Below are the questions we hear most from DC households getting ready to move. If yours is not here, call (888) 711-4778 and Renee will answer it, or email [email protected] and we will write back the same business day.
How is a move priced, and is that flat rate truly fixed?
Yes. For local jobs we quote flat bands — a studio runs $470 to $680, a one-bedroom $740 to $1,100, a two-bedroom $1,220 to $1,820, a three-bedroom $2,040 to $3,000, and a four-bedroom house $2,880 to $4,200 — or hourly at $172 per hour for a two-mover crew and truck, $229 for three movers. Long-distance moves are a binding flat rate starting at $2,690. The written number is the number you pay.
What does the deposit cover and how much is it?
It takes $160 to lock your date on our calendar. That deposit is not an extra fee — it comes straight off your final total. It simply reserves the crew and truck for your day so we are not double-booked.
What comes included with the crew and truck?
Furniture blankets, dollies, hand trucks, straps, and the basic tools to take apart and reassemble beds and tables are all included in the rate. We do not bill those as add-ons. Packing materials like boxes and tape are separate if you want us to pack for you.
Can you pack everything, or just the heavy stuff?
Both. We do full packing where we box your entire home room by room with our own materials, or partial packing where we handle just the kitchen, the artwork, and the fragile items and you do the rest. Tell Devin what you want covered and he will price it in the estimate.
On a long-distance move, is it the same crew the whole way?
It is. The crew that loads your home in DC is the same crew that drives the truck and unloads at the destination. Your belongings stay on one truck with our movers — there is no van-line handoff and no transfer to strangers at a depot.
How does insurance and valuation work?
Basic released-value protection is included free at $0.60 per pound per item, which is the federal standard. If you want repair-or-replacement coverage, full-value protection is available for an added charge and has to be chosen before move day. We carry up to $1,000,000 of cargo coverage per shipment.
Are you actually licensed to do this?
We hold US DOT and MC operating authority for our interstate runs and a District of Columbia Basic Business License for local work, and we keep both current. Ambitious Movers is bonded and insured. We are glad to show you the numbers before you book.
Are you a broker or a moving company?
We are the moving company — full stop. Ambitious Movers owns its trucks and employs its crews; the movers who show up are our W-2 staff in our uniforms. We are not a broker, a matching service, or a lead aggregator, and we never hand your job off to some other outfit. The crew you book is the crew that does the work.
Who handles parking permits and building certificates of insurance?
We do, and in this city it matters. We help pull the emergency no-parking permit so the truck has a legal spot at your curb, and we send the certificate of insurance your high-rise or condo board wants on file before move day. Give us the building's requirements when you book and we will line it up.
Can you move on short notice or change my date?
We keep a little room for last-minute jobs, especially midweek, so call and ask. If your date slips after you have booked, just give us a heads-up and we will move you on the calendar when we can — no penalty for an honest reschedule.
Do you move pianos and other heavy or awkward items?
Yes. Uprights, baby grands, gun safes, oversized mirrors, and big pieces of art are routine for us. Specialty handling starts at $399 depending on the item and the access. Tell us what you have and where it has to go and we will price it in.
Do you offer storage if my new place is not ready?
When move-out and move-in do not line up, we can arrange short-term storage so your belongings are held safely until you are ready. Let the office know your dates and we will work out the gap with you.
Can you handle a high-rise or a walk-up?
Both are everyday work for us. For high-rises like Navy Yard and NoMa we book the freight-elevator window and clear the COI ahead of time; for U Street, Shaw, and Adams Morgan walk-ups we send enough movers that carrying it up a third-floor staircase does not drag your day out.
How far ahead should I book?
For weekends and the end of the month — always the busiest stretch in DC — two to three weeks out gives you the best pick of dates and start times. Midweek moves can often be scheduled with just a few days' notice. The sooner you call, the earlier we can roll the truck before rush hour.