Moving FAQ: Capital Moving & Storage

Planning your move

How far ahead should I book my move?

Most local moves are booked a few weeks out. For end-of-month, summer, weekend or holiday moves, call earlier, since those days fill first. If your closing date might shift, ask us about rescheduling up front; the more notice you give, the easier a change is.

What if my closing date or time changes?

Closing delays are common, and we plan for them. We can shift your crew’s arrival time, keep your belongings loaded on the truck until you get the keys, or put them into storage. On a large move that can’t begin loading until late afternoon, we may need to finish the next day, because tired crews make mistakes. It’s always safer to plan your move for the day after your closing. In NC, many factors outside your control can delay a closing.

Do I need to be home on moving day?

Yes, you or someone who can make decisions for you should be there when we arrive and before we leave each location, so nothing is missed and furniture ends up where you want it.

How can I make my move faster and less expensive?

Hourly moves are billed in quarter-hour increments, so preparation saves you money. Have boxes packed, sealed and labeled by room, empty dresser drawers and furniture, disconnect electronics, clear walkways, and decide ahead of time where large furniture goes.

How do I get an accurate quote?

Tell us your moving date, both addresses and access details like stairs, elevators and parking, plus the rooms and any large, heavy or fragile items. For the most accurate quote we recommend an in-home estimate, so we can see everything face-to-face. We don’t use online visual estimators.

Packing and protection

Do you offer packing services?

Yes. We can pack your whole home or just the fragile items, and we supply the materials. See example packing costs in our moving costs and pricing guide. When our crew packs a box, we use professional materials, document what’s inside and the box is covered. Boxes you pack yourself can’t be fully covered, because we can’t verify how they were packed. On a tight budget, many customers have us pack only dishes, glassware, artwork, lamps and TVs.

How do you protect my home and furniture?

Protection starts as soon as we arrive. Furniture is wrapped in moving blankets before it leaves the room, and we lay runners over high-traffic floors and pad door frames and tight corners. If you have delicate flooring, such as refinished hardwood or cork, tell us ahead of time so we can bring extra protection.

How do you move TVs?

The safest way to move a TV is in a proper TV box. If we box it, it’s packed correctly, secured in the truck and covered. If you’d rather skip the box, we’ll pad it carefully, but you’ll be asked to sign a release noting it wasn’t boxed.

Specialty items

Do you move pianos?

Yes, including uprights, baby grands and grands. We take off the legs where needed, strap the piano to a piano board, wrap it fully in blankets and secure it in the truck. Plan to have it tuned after the move, since relocation usually affects tuning. Depending on where the piano is located and the scope of your move, we may recommend a specialist piano mover to secure, move and re-tune it.

Do you move gun safes and other heavy items?

Yes, depending on the weight and how we get to it. A safe on the ground floor with clear access is usually simple; heavier safes may need a truck with a lift gate, and stairs, slopes or soft ground may need extra crew. Tell us the safe’s weight and the path to it when you request your quote, so we can plan the right crew and equipment.

Do you move antiques and high-value items?

Yes. Tell us about high-value items before your move so they can be protected and covered properly. Basic coverage is 60 cents per pound per article; full value protection is available for an added cost.

Can you move my plants?

On local moves, yes, though plants can’t be covered for damage, and heat or cold in the truck can stress them. On interstate moves, federal rules restrict moving plants, so we can’t take them. Many customers carry their plants in their own car.

Storage

Do you offer storage?

Yes. We offer storage in transit (billed monthly by weight), temperature-controlled vaulted storage (a fixed monthly rate per vault) and short-term truck-hold storage (a daily rate). Your belongings stay in a secure, monitored facility, and they remain protected under your coverage while in our care, which a self-storage unit can’t offer.

Can I get to my things while they’re in storage?

It depends on the type of storage. If you give us advance notice and a crew is available to pull your items or unstack and restack them, we can usually accommodate the request. There’s typically a fee for this service.

Pricing, billing and payment

Where can I see your prices?

Typical costs by home size for the Triangle, the Triad and Charlotte / Lake Norman, plus long-distance, packing and storage details, are in our moving costs and pricing guide.

How is my time billed?

Local moves are billed hourly in quarter-hour increments. Your hourly rate and minimum are spelled out in writing before the move. The clock starts when the crew arrives and stops when the last item is placed, reassembled and the area is cleaned up. If the crew has to wait for decisions on move day, that time is billed too, so planning ahead saves money.

Is there a minimum?

Yes. Local moves in the Triangle and Charlotte / Lake Norman have a 3-hour minimum, and moves in the Triad have a 2-hour minimum. Each will require one additional hour to cover the crew’s travel time to and from our warehouse or office.

How are long-distance moves priced?

Long-distance pricing applies on in-state moves of more than 50 miles, or interstate moves. These moves aren’t billed by the hour; they’re priced by the weight of your shipment and the distance, plus a fuel surcharge charged per mile at the current monthly rate.

What’s the difference between a binding and a non-binding estimate?

A binding estimate is a set price for the listed services. A non-binding estimate is our best projection based on your inventory, where your final bill reflects the actual weight and services. Every move gets a free written estimate, and a binding estimate is available on request.

Do you need a deposit?

No deposit is required to book your move.

What payment do you take?

We accept cash, credit and debit cards, and checks. Card payments include a processing fee of up to 4%, passed through at cost.

When is payment due?

On hourly local moves, you pay when the job is finished. On long-distance moves, payment is collected before we unload, which protects both you and us. This applies to both commercial and residential moves.

Should I tip the crew?

Tips are never required, but they’re always appreciated by crews who did a great job. Tip whatever feels right for the service you received.

Licensing, coverage and claims

Are you licensed?

Yes. Capital Moving & Storage is a licensed North Carolina household goods mover, regulated by the North Carolina Utilities Commission.

How do I avoid an unlicensed mover?

Avoid unlicensed movers: they aren’t held to the state’s rules, typically carry no insurance, and can leave you with little recourse if something goes wrong. If a quote is significantly higher or lower than typical prices, check that the mover appears on the NC Utilities Commission’s Transportation Carriers list.

Is my stuff covered?

Basic coverage of 60 cents per pound per article is included at no charge. Full value protection is available for an added cost.

How do I file a claim?

Claim deadlines and coverage levels are set by state and federal rules that apply to every licensed mover. If something is damaged, report it to us promptly and submit one claim form per move listing every item, so we can review everything at once. We investigate each claim, talk with the crew, review the paperwork and try to repair an item before replacing it.

Moving day conditions

Do you move in the rain?

Yes. Rain is part of life in North Carolina and rarely cancels a move. We use extra plastic wrap and floor protection and wrap and unwrap items as they come off the truck. We reschedule only when conditions are truly unsafe, such as ice or severe storms.

Do you move apartments and condos?

Yes. Tell us about elevators, stairs, parking and long walks to the truck when you request your quote, so your estimate is accurate. Many buildings require an elevator reservation and a certificate of insurance (COI) from the mover; we can always provide one if your building asks.

Do you serve my area?

We serve the Triangle (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill), the Triad (Greensboro, Winston-Salem) and Charlotte / Lake Norman, and we handle long-distance moves in-state and out of state.