Questions We Get Asked
These are the things Indianapolis-area customers ask us most often, answered plainly by the people in our office. Don’t see yours? Call (888) 711-4778 or email [email protected] and we’ll walk you through it.
Are you a moving company?
Yes. Careful Way Moving works out of Indianapolis as a licensed, insured local mover with its own trucks and W-2 crews. Every job runs on our own trucks with our own uniformed crew, and we hold US DOT and MC authority on file. Your move never gets handed off to anyone else.
Will the price change between the quote and moving day?
No, not unless you change it. We quote flat-rate: once we've gone over your inventory and both addresses, you get a written estimate, and that signed number is what you pay. The only thing that moves it is you adding items or services on the day. There's no hourly meter running while the crew grabs water.
Do you move through Indianapolis winters and ice storms?
All winter long. Central Indiana snow and ice are just part of the job here. Our crews salt and tarp the walkways, lay runners over the slush so your floors stay clean, and wrap your belongings against the cold and damp so nothing cracks in transit. When the roads are rough we simply build a little more time into the day.
Can you handle the limestone steps and tight stairwells on older Indy homes?
We do it constantly. The older houses in Irvington, Bates-Hendricks, and Lockerbie Square come with their own quirks — limestone steps, narrow porches, steep interior stairs — and our crew chiefs walk those approaches before a single piece moves. Andrea Foster in particular has a knack for the trickiest stairwells in the city.
Does a deposit cost me anything to get a quote?
Getting the quote is free, period. We only take a small refundable deposit when you're ready to lock a specific date on the calendar, and that deposit applies straight to your final bill. Cancel inside our window and it comes back to you.
Are you actually licensed and insured?
Yes — we're licensed, bonded, and insured for Indiana moves, and we carry US DOT and MC authority for interstate work. There's $1M in cargo coverage behind every job, and we'll send proof of insurance whenever you ask.
Should I avoid booking during the month of May?
You don't have to avoid it, but it's worth planning ahead. Race-season traffic and downtown street closures around the 500 can complicate a move near the track or Monument Circle, so we map the route and timing around it. Book a couple of weeks out for May dates and we'll handle the logistics.
My building wants proof of insurance before move day — can you handle that?
Absolutely. Plenty of the downtown lofts and the newer high-rises in Carmel and Fishers require a Certificate of Insurance (COI) before a crew can come up. Send us your building's requirements and we'll have the COI issued and sent over to property management ahead of your date.
What do I get in the base local-move rate?
A standard local move includes the uniformed crew, the truck and fuel, furniture pads and blankets, shrink wrap, dollies, and the basic disassembly and reassembly of beds and standard furniture. If you want packing materials or full-service packing, we quote those separately so you're only paying for what you actually use.
Do you move long-distance out of Indianapolis?
Yes. Cole Barnett runs our long-distance routes, and we regularly take customers from Indianapolis up I-65 to Chicago and out to Cincinnati, Louisville, Columbus, Nashville, and St. Louis. Thanks to our US DOT and MC authority, the same Careful Way crew that loads your home carries it across state lines.
Something got nicked on the truck — now what?
It's rare, because everything is blanket-wrapped and inventoried before it ever touches the truck. But if we do put a mark on something, we fix it — that's our written no-damage guarantee, not a marketing line. File a claim with the office and we'll repair, replace, or settle it, with $1M in cargo coverage standing behind it.
Can you store our things if the closing dates don't line up?
Yes. When your move-out and move-in don't sync, or the new place isn't ready yet, we'll arrange short- or long-term storage and handle the move-in once you're set. Just mention it to the office and we'll fold it right into your estimate.