Moving FAQs

You must check the licensing of every moving company you are considering as you want to use a licensed and insured company to ensure that your move goes smoothly.

To check a moving company or moving broker’s licenses, insurance, safety data and other services related to the transportation industry please visit: https://safer.fmcsa.dot.gov/. When visiting, make sure to have the company’s DOT or MC number so you can see the requested data. Here are Elite’s license numbers for you to check our record: DOT: 1567283, MC: 580862, ILL C C: 153937. Call Elite Moving & Storage at 847-675-8701 and ask your consultant for assistance.

Moving brokers act as middlemen between the person who is moving and the moving company. Brokers do not do the actual moving and typically do not own trucks or moving equipment, or have a professional moving staff. A moving company will have trucks and employs movers to perform your move.

Check the company’s record with the Better Business Bureau – https://www.bbb.org. You can see an overview of when the moving company was established and check the rating of that company. We recommend only using companies with an A rating that have been in business for at least 5 years. A poor rating with the BBB can be a red flag- showing that a company does very little, if anything, to resolve customer complaints when things do go wrong.

Reviews on social media sites should be taken with a grain of salt as they cannot be verified. Anyone can go on these sites, write any type of review for a company, and post it.

We are not affiliated with any other Elite companies that may have the same name. We are an independent, family-owned company located in Lincolnwood, IL. We serve the Chicagoland area for families moving locally within Chicago as well as long distance. Please note that we have no affiliation with a moving company based in Nevada also called Elite.

An estimate helps you understand the moving costs ahead of time and avoid any surprises on moving day. Make sure to receive a written estimate. When comparing prices from different companies, ensure that you are using only an A rated company with the Better Business Bureau and that all estimates are based on the same size shipment.

To receive an accurate quote we first need to know from where to where you are moving. If you are moving locally, we will need to know the number of bedrooms and rooms you are moving. If you are moving from state to state, we need an inventory list of the items that do not fit into a box and an estimated number of boxes.

In addition to the size of the move we would need to know if there are stairs involved at origin and destination. Will you need packing services? Do you have any specialty items to be moved like pianos, chandelier, grandfather clock etc? Will we be able to park our moving truck in front of your home at origin and destination.

There are companies that charge based on the weight of the shipment. They will weigh the truck before your move, and once again after your items have been loaded. Your final cost will be based on the actual weight of your shipment. This might seem great, but because there is no way to weigh your furniture before your actual move – all you get before the pickup is an “estimate”. Most of these companies will even go as far as offering you a “binding estimate” but it is a binding only for the estimated weight. One pound different and the estimate is no longer binding. We made it simple – you give us a list of items that you want to have moved and we guarantee your price for that list as described. Easy to understand, no need to guess the weight of your furniture, just tell us what you have and we will give you an easy to understand binding price for your move.

Local moves are charged at an hourly rate and the final cost is based on the actual time it took to complete your move. There are two payments: The first is a deposit to schedule the moving truck and crew, and the second and final payment is due when the movers are finished placing your items in your new home.

For long-distance moves, your quote is guaranteed for your inventory list and based on the distance between the pickup and delivery locations. Please make sure to provide your agent with all the details of your move for a precise quote. There are three payments for long-distance moves: A deposit to schedule the move, a payment at the pickup location, and a final payment upon arrival at the destination.

We calculate our price for your move based on your inventory. Using your inventory, we are able to give you a guaranteed price to move the items on your list. This way, you know the price before we arrive at your home and start working. Our prices are as accurate as your list and will never change unless you decide to add items to your moving list.

There are companies that charge based on the weight of the shipment. They will weigh the truck before your move, and once again after your items have been loaded. Your final cost will be based on the actual weight of your shipment.  This might seem great, but because there is no way to weigh your furniture before your actual move – all you get before the pickup is an “estimate”. Most of these companies will even go as far as offering you a “binding estimate” but it is a binding only for the estimated weight.  One pound different and the estimate is no longer binding.   We made it simple – you give us a list of items that you want to have moved and we guarantee your price for that list as described.  Easy to understand, no need to guess the weight of your furniture, just tell us what you have and we will give you an easy to understand binding price for your move.

We understand that you have a lot on your plate while arranging your move.  Things are occasionally overlooked, like a dresser, a couple of boxes, or a rug.  This is why we supply you with a guaranteed rate per cubic foot for long-distance moves. With a guaranteed rate per cubic foot, there is no penalty fee for items added to the shipment on the day of the move. You’ll pay for adding items on the day of the move, but the rate will stay the same—no surprise penalty rates will be applied to the whole shipment.

The guaranteed rate per cubic foot also gives you flexibility.  If on the day of the move we find a couple of boxes that were not on the original inventory, you can decide if you’d like to add them to the shipment at the same rate per cubic foot, or you can replace something less important from the shipment without raising the price. You are in control. By giving you a guaranteed rate per cubic foot, we save you money and avoid the guess and stress.

Some of our competitors will charge an additive rate to accommodate additional items, space, or weight on the day of the move. That additive rate can be as high as 250% over their original rate. This can affect the final cost of the move. We at Elite protect our clients with a guaranteed rate per cubic foot, meaning that there is no penalty fee to add items to your shipment on the day of the move.

You have several levels of insurance coverage available to you. As a fully insured company, Elite offers you limited liability coverage at no additional cost.  Alternatively, you can purchase full value protection from Elite, or you can purchase an insurance policy from a third party insurance company. We suggest checking with your homeowner or renters insurance provider about coverage options they may offer.  Please check our website (link to insurance page) or call your relocation specialist for more details at 847-675-8701.

The movers will wrap your furniture with durable moving pads so that everything’s protected during the move.

Our professional movers/packers will bring the boxes to your door on the day of the move, pack all items that fit into boxes, and crate the larger furniture with glass tops and doors. We’ll also provide mattress covers for your beds and pack your electronics.

Movers use tape to secure the protective moving pads on your furniture. Tape is also used to create handles to help movers carry items to and from the truck.

Should you request packing and/or unpacking services, we will pack (or unpack) as much or as little as you want.

Yes. Movers come prepared to accommodate your needs. On moving day, packing materials will be available for purchase if needed. It is helpful if you ask for packing services in advance, but we are able to handle last-minute requests on moving day.

Unless packing services are included in the quote you received, the movers will wrap your furniture with durable moving pads. Anything that can fit in a box should be boxed up, and all fragile items with glass must be put in a cardboard crate prior to the movers’ arrival. Mattresses and box springs should have plastic covers. You can purchase our packing service or buy packing materials from Elite before the move or on moving day.

Yes! We provide both short-term and long-term storage services to clients using our moving services. Call your agent at Elite Moving & Storage (312-313-4042) for a storage quote.

Our storage cost is conveniently priced based on the size of your shipment. Meaning you are paying for the exact space you are using rather than paying for a set room size that Public Storage will bill you for even if you do not use the entire space. That means you only pay for the storage space you actually use rather than for a set room size like Public Storage will bill you for.

Our storage facility is climate controlled and secured.

Elite Moving and Storage provides storage solutions to our clients that are moving locally in the Chicagoland area and to clients moving from state to state. We do not offer an option to access your items while in storage.

Storage is billed month to month and should be paid in advance.

Yes! All we need is the make, model, year, and the condition of the vehicle (running or not running) to provide you with a quote.

We suggest that you book three to four weeks in advance. If planning in advance is not possible, we will do our best to accommodate last-minute moves. Based on availability, we may be able to accommodate moves on a one-day notice.

After you contact us for your free moving quote, your assigned moving consultant will help you set your moving date.

A deposit guarantees that we will move you on your requested date. However, it is fully refundable as long as you cancel within the contracted time.

We will do our best to accommodate any scheduling changes. As long as you give us enough notice, we should be able to accommodate your needs.

We ask you to prepay when you schedule your move. The cost varies, but is typically $50.0 unless scheduled at the last minute. The amount you prepay will be deducted from the total cost of the move. The remaining balance should be paid by when the move is complete.

We require a 20% deposit at the time of scheduling. You will then pay 50% of the total cost on moving day, and the remaining balance once the move is complete. *Last-minute moves will require a higher deposit.

For your convenience, we accept credit and debit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express), cashier’s check, money order, or cash. No personal checks are accepted. Please call your agent for additional details.

Check with your building management in advance and notify your moving agent if the building requires a certificate of insurance, has time restrictions on when movers can work, requires elevator reservations, or has any other requirements.

Please make sure that your building or street can accommodate the size of the moving truck and trailer at both the origin and the destination. Make sure to call your moving agent in advance about any restrictions to avoid additional charges on moving day.

Consider how our movers will be able to navigate your pickup location. Your hallways and doorways should be clear of clutter. Please finish packing prior to moving day, as this will speed up the moving process. Check on any restrictions for the truck size and notify the movers if you need to move any oversized items.

After scheduling your move, our relocation specialist will email you a contract for you to review. Make sure to verify the dates, addresses, cost, and most importantly, the inventory. If you need to make any changes, contact your Elite relocation specialist to inform them of the changes. After you’ve verified the details on the contract, you will need to electronically sign the document. Once you receive confirmation that your electronic signature was submitted successfully, you’re all set.

Not a problem. We are happy to accommodate any changes to your inventory, dates, or location as long as you let us know within the contracted time.

Our dispatch will contact you on the day before your move to confirm our crew’s arrival time.

If possible, we recommend leaving the kids with a babysitter, friends, or relatives on moving day to free up your time for the move.

For their safety and your peace of mind, we recommend placing your pets in a kennel or leaving them with neighbors for the day. If that’s not an option, pets should be put in the backyard or a separate room where the movers will not need access.

We know that moving day is stressful. That is why we email a summary of charges to all of our clients after the pickup date. This gives you time to review everything at your convenience and then sign electronically confirming the information.

We will contact you as soon as we have the updated delivery window for your move. If you wish to speak with us right away, please call 847-675-8701 or email at info@elitemover.com.