How do you price a move — hourly or flat rate?
Your choice. Local moves around Hyattsville and the DC metro are billed hourly from $149/hour for a 2-mover crew with the truck and equipment included, or you can lock in a flat written rate after we survey your inventory and access on both ends — whichever you prefer. A flat rate does not change if traffic backs up or the job runs a little long. Long-distance and out-of-state moves are always a binding written quote.
How do I book, and how far ahead should I reserve?
Send us your two addresses, home size, and date through the quote form or call (888) 711-4778. We confirm pricing fast, and once you approve we lock your date. For weekends, the first and last few days of the month, and the summer PCS rush, book two to three weeks out if you can — those dates fill first.
Do you require a deposit?
For most local moves, no deposit is needed — you reserve the date and settle up on move day. For long-distance and out-of-state moves we take a modest deposit to hold the truck and crew, and it is credited toward your binding total. We will always tell you the exact amount in writing before you commit.
Can you provide a Certificate of Insurance (COI) for my building?
Yes, and we do it constantly — DC, Baltimore, and NYC condos and co-ops almost always require one. Just send us the building's requirements and management contact, and our dispatcher Devin Carter files the COI and reserves the freight elevator or loading dock before move day at no extra charge.
What insurance covers my belongings, and how do claims work?
Ivy is fully licensed and carries $1 million in cargo coverage. Every move includes standard released-value protection, and full-value protection is available for an added cost if you want dollar-for-dollar coverage. If anything is damaged, you file a claim directly with us — a licensed local company, not a broker — and we handle it.
Do you pack, or do I have to pack myself?
Your call. We offer full packing, partial packing (kitchens, fragiles, and artwork are popular), or just supplying boxes and materials if you want to pack yourself. If we pack it, it is covered the same as everything else we carry.
Do you offer storage if my dates do not line up?
Yes. When your move-out and move-in dates do not match, we can store your belongings short-term and deliver when you are ready. We quote storage in writing along with the move so there are no surprises.
Can you move a piano, gun safe, or other specialty item?
Yes. Our crew chief Hector Salazar leads our piano and specialty moves — uprights, baby grands, gun safes, antiques, and oversized or fragile pieces. Tell us the item and where it has to go (stairs, tight turns, second floor) and we bring the right equipment and crew.
Do you handle long-distance and out-of-state moves yourselves?
We do, on our own trucks with our own crew. We run regular lanes from Hyattsville to DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, Richmond, and Virginia Beach, and we move families cross-country. We never post your move to a load board or hand it to a partner carrier — one Ivy crew is responsible door to door, and the truck is GPS-tracked.
How do you charge for stairs, long carries, or elevators?
They are factored into your flat-rate survey up front, so there is no day-of surprise fee. If we can see the access ahead of time — a third-floor walk-up, a long carry from the truck, a reserved elevator window — it is already in your written number.
What forms of payment do you accept?
We accept all major credit and debit cards, and we can take other arrangements for larger long-distance jobs — just ask. You get an itemized written quote before move day and a receipt after, so everything is documented.
What is your cancellation or reschedule policy?
Life happens. For local moves you can reschedule or cancel with reasonable notice at no penalty. For long-distance moves where we have held a truck and crew, we ask for a few days' notice; we will lay out the exact terms in writing with your quote so there are never hidden fees.
Is the crew actually yours, or is it subcontracted?
Every crew is ours — full-time, uniformed Ivy movers on our payroll, driving our trucks. We do not use day labor, we do not subcontract, and we are not a broker or matching service. The team that loads you is the team that unloads you.
Is there anything you will not move?
For safety and by regulation we can't transport hazardous materials (propane tanks, fuel, paint, chemicals, ammunition), perishable food, or live plants and pets. We are happy to tell you what to set aside ahead of time so move day stays smooth.
What areas do you serve?
We are based in Hyattsville and serve all of Prince George's County and the greater DC metro for local moves, plus regular long-distance lanes up and down the East Coast. If you are not sure whether we cover your route, just call (888) 711-4778 and ask.