Here are the questions our Schaumburg office hears most from Northwest Suburbs households and businesses planning a move. If yours isn’t covered, send it through the quote form and a real person on our team will answer.
Do you charge by the hour or a flat rate for local moves?
Both options exist, and we'll tell you which fits before you book. Hourly local rates start at $130/hr for a 2-mover crew (3 movers $180/hr, 4 movers $235/hr) with the truck, pads, and dollies included. Most customers prefer a flat written rate so there are no surprises: studios run $400–$620, 1-bedrooms $620–$1,000, 2-bedrooms $1,000–$1,720, 3-bedrooms $1,720–$2,850, and 4-bedrooms $2,800–$4,400.
How far ahead should I book my move?
Two to three weeks is comfortable for most Cook and DuPage moves. Month-end and the first weekend of any month fill fast, and summer plus the days around a lease turnover are the busiest. If your date is tight, send it through the quote form anyway — we keep a few crews flexible for short-notice jobs.
Do you move in the winter?
Yes — Chicago winters are our normal season, not an exception. Our crews start early to beat the snow and rush hour, floor-protect against road salt and slush, shrink-wrap upholstery, and salt the path between your door and the truck. Lake-effect snow on I-90 or Route 53 gets built into the schedule so your day stays on track.
Are you licensed and insured?
We are. Alsam Movers carries USDOT and MC authority, is registered with the Illinois Commerce Commission (ILCC), and puts $1M in cargo coverage on every job. Ask and we'll show you the paperwork before move day.
What's included in the price?
Every local move comes with the truck, fuel, furniture pads, dollies, shrink wrap, and basic disassembly and reassembly of beds and standard furniture. There's no travel-time padding or fuel surcharge bolted on at the end — the rate we write down is the rate you pay.
Do you offer storage between moves?
Yes. We run climate-controlled storage at $100–$250/month depending on how much you're keeping, which is handy when your Schaumburg closing and your next move-in don't line up. Your goods stay inventoried and insured the whole time they're with us.
Can you handle a long-distance move out of Illinois?
We do. Long-distance moves run on a binding written quote — a locked price based on your inventory and the two ZIP codes, not a guess that creeps up later. Whether you're headed to Indianapolis, St. Louis, or Milwaukee, the same Alsam crew loads and delivers, and the $1M cargo coverage travels with your shipment.
Do you move pianos and other specialty items?
Yes — pianos have their own line: roughly $290–$460 for an upright and $520–$840 for a baby grand, handled with proper boards and straps. We also take gun safes, appliances, fitness equipment, and oversized art. Mention any specialty piece on the quote form so we send the right crew and gear.
Are you a broker or a real moving company?
No — Alsam is a real licensed moving company with our own trucks and W-2 crews. We never hand your move to a load board or unknown carrier. The uniformed movers who show up are Alsam employees.
Do you charge extra for stairs or a long carry?
Stairs are part of a normal move and aren't an automatic upcharge. A genuinely long carry — say a high-rise near Woodfield where the truck can't park close — is something we flag in your written estimate up front, never a fee that appears after the fact. You'll know the full number before you sign.