Once a move is on the table, the paperwork arrives fast. A moving company sends an estimate, a truck gets booked, and a stack of forms asks for a signature. The estimate reads like a total, but its wording decides what you actually owe. Before anyone signs, check the parts that do not look like numbers.
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Know whether the estimate is binding
A binding estimate fixes the price for the job as described. A non-binding one is a best guess that can change once the truck is loaded. Ask the company which kind they are giving you, and get the answer in writing, not just on the phone. If it is non-binding, ask what the final bill is based on, usually weight or time, and what the rate is for each.
Walk the house and write the inventory
An estimate is only as accurate as the list behind it. Walk every room with the estimator, including the attic, basement, garage, and any storage shed. Note what is going, what is staying, and what is headed for a donation pile. Heavy items, stairs, and tight turns change the labor, so say them out loud and have them written down.
Read what the estimate leaves out
Look for packing supplies, stair carries, appliance disconnection, storage days, and the added hours if the job runs long. Find the valuation line, which describes how much the company will owe if something breaks and whether you can buy better coverage. Those lines often decide the final bill more than the headline figure does.
Check the cancellation and rescheduling terms
Plans change when a parent's health changes, so ask how far ahead you must give notice to move or cancel, what the charge is for doing so, and what happens if the crew arrives late. Ask for these terms in writing and keep a copy in the same folder as the estimate. If a clause is unclear, a Missouri attorney can read it with you before you sign, and the Sources page on this site lists public references you can check first.