is a commitment to a specific price. If the shipment's weight is higher than the mover estimated, you don't pay a higher price if you have a binding estimate. If you have a nonbinding estimate, then the weight forecast accuracy is more critical since your cost will increase if the weight turns out to be higher.
There is a rule about how much a nonbinding estimate can increase, but it is a bit complex, and a mover that is not entirely honest may use the wording deceptively. The rule is referred to as the 110% rule because if you have a nonbinding estimate, the movers can only require payment of 110% of the amount of the estimated amount to deliver the shipment.
So, if your estimate is $2,000, the most that the mover can charge at the time of delivery is $2,200. They can add some other charges, but this refers to the weight and transportation charge. However, if you owe the mover more money because the shipment's weight was higher, they can still invoice you for the balance. They just can’t refuse to deliver your goods. It’s a little confusing, but it means that if your mover is trying to mislead you, it’s possible that you could end up with a much bigger bill later on.
Review the estimates and ensure that you are comparing similar types of quotes. Ask the vendors to explain any discrepancies and ask for more detail if something doesn't make sense. If one estimate is much higher or lower than the others, find out why. Perhaps the mover overlooked something or included a service like packing or storage services that was not on the other estimates but would be needed during the moving process.
One mover might have a charge for packing supplies that you can purchase less expensively on your own, and if you remove that item, the quote might be more competitive. Each mover has a list of fees called a tariff, and this includes service charges that may or may not apply to your move. If one is charging for a long carry, but the others are not, it is worth asking why. That is an advantage of having more than one estimate.
How can I decide between moving companies?
Once you have obtained estimates from at least three moving companies (as recommended by experts and consumer advocates), you are ready to research the ones you are considering. You have already checked their status on the FMCSA site to determine that the company is appropriately licensed and has a favorable safety record and few complaints.
Next, you can check the Better Business Bureau, which collects positive and negative reviews from consumers about all kinds of companies. Here's where you'll also know the moving companies that provide excellent customer service from the comments of satisfied customers. The BBB also has a process of accreditation for companies independent of the consumer reports it receives. As an indication of the growing scope of problems related to moving companies, the BBB received over 13,000 complaints and negative reviews about movers (in the US and Canada) in 2019 but believes that these statistics are significantly less than the actual extent of the problem.
Finally, ask the companies for references. Don't assume that testimonials on a website are legitimate. The company can make those up. A good company will be happy to give you the names of some of their recent customers. You should call and talk to them about their experiences. One tip is to see if the same people are still employed. If "Joe" and "Roger" got good marks from the last clients, but left the company and have been replaced with "Al" and "Sam" the compliment doesn’t carry as much weight as it would if the former workers who did a great job were still there.
If anything came up in your meeting with the moving company you are unsure about, make sure and ask the recent customer about it, and ask if they would choose that company again for their next move. That's an excellent way to validate your final choice.
Top Routes
DC to Baltimore
DC to Columbia
DC to Germantown
DC to Silver Spring
DC to Waldorf
DC to Ellicott City
DC to Frederick
DC to Glen Burnie
DC to Gaithersburg
DC to Rockville
DC to Bethesda
DC to Dundalk
DC to Bowie
DC to Towson
DC to Aspen Hill
DC to Severn
DC to Wheaton
DC to North Bethesda
DC to Bel Air South
DC to Potomac
DC to Odenton
DC to Catonsville
DC to Woodlawn
DC to Hagerstown
DC to Essex
DC to Annapolis
DC to Clinton
DC to Severna Park
DC to Chillum
DC to Randallstown
DC to Olney
DC to Owings Mills
DC to Montgomery Village
DC to Pikesville
DC to Salisbury
DC to College Park
DC to Bel Air North
DC to Parkville
DC to Eldersburg
DC to Carney
DC to Milford Mill
DC to Pasadena
DC to Crofton
DC to South Laurel
DC to Perry Hall
DC to Reisterstown
DC to Ilchester
DC to Lochearn
DC to Laurel
DC to Edgewood
DC to Fairland
DC to Middle River
DC to North Laurel
DC to Clarksburg
DC to Suitland
DC to Fort Washington
DC to North Potomac
DC to Arnold
DC to Greenbelt
DC to Landover
DC to Camp Springs
DC to Elkridge
DC to Ballenger Creek
DC to Cockeysville
DC to Rosedale
DC to Lake Shore
DC to Cumberland
DC to Langley Park
DC to Arbutus
DC to White Oak
DC to Seabrook
DC to Westminster
DC to Hyattsville
DC to Oxon Hill
DC to Beltsville
DC to Takoma Park
DC to Maryland City
DC to Redland
DC to Ferndale
DC to Parole
DC to Glassmanor
DC to Calverton
DC to Glenmont
DC to Easton
DC to East Riverdale
DC to Hillcrest Heights
DC to Adelphi
DC to Aberdeen
DC to Elkton
DC to Cloverly
Washington, DC Includes The Following Zip Codes:
20001, 20002, 20003, 20004, 20005, 20006, 20007, 20008, 20009, 20010, 20011, 20012, 20013, 20015, 20016, 20017, 20018, 20019, 20020, 20022, 20024, 20026, 20027, 20029, 20030, 20032, 20033, 20035, 20036, 20037, 20038, 20039, 20040, 20041, 20042, 20043, 20044, 20045, 20047, 20049, 20050, 20052, 20053, 20055, 20056, 20057, 20058, 20059, 20060, 20061, 20062, 20063, 20064, 20065, 20066, 20067, 20068, 20069, 20070, 20071, 20073, 20074, 20075, 20076, 20077, 20078, 20080, 20081, 20082, 20090, 20091, 20201, 20202, 20203, 20204, 20206, 20207, 20208, 20210, 20211, 20212, 20213, 20214, 20215, 20216, 20217, 20218, 20219, 20220, 20221, 20222, 20223, 20224, 20226, 20227, 20228, 20229, 20230, 20232, 20233, 20235, 20237, 20238, 20239, 20240, 20241, 20242, 20244, 20245, 20250, 20251, 20252, 20254, 20260, 20261, 20262, 20265, 20266, 20268, 20270, 20277, 20289, 20299, 20301, 20303, 20306, 20310, 20314, 20317, 20318, 20319, 20330, 20340, 20350, 20355, 20370, 20372, 20373, 20374, 20375, 20376, 20380, 20388, 20389, 20390, 20391, 20392, 20393, 20394, 20395, 20398, 20401, 20402, 20403, 20404, 20405, 20406, 20407, 20408, 20410, 20411, 20412, 20413, 20414, 20415, 20416, 20417, 20418, 20419, 20420, 20421, 20422, 20423, 20424, 20425, 20426, 20427, 20428, 20429, 20431, 20433, 20434, 20435, 20436, 20437, 20439, 20440, 20441, 20442, 20444, 20447, 20451, 20453, 20456, 20460, 20463, 20468, 20469, 20470, 20472, 20500, 20501, 20502, 20503, 20504, 20505, 20506, 20507, 20508, 20509, 20510, 20511, 20515, 20520, 20521, 20522, 20523, 20524, 20525, 20526, 20527, 20528, 20529, 20530, 20531, 20533, 20534, 20535, 20536, 20537, 20538, 20539, 20540, 20541, 20542, 20543, 20544, 20546, 20547, 20548, 20549, 20551, 20552, 20553, 20554, 20555, 20557, 20559, 20560, 20565, 20566, 20570, 20571, 20572, 20573, 20575, 20576, 20577, 20578, 20579, 20580, 20581, 20585, 20586, 20590, 20591, 20593, 20594, 20597, 20599
Maryland includes the following zip codes:
20588, 20601, 20602, 20603, 20604, 20606, 20607, 20608, 20609, 20610, 20611, 20612, 20613, 20615, 20616, 20617, 20618, 20619, 20620, 20621, 20622, 20623, 20624, 20625, 20626, 20627, 20628, 20629, 20630, 20632, 20634, 20635, 20636, 20637, 20639, 20640, 20643, 20645, 20646, 20650, 20653, 20656, 20657, 20658, 20659, 20660, 20661, 20662, 20664, 20667, 20670, 20674, 20675, 20676, 20677, 20678, 20680, 20682, 20684, 20685, 20686, 20687, 20688, 20689, 20690, 20692, 20693, 20695, 20697, 20701, 20703, 20704, 20705, 20706, 20707, 20708, 20709, 20710, 20711, 20712, 20714, 20715, 20716, 20717, 20718, 20719, 20720, 20721, 20722, 20723, 20724, 20725, 20726, 20731, 20732, 20733, 20735, 20736, 20737, 20738, 20740, 20741, 20742, 20743, 20744, 20745, 20746, 20747, 20748, 20749, 20750, 20751, 20752, 20753, 20754, 20755, 20757, 20758, 20759, 20762, 20763, 20764, 20765, 20768, 20769, 20770, 20771, 20772, 20773, 20774, 20775, 20776, 20777, 20778, 20779, 20781, 20782, 20783, 20784, 20785, 20787, 20788, 20790, 20791, 20792, 20794, 20797, 20799, 20810, 20811, 20812, 20813, 20814, 20815, 20816, 20817, 20818, 20824, 20825, 20827, 20830, 20832, 20833, 20837, 20838, 20839, 20841, 20842, 20847, 20848, 20849, 20850, 20851, 20852, 20853, 20854, 20855, 20857, 20859, 20860, 20861, 20862, 20866, 20868, 20871, 20872, 20874, 20875, 20876, 20877, 20878, 20879, 20880, 20882, 20883, 20884, 20885, 20886, 20889, 20891, 20892, 20894, 20895, 20896, 20897, 20898, 20899, 20901, 20902, 20903, 20904, 20905, 20906, 20907, 20908, 20910, 20911, 20912, 20913, 20914, 20915, 20916, 20918, 20993, 20997, 21001, 21005, 21009, 21010, 21012, 21013, 21014, 21015, 21017, 21018, 21020, 21022, 21023, 21027, 21028, 21029, 21030, 21031, 21032, 21034, 21035, 21036, 21037, 21040, 21041, 21042, 21043, 21044, 21045, 21046, 21047, 21048, 21050, 21051, 21052, 21053, 21054, 21056, 21057, 21060, 21061, 21062, 21065, 21071, 21074, 21075, 21076, 21077, 21078, 21082, 21084, 21085, 21087, 21088, 21090, 21092, 21093, 21094, 21102, 21104, 21105, 21106, 21108, 21111, 21113, 21114, 21117, 21120, 21122, 21123, 21128, 21130, 21131, 21132, 21133, 21136, 21139, 21140, 21144, 21146, 21150, 21152, 21153, 21154, 21155, 21156, 21157, 21158, 21160, 21161, 21162, 21163, 21201, 21202, 21203, 21204, 21205, 21206, 21207, 21208, 21209, 21210, 21211, 21212, 21213, 21214, 21215, 21216, 21217, 21218, 21219, 21220, 21221, 21222, 21223, 21224, 21225, 21226, 21227, 21228, 21229, 21230, 21231, 21233, 21234, 21235, 21236, 21237, 21239, 21240, 21241, 21244, 21250, 21251, 21252, 21263, 21264, 21270, 21273, 21275, 21278, 21279, 21281, 21282, 21284, 21285, 21286, 21287, 21289, 21290, 21297, 21298, 21401, 21402, 21403, 21404, 21405, 21409, 21411, 21412, 21501, 21502, 21503, 21504, 21505, 21520, 21521, 21522, 21523, 21524, 21528, 21529, 21530, 21531, 21532, 21536, 21538, 21539, 21540, 21541, 21542, 21543, 21545, 21550, 21555, 21556, 21557, 21560, 21561, 21562, 21601, 21607, 21609, 21610, 21612, 21613, 21617, 21619, 21620, 21622, 21623, 21624, 21625, 21626, 21627, 21628, 21629, 21631, 21632, 21634, 21635, 21636, 21638, 21639, 21640, 21641, 21643, 21644, 21645, 21647, 21648, 21649, 21650, 21651, 21652, 21653, 21654, 21655, 21656, 21657, 21658, 21659, 21660, 21661, 21662, 21663, 21664, 21665, 21666, 21667, 21668, 21669, 21670, 21671, 21672, 21673, 21675, 21676, 21677, 21678, 21679, 21690, 21701, 21702, 21703, 21704, 21705, 21709, 21710, 21711, 21713, 21714, 21715, 21716, 21717, 21718, 21719, 21720, 21721, 21722, 21723, 21727, 21733, 21734, 21737, 21738, 21740, 21741, 21742, 21746, 21747, 21749, 21750, 21754, 21755, 21756, 21757, 21758, 21759, 21762, 21765, 21766, 21767, 21769, 21770, 21771, 21773, 21774, 21775, 21776, 21777, 21778, 21779, 21780, 21781, 21782, 21783, 21784, 21787, 21788, 21790, 21791, 21792, 21793, 21794, 21795, 21797, 21798, 21801, 21802, 21803, 21804, 21810, 21811, 21813, 21814, 21817, 21821, 21822, 21824, 21826, 21829, 21830, 21835, 21836, 21837, 21838, 21840, 21841, 21842, 21843, 21849, 21850, 21851, 21852, 21853, 21856, 21857, 21861, 21862, 21863, 21864, 21865, 21866, 21867, 21869, 21871, 21872, 21874, 21875, 21890, 21901, 21902, 21903, 21904, 21911, 21912, 21913, 21914, 21915, 21916, 21917, 21918, 21919, 21920, 21921, 21922, 21930
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