How to Choose a Moving Company in North Texas (And the Red Flags That Should Make You Walk Away)

Anywhere Movers
Jun 23
8 min read

How to Choose a Moving Company in North Texas

Every week I get a version of the same call.

Someone tells me they got three quotes. One came in at $400. One at $950. One at $1,400. They want to know why there's such a wide gap — and which one they should trust.

I always tell them the same thing: the price is the last thing I'd focus on. The real question is whether the company giving you that number knows what they're doing, has something to lose if they don't, and will still pick up the phone after your furniture is on their truck.

I'm Dan Marzella, owner of Anywhere Movers. We're a licensed, family-owned moving company in Frisco, TX, and since 2020 our local movers have completed over 1,800 moves across the DFW metroplex. I've seen the full picture — the customers who had great experiences with other companies, and the ones who called us to fix what went wrong. This post is based on that.

Here's how to actually evaluate a moving company before you hand them your keys.

Start With Licensing — Before Anything Else

This is non-negotiable in Texas, and most people skip it entirely.

Any moving company operating in Texas is required to be licensed with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles. You can look up any company in about 30 seconds at the TxDMV Motor Carrier search. If they're not listed, they're operating illegally. Full stop.

For moves that involve crossing state lines, the company also needs a U.S. DOT number registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. You can verify that at FMCSA SAFER.

What you're looking for: an active license, no serious violations on record, and a company that can tell you their license number without hesitating. If a moving company can't immediately tell you their TxDMV number and USDOT number, that's the first red flag.

Anywhere Movers: TxDMV #00963788C | USDOT #3496636. You're welcome to verify both.

Read the Reviews — But Read Them Right

Reviews matter, but not the way most people think.

Star rating alone tells you almost nothing. A company can have a 4.8 with 12 reviews and be completely inconsistent. Look for volume first — a company with 150+ reviews over several years has enough data to tell a real story.

Then read for specifics. Vague reviews like "great service, would recommend!" don't tell you much. Look for reviews that mention crew names, describe the move itself, call out specific situations — stairs, heavy furniture, apartment elevator, tight hallways — and explain how the company handled them. Those are real customers describing real experiences.

Also pay attention to how the company responds to negative reviews. Every company gets a bad review eventually. What matters is whether the response is defensive and dismissive or professional and accountable. That response tells you more about the business than the review itself.

Finally, look at the dates. A company that had 80 great reviews in 2021 and hasn't gotten a new one since may not be operating the same way anymore.

Pricing — What Honest Looks Like

Legitimate moving companies in North Texas generally charge hourly rates based on crew size and the number of trucks. You'll typically see a minimum number of hours (usually two or three) and a travel fee or drive time charge.

Here's what honest pricing looks like: the company tells you the hourly rate, the crew size they're recommending for your move, the minimum hours, any additional fees (fuel, long carry, stairs, elevator), and roughly how long your move should take. You should understand all of that before signing anything.

Here's what dishonest pricing looks like: a flat number over the phone before they've asked you a single question about your home. A quote that seems dramatically lower than everyone else. No mention of additional fees until they're already charging them. A "guaranteed price" that comes with a long list of exceptions buried in small print.

The company quoting you $400 to move a two-bedroom apartment is either planning to hold your belongings hostage until you pay more, or they're going to send two guys in a rented U-Haul who have never professionally wrapped a piece of furniture. I've seen both.

Get everything in writing. If a company won't put their pricing in an email or a written estimate, walk away.

How They Communicate Before the Move Tells You Everything

You can tell a lot about a moving company by how they treat you before you've spent a dollar.

Do they answer the phone, or do you leave voicemails and wait? Do they follow up with a written estimate that explains what's included? Do they walk you through what to expect on moving day — arrival window, crew size, what happens if the job runs long? Do they ask enough questions about your home to actually give you an accurate estimate?

If a company is slow to respond, unclear in their communication, or unwilling to explain their process before you book, that behavior doesn't improve once they have your deposit.

Good communication is boring. It should feel like nothing, because everything was already explained. Bad communication is memorable for all the wrong reasons.

Questions to Ask Before You Book Any Moving Company

These are the questions I'd want answered if I were hiring a mover for my own home:

Are you licensed with TxDMV? What's your license number?

Any legitimate company answers this immediately.

Do you use subcontractors or employees?

Some companies book jobs and then hire day laborers to fill them. Ask whether the crew showing up works directly for the company.

What's included in your hourly rate, and what costs extra?

Stairs, long carries, fuel surcharges, packing materials — get a full list before you sign.

How do you protect furniture and flooring during a move?

Listen for specifics: moving blankets, stretch wrap, floor runners, door frame protection. Vague answers mean they're guessing.

What happens if something is damaged?

They should be able to explain their process clearly. If they get defensive or evasive, that's your answer.

Can you give me a written estimate?

Yes should be the only acceptable answer.

How many moves do your crews complete per week?

A company doing consistent volume has experienced crews. A company that's slow and cheap may be training on your home.

Red Flags That Should Make You Walk Away

Some of these are deal-breakers. Others are just yellow flags worth asking about. But if you see multiple of these together, trust your gut.

No TxDMV license number when you ask
Quote given before asking about your home — size, floors, stairs, distance, number of items
No written estimate, or pressure to sign without seeing one
Significant deposit required upfront (small deposits are normal; paying half before they've moved a single box is not)
No physical address listed anywhere on their website or Google Business Profile
Only five-star reviews with no detail — this often means fake or cherry-picked reviews
No response to negative reviews, or responses that blame the customer
Crew shows up in unmarked vehicles or without uniforms or identifying gear
Price changes significantly on moving day without a clear explanation tied to something that actually changed

What to Look For in a Local North Texas Moving Company Specifically

How to Choose a Moving Company in North Texas vs. a National Broker

Whether you are hiring apartment movers in Plano, looking for residential moving services in McKinney, or relocating a family home in Prosper, moving in this area has its own specifics. A lot of communities here have HOA rules about moving hours, elevator reservations, and parking restrictions. New construction homes have finishes that need to be protected carefully. Apartment complexes often require certificates of insurance before a mover can even enter the property.

A company that knows this area will ask about these things before moving day. A company that doesn't will learn about them in your parking lot at 8 a.m. when it's already too late to prepare.

Local also matters for accountability. A moving company based in North Texas has a reputation here. Their neighbors, customers, and future customers are all in the same communities. That's a different standard of care than a national broker who farms your job to whoever's available that weekend.

If you're doing a residential move, apartment move, commercial relocation, or need packing help anywhere in the North Texas area, I'd encourage you to ask every company on your list these questions — including us.

Why I'm Telling You This

I'm not writing this to pitch Anywhere Movers. I'm writing it because I've watched customers get burned, and most of those situations were avoidable with 20 minutes of due diligence.

If you do this homework and decide another company is the better fit for your move, that's fine. My goal is for more people in North Texas to have good moving experiences — because every bad move makes it harder for legitimate companies to earn trust.

If you're still figuring out how to choose a moving company in North Texas, start with the questions above — and feel free to read about how we operate, read about us here. If you're ready to get a quote, request one here — and I'll ask you enough questions to give you a number that's actually accurate.

— Dan Marzella, Owner, Anywhere Movers | (972) 837-7092 | info@anywhere-movers.com

Frequently Asked Questions About Hiring Movers in North Texas

How do I verify a moving company is licensed in Texas?

You can verify any Texas moving company's license through the TxDMV Motor Carrier search at apps.txdmv.gov. Search by company name or license number. Any licensed Texas mover will have an active TxDMV certificate. For moves crossing state lines, also check the FMCSA SAFER database at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov using the company's USDOT number.

How much do cost per hour in DFW?

Most licensed moving companies in North Texas charge hourly rates based on crew size and number of trucks, typically with a 2- to 3-hour minimum. A 2-bedroom apartment move in Frisco or the surrounding area might start around $600–$900 depending on distance, stairs, and access. A 4-bedroom home can run $2,500–$4,500 or more. Be cautious of quotes that seem dramatically lower than others — they usually come with hidden fees or under-qualified crews.

Should I tip movers in Texas?

Tipping is not required but is always appreciated. A common range is $50–$100 per mover for a standard local move, more for larger or more complex jobs. If the crew did excellent work — especially on a hot Texas day, with heavy furniture, or with difficult access — a generous tip reflects that.

What questions should I ask a moving company before hiring them?

Ask for their TxDMV license number, whether they use employees or subcontractors, what their hourly rate includes, how they protect furniture and flooring, what happens if something is damaged, and whether they'll provide a written estimate. Any reputable company should answer all of these without hesitation.

How far in advance should I book movers in the DFW area?

For weekend moves and end-of-month moves in the DFW area, booking 3–4 weeks in advance is a good target. During peak moving season (May through August) and around major holidays, booking even earlier is smart. Weekday moves tend to have more availability on shorter notice.

What's the difference between a moving broker and a moving company?

A moving company owns its trucks and employs its crew. A moving broker takes your booking and then sells the job to a third-party company — sometimes one you've never heard of and can't vet beforehand. Brokers are legal but create accountability problems when something goes wrong. When you hire a licensed moving company directly, you know exactly who is showing up and who is responsible for your belongings.

Are Anywhere Movers licensed and insured?

Yes. Anywhere Movers is licensed with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV #00963788C) and registered with the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT #3496636). You can verify both at the official government websites linked above.