The Questions Chicago Movers Actually Ask
These are the things Chicagoland customers raise most when they call, answered straight by the people who work our West Loop office. If yours isn’t covered, call (888) 711-4778 or email [email protected] and we’ll talk it through.
Are you a moving company?
Yes. Forrester Moving is a licensed, insured Chicago mover that runs its own trucks and its own W-2, uniformed crew. We hold ILCC authority for Illinois moves plus US DOT and MC numbers for interstate work, and your job stays with our people start to finish. We never hand it off to another carrier.
What exactly is a binding flat-rate quote, and can the price still change?
It means we look at what you're moving, then write one fixed price you approve before move day — and that number is what you pay. It doesn't climb because the job ran long or because someone decided your dresser counts as 'oversized.' The only thing that moves it is you adding items or services after the fact. There's no hourly meter running in the background.
My building needs a Certificate of Insurance and a freight-elevator reservation — can you handle that?
Routinely. Most high-rises along Lake Shore Drive and the newer towers in the South Loop and River North require a COI on file and a booked freight-elevator window before a crew can come up. Send us your building's requirements and Priya in the office will have the COI issued and the elevator slot reserved with property management ahead of your date.
How do you deal with Chicago alley access and permit parking?
We plan for it before the truck leaves the yard. Plenty of three-flats and coach houses load off the alley, and a lot of blocks are residential-permit parking where a 26-footer can't just sit. We scout the approach when we quote, pull a city moving-truck parking permit where one's needed, and stage the truck so we're not blocking your neighbors or the alley.
Do you move in winter, even during a lake-effect snowstorm?
All season. Chicago winters and the lake-effect squalls that blow in off the water are just part of moving here. Our crews lay floor runners over the slush so your hardwood stays clean, salt the walks and steps, and pad-wrap everything against the cold so nothing cracks in transit. When the expressways are a mess we simply build extra time into the day.
Can your crew get furniture up the tight stairwells in vintage Chicago buildings?
Constantly. The greystones and vintage walk-ups in Edgewater, Lincoln Square, and Logan Square come with narrow turning staircases and tight landings, and our crew leads walk the path before anything moves. Danny, who runs our specialty jobs, is especially good at getting a couch or a piano around a stubborn vintage stair turn.
Does it cost anything to get a quote, and do you take a deposit?
The quote is free, no strings. Ready to pin a specific date to the calendar? We ask only a small refundable deposit then, and it knocks straight off your final bill. Cancel inside our window and you get it back.
In Illinois, are you genuinely licensed and insured?
Yes — we're licensed and insured for Illinois moves under ILCC authority, and we carry US DOT and MC numbers for interstate jobs. Every move is backed by $1M in cargo coverage, and we'll send proof of insurance any time you ask.
What's included in a standard local move?
Local moves come with the uniformed crew, truck and fuel, pads and blankets, shrink wrap, dollies, floor runners, plus basic teardown and setup of beds and standard furniture. If you want packing materials or full packing service, we quote those as separate lines so you only pay for what you actually use.
Do you handle long-distance moves out of Chicago?
Yes. Reggie runs our long-distance routes, and we regularly take customers out of Chicago to the Twin Cities, Detroit, Indianapolis, St. Louis, and out east. Because we hold our own US DOT and MC authority, the same Forrester crew that loads you in Chicago is the crew that unloads you at the other end — it's never brokered out.
If something picks up a ding on the truck, then what?
It's uncommon, since everything is pad-wrapped and inventoried before it touches the truck. But if we do leave a mark, we make it right — repair, replace, or settle it, with $1M in cargo coverage standing behind the job. Just file the claim with the office and we handle it; it's written into your agreement, not a marketing line.
If our closing dates do not sync up, can you hold our things?
Yes. When your move-out and move-in don't sync — a common Chicago closing-date gap — we'll arrange short- or long-term storage and run the move-in once your new place is ready. Mention it when you call and we'll fold it into the same binding quote.