What Should I Do About My Valuable Items?

Ask your moving team for a “High-Value” items inventory sheet. Use it to list anything worth $1000 or more. If you have items of extreme value, be sure to have them appraised and provide our driver with a copy of the appraisal. This will make filing a claim for loss or damage easier and lets the packers and movers know you have items of value that must be carefully packed. If a different team is unloading your belongings in your new home be sure they also have a copy of the inventory. This way should anything come up missing or damaged, the detailed inventory will make it far easier for your Richmond movers to try and locate the items or pay for their repair or replacement.

There Are Any Items That Your Protection Policy Does Not Cover?

Coin/ stamp/ card collections/ currency/ money. Appraisals/ Deeds/ Legal Documents/ Manuscripts/ Passports. Computer Backup Disks/ Software Licenses. Negotiable Instruments/ Receipts/ Stocks/ Bonds/ Tax Records. Jewelry/ Precious Stones/ Medications.

Are There Things We Can Do to Help Keep Our Moving Costs Down?

Decluttering, if you don’t use it or its broken get rid of it.Heavy furniture like pool tables and pianos should be sold, offered as part of your home sale, or offered to the new owner. Check to see if you can get a refund on any unused portion of your homeowners’ insurance or see if the balance can be transferred to your new house.Use garages sales, family, friends, and charities to dispose of usable items.Never ship things like lumber, wood, lawn and garden supplies, paints, any types of chemicals, or gasoline. Most are on the Do Not Ship list and the rest are just more dead weight. If it won’t fit in your new home, why ship it and pay for storage. Copy CDs/DVDs onto your computers and sell them. Don’t ship heavy garage/shop furniture. Use large planters to pack small things. Any deposits you are owed should be collected before you move. Same for any club memberships or dues.

Can I Deduct the Cost of Moving On My Taxes?

As your Richmond movers, we recommend you talk to a tax accountant or specialist to confirm what you may or may not be able to deduct. However, there are a few common costs that can be deducted in most instances such as: Packing, shipping/transportation, and unpacking. Shipping your car. Hotel expenses during the trip to your new home. Moving your pets. Many other deductions will be based on the reason you are moving, including: You are moving to start a new job. You will be employed full-time for at least 39 weeks during your first year in your new home. Moving because you are in the military or you are moving to another country because of work. Self-employed must work at least 39 weeks of year one and a total of 72 weeks during the first two years. Your new job must be at least fifty miles away from your old home and closer to your new one.

Are There Things I Need to Take Care of Before Moving Day Arrives?

Unhook and disconnect all appliances and electronics, mark cables for ease of reassembly. Clean and dry dishes to prevent mold and bacteria growth. Remove ink/toner cartridges to prevent leaks (this type of damage is not covered). Backup your computer files onto discs, the cloud, or an external hard drive. Clean and dry all appliances, water can freeze and cause serious damage. Remove any CDs or DVDs from electronics to prevent warpage that can lead to damage. Hang and fold your clothes, the packers won’t do this.

Are There Any Reservations I Need to Make?

If you are moving out of an apartment building, you may need to: Make sure there is room in the parking lot as many local moving companies use a truck that measures 75 feet long. If parking permits are needed, you may need to be the one to secure them. Reserving the freight elevator if there is one, or the main one if not to make things easier for the movers.

What Should I Leave Until the Last Minute Before My Richmond Movers Arrive?

Clean all perishables from the fridge and freezer, your grill, garbage cans, and unhook garden hoses. Get rid of anything you don’t plan to ship so you are paying to ship these items. Remove bedding from all mattresses. Remove loose items, liquids, and anything fragile from dresser drawers. Strip the walls of paintings, photos, mirrors, and window treatments. Pack your travel suitcases and keep them in a separate place to avoid the local moving companies putting them in boxes and on the truck. Leave all boxes you have packed unsealed for the movers to verify you aren’t shipping anything you shouldn’t be.

Ultimate Guide to Hiring a Moving Company in Richmond, VA

Posted on: Thursday, April 9th, 2026

Hiring the wrong moving company costs more than money. It costs time, damaged belongings, and, in some cases, a shipment held until you pay more than you originally agreed to. Finding a top-rated moving company in Richmond VA, that is also properly licensed, transparent about pricing, and accountable from pickup to delivery takes more than a quick Google search.

This guide walks through exactly how to hire a legitimate mover in Richmond without making the mistakes that lead to those situations.

Step 1: Define What Your Move Actually Involves

Before calling any company, be clear on the scope of the job. Moving companies price and staff jobs differently depending on what is involved.

Consider whether you are moving locally under 30 miles, within Virginia, or across state lines. Determine whether you are moving a home, an apartment, an office, or a combination, and whether you need packing services or are handling that yourself. High-value or specialty items such as pianos, artwork, or server hardware significantly change the scope, as does whether you need storage between your move-out and move-in dates. Each of these factors changes the type of company that fits the job and how pricing gets calculated.

Step 2: Understand the Difference Between a Carrier and a Broker

This is the most common source of moving problems in Virginia, and most people do not know it exists until something goes wrong.

A moving carrier is a licensed company that performs the actual move. They own trucks, employ their own crew, hold a US DOT number, and are directly accountable for your shipment from pickup to delivery. A moving broker takes your booking and sells the job to a third-party company. Brokers do not own trucks or employ movers, and the company that shows up on move day may not be the one you spoke with when booking.

Brokers are legally required to disclose that they are brokers, but many do not make this easy to find. To verify any company, look up their DOT number at the FMCSA SaferSys database. A carrier will have trucks registered. A broker will not.

Step 3: Verify Credentials Before You Commit

A licensed moving company will have all of the following. If any are missing or difficult to find, keep looking.

For any move, the company should have an active US DOT number verifiable at FMCSA SaferSys, a physical warehouse address rather than a mailing address or office park suite, workers’ compensation coverage, and background-checked employees. For interstate moves, they need Interstate Motor Carrier Authority with an MC number separate from the DOT number, and either an affiliation with a Van Lines network or their own fleet for long-distance shipments. For intrastate moves within Virginia, they need Virginia intrastate authority operating under the Virginia Movers and Warehousemen Association tariff filed with the Virginia DMV.

Step 4: Get the Right Type of Estimate

Once you confirm a company is a licensed carrier with the right credentials, understand what kind of estimate you are being given before you sign anything.

A binding estimate fixes the price based on the services and inventory agreed upon at the time of the estimate. If you add services on move day, the total increases, but the base is protected. A non-binding estimate is based on actual weight and time, so the final price may vary. You have the right to inspect the weigh tickets. A Guaranteed Not-to-Exceed estimate sets a maximum price; if the actual cost is lower, you pay the lower amount. This is the most protective option for residential customers.

Watch for estimates given over the phone based on a rough description, since these are rarely accurate for weight-based pricing. Dunmar Moving Systems sends a move consultant to conduct an in-home or virtual visual survey before issuing any written pricing.

Step 5: Know What to Expect on Move Day

A professional crew arrives on time with the right equipment and a clear inventory of what is being moved. Before anything is loaded, the driver presents a Bill of Lading, which is the legal contract for the move. Review it before signing.

The total charged at delivery should match the estimate type you selected. If it does not, ask for a written explanation before any items are unloaded. For Binding and Guaranteed Not-to-Exceed estimates, the carrier cannot legally demand more than the agreed amount for the agreed services.

Step 6: Red Flags to Watch Before You Book

Large upfront deposits of 30 percent or more before any work begins are a concern since the standard for a licensed carrier is around 10 percent. Estimates issued over the phone or online without an in-home or virtual survey are also worth questioning.

No physical warehouse address, or an address that shows only an office building with no trucks on site, is a red flag. Pricing based on cubic feet rather than weight is common among brokers and is not the industry-standard method for licensed carriers. A crew that arrives with an unmarked truck or a different company name than the one you booked with signals a brokered job.

Dunmar Moving Systems holds US DOT No. 076235 and operates as an authorized Allied Van Lines agent with MC 15735. In operation in Virginia since 1970, all staff are background-checked and have workers’ compensation coverage.

Why These Steps Apply to Every Move Type

The same principles apply whether you are booking a local move in Richmond, a long-distance move from Virginia, a corporate relocation, or a military PCS. The company you hire should be licensed, accountable, and transparent about how the job will be priced and executed.

A dedicated coordinator is assigned to every job from estimate through delivery, so you have one point of contact throughout the entire process. Request a free estimate, and the full process will be walked through before you commit.

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