Hiring a moving company is one of the most expensive decisions you’ll make outside of buying the home itself. Pick the wrong one and you face damaged belongings, surprise fees, or worse, a “hostage load” where movers demand more money before they’ll unload your truck. This guide walks you through the eight checks that separate professional New Hampshire movers from the rest.
We’ve moved homes and businesses across New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and the broader Northeast since 1991. The vetting steps below are what we’d want you to apply to any mover, including us.
1. Verify their license, USDOT number, and insurance
Two layers of regulation cover moving companies in New Hampshire.
For interstate moves (any move that crosses state lines), the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration requires a valid USDOT number. You can verify it for free at the FMCSA SAFER website. Pull up the carrier and check three things: that their authority is active, that their insurance is current, and that they’re listed as a household goods carrier, not just a broker. College Bound Movers’ USDOT is 650086.
For intrastate moves (anything that starts and ends inside New Hampshire), the NH Bureau of Road Toll within the NH Department of Safety oversees household goods carriers under Chapter Saf-C 4600 rules. Ask any NH mover whether they comply with these state rules. A legitimate company will know exactly what you mean.
Then ask for proof of:
- Cargo liability insurance, which covers damage to your belongings in transit
- General liability insurance, which covers property damage at your home
- Workers’ compensation, which covers crew injuries on your property
If a company hesitates to send you certificates, walk away.
2. Compare written estimates from at least three NH moving companies
Get at least three written estimates. Don’t go with the first quote you see, and don’t pick on price alone. The cheapest bid is often the one with the most expensive surprises.
Insist on a physical or virtual in-home survey. A phone quote is a guess. A real estimate comes after someone has seen your stuff. The mover needs to know how many flights of stairs they’ll climb, where the truck will park, how wide the doorways are, what specialty items they’re moving, and whether they’re using an elevator.
Under New Hampshire’s intrastate rules, a mover cannot charge you more than 10 percent above the written estimate without your written consent. That protection only works if you actually have the estimate in writing. Verbal quotes give you nothing to point to when the bill arrives.
3. Know the difference between binding and non-binding moving estimates
Estimates come in three flavors and the difference matters.
- Binding estimate. You pay the quoted price, full stop. No more, no less, even if the truck weighs heavier than the mover guessed. If you add items mid-move, the binding price gets renegotiated in writing before loading.
- Non-binding estimate. The mover’s best guess based on estimated weight. Under FMCSA rules, you can be required to pay up to 110 percent at delivery, with the balance billed within 30 days. Lowballs and scams live here.
- Binding not-to-exceed estimate. The customer-friendly one. You pay the quoted amount or less if the actual weight comes in under estimate, but never more. Ask if it’s available for your move.
The estimate document should say “Binding,” “Non-Binding,” or “Not-To-Exceed” plainly on the page. If it doesn’t, demand clarification in writing before signing anything.
4. Check years in business, BBB accreditation, and customer reviews
A moving company that has been operating in New Hampshire for decades has been through inflation cycles, fuel spikes, and labor shortages without losing its license. That’s a track record you can trust.
A few quick filters:
- Years in business. Verify the founding year on the BBB profile or the NH Secretary of State business search, not just the website.
- BBB accreditation and rating. A+ accreditation means the company has agreed to BBB standards and has resolved complaints in good faith. College Bound Movers has been BBB accredited since 1996.
- Volume and recency of reviews. A mover with 50 reviews from the last six months gives you a clearer picture than one with 500 reviews from 2017. Read the 1-star and 3-star reviews to see how the company handles problems.
- Industry rankings. Third-party reviewers like Freightwaves Checkpoint, Move.org, and MoveBuddha rank NH movers using verified customer data. Freightwaves Checkpoint ranked College Bound Movers the top in-state New Hampshire moving company in April 2026.
You can read our customer reviews and check our awards and recognition before you decide.
5. Confirm they handle your specific move type
“Movers” covers a lot of ground. Make sure the company you call actually does the kind of move you have.
Residential, apartment, and senior moves
Residential moves cover houses, condos, and apartments. Apartment moves often need a certificate of insurance for the building manager, so ask up front. Senior moves are their own discipline. Downsizing from a long-time family home means slower-paced scheduling, sorting and donation coordination, and crews trained to work with elderly clients. Senior moves often include estate cleanout and donation runs as add-ons.
Commercial and office moves
Commercial moves and office moving services involve cubicles, server rooms, IT equipment, and after-hours scheduling. Different gear, different crews, different liability concerns. A residential-only mover won’t have the right setup.
Local, intrastate, and long-distance moves
Local moves and intrastate NH moves stay inside state lines. The pricing model is usually hourly with travel time included, and the state’s Saf-C 4600 rules apply. Long-distance moves that cross state lines trigger FMCSA jurisdiction and require a valid USDOT number. Ask whether your long-distance move is direct or consolidated with other shipments, since consolidated moves take longer.
Small, mini, and last-minute moves
Some companies offer “mini moves” for studios or partial loads at a flat rate. Ask if you only need one truck and a few hours of labor.
6. Ask about specialty items, packing, and add-on services
Most movers will load standard furniture and boxes. Specialty items separate the pros from the rest.
Pianos, gun safes, hot tubs, exercise and home gym equipment, antiques, artwork, large sectionals, vending machines, and pool tables all need specific equipment and trained crews. Not every company carries piano dollies or hydraulic safe lifts. Ask before you book, and disclose every specialty item at quote time so the estimate stays accurate.
Other add-ons worth asking about:
- Packing services, full or partial pack
- Packing supplies: boxes, tape, paper, wardrobe boxes, dish packs
- Furniture disassembly and reassembly
- Storage between move-out and move-in
- Labor-only crews if you’re renting your own truck
- Home staging if you’re selling first
- Corporate relocation packages for employee transfers
- Junk removal, estate cleanout, and move-in cleaning
7. Understand what affects the cost of movers in New Hampshire
NH moving rates run higher than the national average. Recent industry data puts the average NH hourly crew rate around $178, against a national average closer to $137. Average local moves in New Hampshire range from about $492 to $1,491 depending on home size and crew needed.
Six factors drive your final bill:
- Hourly rate and crew size. Two movers cost less per hour than four, but a four-person crew often finishes in half the time.
- Travel time. Most NH movers bill round-trip travel from their garage. Ask where they dispatch from.
- Distance and stops. Single-stop local moves are cheapest. Multi-stop or long-distance moves add fuel and overnight costs.
- Stairs, elevators, and long carries. A second-floor walk-up takes longer than a ground-floor unit with curbside parking.
- Specialty items and packing. Pianos, packing, crating, and large appliances each add to the quote.
- Season and day of week. Summer weekends and the last few days of any month are the most expensive windows. Mid-month weekdays in winter are the cheapest.
For an accurate number on your move, request a free in-home estimate.
8. Check the moving company’s service area and route knowledge
A local mover knows the neighborhoods, the shortcuts, the parking quirks, and the road closures. That knowledge saves you billable hours.
Our service area covers Merrimack, Nashua, Manchester, Concord, Bedford, Hudson, Derry, Salem, Portsmouth, Dover, and the rest of southern New Hampshire, plus the Merrimack Valley in Massachusetts and the broader New England region. If you’re moving outside our service area, ask which carrier we partner with for that route.
9. Watch for these red flags before you sign
Most New Hampshire moving companies are reputable. The ones that aren’t share a recognizable set of warning signs.
- No physical address or only a cell phone. Legitimate movers have a garage and an office. Look up the address on Google Maps.
- Demands a large deposit upfront. Reputable movers collect on delivery, sometimes with a small reservation fee. A 30 to 50 percent deposit before any work is a red flag.
- No written estimate or refusal to do an in-home survey. This is the most reliable scam indicator.
- Vague or missing USDOT info on an interstate quote. Verify at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov before signing.
- Pressure to sign immediately. A reputable company gives you time to compare.
- Reviews that all sound alike. Identical phrasing across many reviews suggests paid or fake reviews.
- Estimate dramatically lower than the others. When two quotes come in around $2,400 and a third comes in at $900, the cheap one will find a way to make up the difference on moving day.
- No printed bill of lading. This is the legal contract for your move. Never load without it.
Contact College Bound Movers in Merrimack, NH
College Bound Movers has been a licensed, insured, and BBB-accredited New Hampshire moving company since 1991. Our Merrimack, NH headquarters serves clients across Nashua, Manchester, Concord, the Merrimack Valley, and the broader New England region.
Call 603-882-6683 or request a free estimate online.
