Every spring we field calls from people whose previous mover left them with broken furniture, a bigger bill than the quote, or — worst case — a truck full of their stuff held hostage until they paid extra. None of these stories had to happen. Each of them had at least one red flag in the original conversation.
Here are seven, in roughly the order you'll encounter them.
1. The quote came in over text or email with no inventory questions
A real quote requires an inventory. Either an in-home walkthrough, a video call, or at minimum a long form where you list every room and big item. If a company emails back "$120/hr, 3 movers, no problem" without asking what you own, they're guessing — and the guess will go up on move day.
2. The hourly rate is well below market
The Montreal market for residential moves is roughly $120–$180/hour for a 2-3 person crew with a truck, including basic insurance. If someone quotes $80/hour, they're either:
- Not paying their crew well (turnover = inexperienced movers = damage).
- Not carrying real cargo or liability insurance.
- Planning to make the difference up in surprise charges.
You don't want any of these.
3. They can't tell you their CARGO insurance and liability coverage
Ask, in a single email: "What is your cargo insurance, your commercial auto liability, and your CMQ permit number?"
A legitimate Quebec mover should answer this in under 24 hours. They should have:
- Commercial auto liability (mandatory).
- Cargo coverage on the truck (your goods while in transit).
- If they're moving general public goods commercially, registration with Commission des transports du Québec (CTQ).
If they go vague or push back on you for asking, that's your answer.
4. They want a large cash deposit
Most Montreal movers ask for either no deposit, a small fixed amount ($100–$200), or a credit card hold. If someone wants 30% of the total in cash up front before move day, walk away. This is a classic setup for movers who disappear.
5. The company has no real online footprint
Look for:
- A real website with their actual phone, address, and hours.
- Google Business listing with reviews — preferably 50+ across multiple years. A brand-new company with 80 five-star reviews from last week is a red flag of a different kind.
- Real photos of their trucks and crew. Stock photos only is a bad sign.
- The same company name appearing on the website, the truck, the invoice, and the email signature.
6. They won't put the price ceiling in writing
For local moves, a written quote should include:
- The hourly rate and minimum hours.
- The travel/transport fee structure.
- An estimated total range based on your inventory.
- A "not to exceed" cap or a clear list of what could push it higher (extra crew, materials, stairs, parking distance).
For long-distance, the quote should be binding within a defined inventory and weight range. "We'll figure it out at delivery" is the answer that ends in a lawsuit.
7. The reviews mention damage and price disputes — and the company doesn't reply
Bad reviews happen to good companies. What matters is how they respond. A serious mover will reply to bad reviews professionally, address the specific complaint, and explain what changed. A bad mover ignores them, or worse, attacks the customer. Spend ten minutes on Google Reviews and you'll learn more than from any sales call.
What a good mover should sound like
On the first call, a good mover asks more questions than you do. They want to know:
- Source and destination addresses, parking, elevator, stairs.
- What rooms, big items, anything fragile or unusual.
- Date flexibility.
- Whether you want packing service or DIY.
- Anything you're worried about.
They send a written quote. They have a phone number that gets answered. They give you a name and a cell for the day-of contact. They show up on time with a clean truck and uniformed crew. The bill at the end matches the quote, or they tell you exactly why it doesn't, before they ask you to sign.
That's not too much to ask. It should be the bar.
Want to see how we'd answer all 7?
Vous voulez voir comment on répond aux 7 ?
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