How to Choose a Moving Company in Colorado Springs: The Complete Guide

Hiring a moving company is one of those decisions where the stakes are surprisingly high. You’re literally handing strangers the keys to everything you own—your furniture, your electronics, your family heirlooms, your kids’ stuff. Choose well, and moving day is smooth and stress-free. Choose poorly, and you’re looking at broken belongings, hidden fees, or worse.

After 17+ years of serving Colorado Springs families, we’ve seen every scenario play out. Here’s how to find a mover you can actually trust, and the warning signs that should send you running.

Red Flags: When to Walk Away

Before we talk about what to look for, let’s cover what should immediately disqualify a moving company from your list.

1. No License or Registration

Colorado requires all moving companies to register with the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA). This is non-negotiable. An unlicensed mover has no regulatory oversight, no accountability, and no requirement to carry insurance.

How to check: Visit Colorado DORA’s website and search for the company name. If they’re not there, they’re not legal.

2. No Physical Address

A legitimate moving company has a real address—an office, a warehouse, or at minimum a registered business location. If a company only has a cell phone number and a Craigslist ad, that’s a massive red flag.

3. Unusually Low Estimates

If one company quotes $300 for a move that everyone else quotes at $600-800, something is wrong. Common tactics include:

• Quoting low to win the job, then piling on “surprise” charges on moving day
• Loading your belongings and demanding more money before unloading (this is literally holding your stuff hostage)
• Using untrained labor to cut costs, resulting in damage and delays

4. Large Upfront Deposits

Reputable movers may ask for a small deposit or credit card on file, but if someone demands 50% upfront or cash only, walk away. You should never pay in full before the move is complete.

5. No Written Contract

A professional moving company provides a written estimate and contract that details the scope of work, rates, insurance coverage, and terms. If a company won’t put it in writing, they don’t want to be held accountable.

6. Rented or Unmarked Trucks

Professional movers own or lease their trucks with company branding. If they show up in a rented U-Haul with no company identification, you’re dealing with a fly-by-night operation. Read more about avoiding moving scams in Colorado.

What to Look For in a Moving Company

Now the positive signals—what separates a trustworthy mover from the pack.

Licensed and Insured

This is the foundation. A Colorado-licensed mover has met minimum requirements for insurance, business registration, and regulatory compliance. Ask to see their:

• DORA registration/license number
• General liability insurance certificate
• Cargo/moving insurance policy
• Workers’ compensation coverage

Workers’ comp is particularly important. If an uninsured worker gets injured in your home, you could be liable. A properly insured company protects both their employees and you.

Established Track Record

How long has the company been in business? Moving companies come and go—many startups fold within 2-3 years. A company with a long track record has survived because they do good work.

At iHaul iMove, we’ve been serving Colorado Springs since 2008. That’s over 17 years of experience, thousands of completed moves, and a reputation built one family at a time.

Genuine Reviews

Online reviews matter, but you need to read them critically:

• Look for volume: 10 reviews could be friends and family. 700+ reviews represent a real pattern.
• Read the detailed ones: Generic “great movers!” reviews tell you nothing. Look for reviews that describe specific experiences.
• Check multiple platforms: Google, Yelp, Facebook, BBB. Consistent ratings across platforms are a strong signal.
• Look at how they respond to negative reviews: Every company gets an occasional complaint. How they handle it reveals their character.

We’re proud of our 700+ 5-star reviews from real Colorado Springs customers. We respond to every review because we care about every experience.

Professional Estimates

A quality mover will assess your move properly before quoting. The gold standard is an in-home estimate or video walkthrough where the estimator:

• Walks through every room and notes all items
• Checks for access challenges (stairs, narrow hallways, long walks to the truck)
• Identifies specialty items (pianos, safes, antiques)
• Asks about packing needs
• Provides a written estimate with clear terms

Phone estimates based solely on bedroom count are unreliable. “How many bedrooms?” doesn’t account for the difference between a minimally furnished guest room and a master suite packed with heavy furniture.

Proper Equipment

Professional movers invest in the right tools:

• Well-maintained trucks with clean cargo areas
• Furniture blankets and moving pads
• Dollies and hand trucks (including appliance dollies and piano boards)
• Floor runners and door frame protectors
• Stretch wrap and packing materials
• Ratchet straps for secure loading

When a crew arrives with proper equipment, the move goes faster, safer, and with less risk of damage.

Questions to Ask Before Hiring

Here’s your checklist of questions to ask every moving company you’re considering:

About the Company

1. Are you licensed with Colorado DORA? What’s your registration number?
2. How long have you been in business?
3. Do you own your trucks or rent them?
4. Are your employees W-2 workers or day laborers/contractors?

About Insurance

5. What liability coverage is included in the base rate?
6. Do you offer full-value protection? What does it cost?
7. Do you carry workers’ compensation insurance?
8. Can you provide a certificate of insurance?

About Pricing

9. Is your rate hourly or flat rate?
10. What’s the minimum charge?
11. Are there fuel surcharges, travel fees, or stair charges?
12. Do you charge differently for weekends?
13. What happens if the move takes longer than estimated?

About the Move

14. How many movers will be on the crew?
15. Will the same crew load and unload?
16. Do you provide furniture blankets and floor protection?
17. What happens if something is damaged during the move?
18. Do you offer packing services?

About Logistics

19. What’s your cancellation/rescheduling policy?
20. How far in advance should I book?
21. What time will the crew arrive?
22. Do you have storage options if I need them?

A professional company will answer all of these questions clearly and confidently. If someone gets defensive or vague, that tells you everything you need to know.

Understanding Moving Insurance

Moving insurance is often misunderstood. Here are the two main types:

Basic Liability Coverage (Released Value)

This is the minimum coverage required by law and is typically included in your moving rate at no extra charge. It covers your belongings at 60 cents per pound per item.

What that means in practice: If your 50-pound TV is damaged, you’d receive $30. If your 200-pound antique dresser is destroyed, you’d get $120. It’s better than nothing, but it doesn’t come close to replacement value for most items.

Full-Value Protection

This upgraded coverage means the mover is responsible for the replacement value or repair cost of any item they damage. It typically costs extra—often a percentage of the declared value of your shipment—but provides meaningful protection.

For moves involving expensive furniture, electronics, or irreplaceable items, full-value protection is worth the investment. Our moving insurance guide goes deeper into coverage options and what makes sense for different situations.

In-Home vs. Phone vs. Video Estimates

In-Home Estimates (Best)

The estimator comes to your home, walks every room, and assesses the full scope of work. This produces the most accurate estimate and gives you a chance to meet someone from the company face-to-face.

Video Estimates (Good)

A video call where you walk through your home with the estimator watching. This has become increasingly popular and provides nearly the same accuracy as in-home, with more scheduling flexibility.

Phone Estimates (Risky)

Based entirely on your description: “I have a 3-bedroom house.” The problem? Your 3-bedroom might have twice the furniture and three times the challenges of another 3-bedroom. Phone estimates frequently underestimate, leading to surprise costs on moving day.

Online/Instant Estimates (Worst)

“Enter your zip code for an instant quote!” These are lead generation forms, not real estimates. The number they spit out has little relationship to your actual moving cost.

The Interview Process: Treat It Like Hiring

Here’s a mindset shift that helps: you’re not just “getting a quote.” You’re hiring people to handle your most valuable possessions. Treat it like a job interview.

Meet the team (or at least the estimator). Are they professional? Do they show up on time? Are they knowledgeable? The person who gives you the estimate represents the company’s standards.

Check their online presence. A professional company maintains their website, responds to reviews, and presents themselves well. A company with a broken website and no social media presence isn’t investing in their reputation.

Trust your gut. If something feels off during the estimate process—pushy salesmanship, evasive answers, pressure to commit immediately—listen to that instinct. A good mover earns your business through competence and transparency, not pressure.

Why We Do What We Do

At iHaul iMove, we’ve built our reputation over 17+ years by doing things the right way. We’re fully licensed and insured, our crews are trained professionals (not day laborers), and we treat every home like it’s our own.

We serve 71+ communities across the Pikes Peak region, from Briargate to Fountain, Monument to Manitou Springs. Every move includes our comprehensive home protection services—floor runners, door frame protectors, and furniture blankets—at no extra charge.

Our 700+ 5-star reviews aren’t bought or fabricated. They’re from real families who trusted us with their move and were glad they did. Check them out on our reviews page.

Ready to Find the Right Mover?

If you’re looking for a residential moving company in Colorado Springs that checks every box on this list, we’d love to earn your business.

Get your free estimate or call (719) 357-5865 to schedule an in-home walkthrough or video estimate. No pressure, no hidden fees—just an honest assessment of what your move will take.

iHaul iMove is a licensed and insured Colorado moving company serving Colorado Springs and 71+ surrounding communities for over 17 years. 700+ 5-star reviews. Call (719) 357-5865.