FAQ's
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about moving with Tera Moving — pricing, booking, packing, specialty items, insurance, and more. Don't see your question? Call us at 832-390-4839.
Pricing & Quotes
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We strive to keep our pricing structure simple and transparent. For local moves, our pricing is calculated on an hourly basis, so you only pay for the time we actually spend on your move. For long-distance moves, we offer a flat-rate pricing system, determined after a thorough assessment of your needs. Whether local or long-distance, our goal is clear, straightforward pricing with no hidden costs.
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We pride ourselves on transparency and honesty in our pricing. There are absolutely no hidden fees when you choose Tera Moving. The quote we provide after assessing your moving needs is comprehensive and includes all potential costs. We discuss every charge upfront so there are no surprises on moving day.
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Stairs and long carries don't trigger surprise fees — they're built into your hourly rate. For oversized specialty items like gun safes, pianos, gym equipment, or hot tubs, we may quote a small specialty handling fee. We'll always tell you upfront before moving day, never after.
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Local quotes are time-and-materials based on our hourly rate, so your final price depends on the actual time on the job — but we give you a tight, realistic estimate before booking. Long-distance quotes are flat-rate and lock in your total once you confirm. Either way, we walk you through every line item before you book.
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Yes — estimates are 100% free with no obligation. Call us at 832-390-4839 or use our online quote form, and we'll get back to you the same business day. For larger homes, we can also do a quick virtual walkthrough to dial in a more accurate number.
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We offer discounts for military service members, seniors, and first responders. Mention any of these when you request your quote and we'll apply the savings.
Booking & Scheduling
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To ensure the smoothest moving experience, we recommend booking your move with Tera Moving at least one week in advance. This gives us time for proper planning and lets us allocate the best resources for your move. We understand last-minute moves happen, and we'll always do our best to accommodate.
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For local moves, we require a deposit equivalent to the two-hour minimum charge at the time of booking — fully refundable if you cancel or reschedule up to 48 hours before. For long-distance moves, we require a 15% deposit to secure your date and begin planning. The full deposit is applied to your final bill.
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Summer (May through August) and the last weekend of every month are our busiest windows. If you can be flexible, mid-week and mid-month moves usually have better availability and slightly better pricing. Holiday weekends book up earliest — reach out 3+ weeks ahead.
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Absolutely. Local moves can be rescheduled or cancelled up to 48 hours before for a full deposit refund. Long-distance bookings have a longer notice window because of routing — call us as soon as you know your plans have changed and we'll work with you.
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Yes — Tera Moving operates Saturdays and Sundays at the same hourly rate as weekdays. Major holidays (Memorial Day, Labor Day, July 4th) book up fast, so reach out at least three weeks in advance if you're planning a holiday move.
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Houston weather is part of the deal. Our crews come prepared with floor protectors, plastic shrink-wrap, and waterproof pads, and we move through normal rain. We only reschedule for genuinely unsafe conditions like thunderstorms or hurricane warnings, and we never charge a fee to move your date for weather.
Local Moves in Houston
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Moves within the greater Houston metro and surrounding areas are considered local and billed hourly. That covers Houston proper plus Sugar Land, Katy, Spring, The Woodlands, Memorial, River Oaks, the Galleria, Tomball, Pearland, Baytown, Galveston, and the surrounding metro.
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All of greater Houston, including Memorial, River Oaks, the Galleria, West University, Sugar Land, Katy, Spring, Tomball, Galveston, Baytown, and the Woodlands. See our Locations page for the full list and neighborhood-specific guides.
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Yes — we move in and out of Houston high-rises regularly. Confirm your building's reservation requirements (elevator pads, certificate of insurance, loading dock hours) and we'll handle the rest. We can provide a COI on request at no extra cost.
Long-Distance & Out-of-State Moves
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Yes. Tera Moving is fully licensed for interstate moves under USDOT 4264678 and MC1655284, and we ship anywhere in the continental United States from our Houston home base.
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Yes — Tera Moving uses dedicated, single-truck moves on most long-distance jobs. The same crew that loads in Houston will deliver and unload at your destination, so your items don't get shuffled between trucks or sit in a third-party warehouse.
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You'll get the dispatcher's direct line plus regular updates from our office throughout the haul. Call any time for a status check — there's a real person on the other end.
Packing & Preparation
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Yes — full packing (we pack everything for you), partial packing (kitchen and fragile items only — the most popular option), and unpacking at the destination. We supply all materials so you don't have to source boxes and tape.
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If you have time and patience, packing yourself can save on your total cost. If your move is fragile-heavy, time-sensitive, or just stressful, professional packing usually pays for itself in saved breakage, saved hours, and saved sanity.
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Yes — we sell boxes, tape, packing paper, bubble wrap, mattress bags, and wardrobe boxes at fair prices. You can also bring your own from a hardware store; we'll work with whatever you've got on moving day.
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For light items like clothes and soft goods, leave them in. For heavy or breakable contents like books, ceramics, or glass, please empty the drawers so we can move the dresser safely without damaging it or its contents.
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Yes. Beds, dining tables, desks, modular sofas, and exercise equipment are all disassembled at pickup and reassembled at the destination as part of standard service — no extra fee.
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On local moves, yes — we wrap and transport plants with care. On long-distance moves, plants get tricky (state agriculture rules, temperature in the truck), so we'll walk through your options and may recommend driving them yourself if it's a long haul.
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Defrost and dry your fridge ahead of moving day. Disconnect washers and dryers, and run your washing machine empty on a final spin to drain the water lines. We'll handle the lifting, the rolling, and the reinstallation on the other end.
Day of the Move
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We give you an arrival window when you book, and the crew calls before they're on the way so you're not waiting around.
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Yes — or have an authorized adult on site. Someone needs to point out fragile items, sign paperwork, and walk through with the lead mover before and after. If you can't be there yourself, just let us know who'll be representing you.
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Cash, check, all major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, AmEx, Discover), Zelle, and Venmo. Payment is collected at the end of the move once you've signed off on the post-move walkthrough.
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Tipping is appreciated but never expected or required. If you'd like to tip, cash on the day is most common — the amount is entirely up to you, scaled however you'd like for difficulty and quality of service.
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Yes. Your lead mover does a pre-move walkthrough so we know exactly what's going and what's staying, and a post-move walkthrough at the destination so you can confirm everything arrived as expected before you sign off and pay.
Specialty Items We Move
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Yes — uprights, baby grands, and full grands. We use piano boards, four-wheel dollies, and a larger crew where the size or stairs require it. Tell us the type and any stair situation when you book so we send the right gear.
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Yes — see our Gun Safe Move service. We have the equipment and crew to safely relocate residential and commercial safes, including stair work where needed.
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Yes — see our Gym Equipment Moving service. We disassemble and reassemble cable machines, power racks, treadmills, and Peloton-style bikes so they're plugged in and ready at the new place.
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Yes for both. Hot tubs and slate pool tables require advance notice and a specialty crew, so flag these clearly when you request your quote — we'll bring the right gear and people.
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Yes — see our Commercial Moving service. We do after-hours, overnight, and weekend office relocations to minimize business downtime, and we coordinate with building management on COIs and dock access.
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Yes — through our partner RunBuggyOne, we offer door-to-door car shipping anywhere in the U.S. Look for the Car Shipping option on our Services page or in the Services menu.
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Yes — we custom-crate and pad-wrap artwork, antiques, glass cabinets, and other high-value pieces. For very high-value items, we'll recommend additional Full Value Protection so you're properly covered.
Insurance & Claims
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Yes, absolutely. We are fully insured and bonded, providing peace of mind that your property is protected throughout the moving process. Our credentials: USDOT 4264678, MC1655284, TxDMV #010277202C.
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Released Value Protection is the basic coverage included free with every move at $0.60 per pound, per item. Full Value Protection costs more but reimburses replacement value or repair cost for any item damaged or lost during the move. We walk you through both options before your move so you can pick what fits.
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In the unlikely event of damage, we handle it directly. Document the damage during the post-move walkthrough and reach out — our claims process is straightforward and we work with you to make it right.
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Visit our Claims page or call 832-390-4839. You'll need photos of the damage, your inventory list from the move, and a brief description of what happened. We'll email you a claim form and take it from there.
Storage
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Yes — overnight, week-long, and month-to-month storage. It's useful when your closing dates don't line up, you're staging your home for sale, or you're between leases.
About Tera Moving
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Tera Moving has been proudly serving Houston for 2 years, and our team brings over 5 years of moving experience to the table. That blend of fresh perspective and seasoned expertise lets us deliver moves backed by 200+ five-star Google reviews.
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We operate under USDOT: 4264678, MC: MC1655284, and TxDMV: #010277202C. We're also a BBB Accredited Business and a member of the Houston Movers Association.
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All of greater Houston: Memorial, River Oaks, the Galleria, West University, Sugar Land, Katy, Spring, Tomball, Galveston, Baytown, the Woodlands, and surrounding metro. See our Locations page for the full list and neighborhood pages.
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Yes — Tera Moving is a BBB Accredited Business in good standing. You can read our profile and customer reviews directly on the BBB website (link in the footer).
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We're a Houston-based local operator. Our crews know the city, our office picks up the phone, and you're not handed off to a call center halfway across the country. We've built our business on 200+ five-star Google reviews from real Houston families and businesses, and that reputation is what we're most protective of.