On moving day, a professional experienced team can save (or ruin) what you've been planning for weeks. How to distinguish between a reputable moving company and a transporter with a van? This guide, reviewed in 2026 with real data and examples we handle daily, compiles the 10 signals that separate a true professional from one who just has a rental vehicle, focusing on removals to the Canary Islands, where complexity multiplies the risk of hiring poorly. If your move is specifically to the island, complement this reading with the guide for choosing the best moving company in Tenerife. At Horizont Atlantic we have over 15 years of experience applying these criteria in every service.
1. Free preliminary technical visit
A professional always offers a free technical visit for medium to large removals. He goes to your current home, measures furniture, identifies critical points (access, elevator, balcony for crane, historic center stairs), asks about special items (piano, antiques, safe) and delivers you a detailed quote based on that real information. If there's no option for an in-person visit, a good professional accepts at least guided video call via WhatsApp, with inventory signed afterwards by email.
Poor indicator: company that gives you a quote only by phone or WhatsApp, without seeing the house or asking for photos/video. That quote will almost certainly 'fatten up' on the loading day.
Before the visit, it's useful to have an idea of approximate volume; follow our guide how to calculate the cubic meters (m³) of your move step by step to arrive with homework done and compare quotes between companies.
2. Legal documentation of the company
Check that the transporter has:
- National Transport Card (MDP-N or MDL-N) current
- Tax ID and Social Security registration of workers (no fake self-employed or staff 'lent' the same day)
- Liability Insurance for goods (minimum €600,000; at Horizont Atlantic we work with a €1,500,000 policy)
- In the case of international removals to the Canary Islands: registration as Authorized Economic Operator (OEA) or customs representative to process DUAs and exemptions
- Verifiable physical office (not a private address) and real years of existence in the Business Registry
Ask for copies of these documents in the quote. A reputable company delivers them without issue; a transporter without documentation will make excuses like 'I'll send it to you later' that never arrive.
3. Detailed and signed inventory
On moving day, the workers must prepare a numbered inventory of each item that you sign when being loaded. At destination, it's checked again against the inventory before signing confirmation. That document is the legal basis for claiming from insurance if something is lost or damaged, and it's also what's attached to the DUA in removals to the Canary Islands.
Without inventory: if you claim, you can't prove what you loaded. Your word against theirs. In 2026, a professional inventory is also done with photo per item and QR code or numbered label, and is shared with you by email when loading is finished.
4. Professional packing materials
A professional uses:
- Reinforced double-wall cardboard (not recycled supermarket boxes)
- Specific padded blankets (not old towels or sheets)
- Bubble wrap, foam corners, certified strapping tape
- Specific boxes for dishes, pictures and hanging clothes (garment boxes)
- Hydraulic carts for appliances and heavy furniture
- Aluminum ramps for stairs and carrying straps
A move with homemade materials and without proper equipment is a guaranteed disaster for bulky or fragile furniture: items appear chipped and scuffed in ways that basic insurance doesn't cover well.
5. Large and trained team
For a standard 3-bedroom apartment move (~ 30-40 m³), the right thing is minimum 3-4 workers. For piano, external crane, office or house, 4-6 people. If the company offers you '2 workers and let's run' for a complete apartment, be wary: it will either take 3 times longer than promised, or something will break, or you'll be charged overtime to finish.
Also ask who leads the team: in a reputable company there's an identifiable foreman with years of experience who is accountable to you during the entire day, not an indistinguishable group of temps.
6. Optional declared value insurance
Standard liability insurance covers up to €12 per kilo of goods, which is low for valuable items. A professional company offers declared value insurance optional for jewelry, artworks, collection wines, musical instruments or premium electronics. Additional cost: 1-2% of the declared value.
Before contracting any extra, understand well what each type covers: we explain it with examples in the guide moving insurance: what it covers and how to declare the value. A company that resists talking about insurance or tells you 'don't worry, nothing will break' is a company that doesn't think it will be held accountable if something breaks.
7. Fixed-price written quote
Professional: written quote (email or PDF) with breakdown by items, VAT/IGIC included, validity period, payment terms and what is NOT included. The fixed price is the price you pay, except for changes agreed in writing (for example, a non-inventoried piece of furniture appears on loading day).
Amateur: 'I'll charge you approximately X, it depends on time and kilometers'. When it ends, the invoice has gone up 40-60% without justification. To guide you on real ranges, consult the cost of a move in Tenerife: real prices 2026: if a quote is well below the usual range, something is being omitted.
8. Processing of municipal permits
To reserve parking space in front of your building (OVP, public road occupation) and, if you need an external crane, the corresponding permits, a professional company manages them HERSELF at city hall. You don't have to waste mornings in municipal offices.
This is especially critical in historic centers with restricted access: for example, if you move to the center of La Laguna, the OVP reservation and the loading time window condition the entire day. We detail it in moves in La Laguna: historic center, access and tips.
9. Customs procedures included (Canary Islands)
For removals to the Canary Islands, the professional includes in the price:
- DUA (Single Administrative Document) for import
- Processing of exemption for change of residence (exemption of AIEM/IGIC on household goods if you meet the requirements)
- If you take a car, IEDMT and Canary registration
- If you take a pet, coordination with shipping company for pet-friendly ship
- Coordination with the customs broker and with the shipping company (Armas-Trasmediterránea, Boluda, Fred. Olsen Express)
More tax info: Canary Islands tax regime. If you're worried that your destination home isn't ready yet to receive all the furniture, many reputable companies offer furniture storage in Tenerife with contract for days or months; to get an idea, look at the real prices of furniture storage in Tenerife.
10. Post-moving service
A professional doesn't disappear after signing confirmation. Offers:
- Claim period of 7-14 days to detect non-visible damage
- Free collection of empty boxes and packaging 1-2 weeks later
- Post-moving advice (address changes, activation of utilities)
- Warranty on assembly and reconnection (closets, beds, washing machine)
- Direct contact with the foreman who managed your service (not a generic 'customer service center')
Red flags: what you should NEVER accept
- 100% payment in advance. Normal is 30% deposit + 40% when loading + 30% when signing confirmation at destination. NEVER pay everything before they move anything.
- Without invoice. If they offer you 'cheaper without invoice', you have no legal protection whatsoever and the company probably operates under the table. Also, without invoice you can't justify the move for the Canary Islands AIEM exemption.
- Without written quote. Only verbal or informal WhatsApp without breakdown.
- Suspiciously low quote (50-70% less than the competition). Or there's deception in the scope of service, or they won't show up on moving day, or they don't have insurance, or they subcontract a third party without control.
- Without verifiable references. A company with years of work has real reviews on Google, Trustpilot or industry forums, with dates spread over time and public response from the owner.
- Frequent change of company name. If the company 'has 20 years of history' but was registered 8 months ago, is a clear sign they closed with complaints and reopened under a new name.
Real contracting examples (2026)
Example 1 — 3-bedroom apartment, Madrid → Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Family with ~ 45 m³ effective, compact car and a motorcycle. They received three quotes: €4,100, €5,850 and €8,200. The cheapest one (€4,100) didn't include DUA, declared value insurance or wardrobe disassembly; when finished, the adjusted invoice would have gone up to ~ €5,400 with the 'extras'. They hired the middle one (€5,850) with in-person technical visit, numbered inventory and everything included. Zero surprises when signing delivery in Santa Cruz.
Example 2 — small move, Barcelona → Las Palmas
12 m³ studio for a young person. A 'transporter' contacted via marketplace asked for 100% in advance (€1,400). Instead, they contracted a regulated company for €1,780: 30% deposit, 40% when loading, 30% at destination. Transit 8 business days, DUA included, signed inventory. The additional cost of €380 bought peace of mind and a real contact to call.
Example 3 — return to the peninsula, Tenerife → Valencia
2-bedroom apartment (~ 22 m³) without car. Quotes between €2,900 and €4,500. The real difference: the cheapest ones didn't include the export DUA nor coordination with the shipping company for the return of the container. The awarded company (€3,650) managed everything, including deregistration from address and utilities.
Frequently asked questions when hiring a moving company
What if they don't show up on moving day?
If you've signed a contract and paid a deposit, you have the right to recover what you paid + compensation for breach. But it rarely happens with reputable companies: you'll have the problem with 'companies' without structure or reputation, often just intermediaries who subcontract to the best bidder 48 hours before. That's why it's critical to hire companies with verifiable years of track record and their own staff.
How much should I pay in advance?
The standard: 30% when confirming reservation (locks in date and container space), 40% on loading day at origin, 30% when delivery is finished at destination with signed confirmation. Total: 100%. Some charge 50% at the start and 50% at the end; is also acceptable if the company is established and the date is soon. What is not acceptable is paying 100% beforehand.
Can I cancel the move if needed?
Yes. If you cancel more than 14 days in advance, they return the full deposit. Between 7-14 days, they retain between 30-50%. Less than 7 days, they retain the full deposit because they've already mobilized resources (reserved container, assigned staff, municipal permits).
Does the company cover damage to my home during the move?
Yes. Liability insurance also covers damage to homes at origin and destination (wall scuffs, stairs damaged by moving heavy furniture, frames broken by removing closets). Document the condition before and after with photos and video of the access route.
What do I do if I find damage after signing confirmation?
You have a period of 7 days according to the Transport Contract Law to claim non-visible damage when receiving the goods. After that period, the company can claim that the damage occurred later. That's why it's good to unpack at least the critical boxes in the first week and take photos with visible date.
Is it better to hire a local Canary Islands company or a mainland one for a move to the Canary Islands?
A company based in the Canary Islands and operating on the mainland (like Horizont Atlantic) combines the best: manages both the mainland origin AND the Canary Islands destination with their own staff at both locations. A mainland-only company subcontracts the Canary Islands leg, which doubles costs, multiplies the risk of miscommunication and makes it harder to claim if something goes wrong.
And if my destination home isn't ready yet?
Contract with the company a temporary storage period. It's cheaper and safer than leaving things at family members' houses. If you're unsure between self-service storage or closed storage, read our comparison self-service storage or storage facility in Tenerife: which do you need.
Your checklist before signing
- Have they done an in-person visit or guided video call?
- Do they have transport card, tax ID, insurance and verifiable office?
- Have they given you a fixed-price written quote with breakdown and 'not included'?
- Do they include DUA and AIEM exemption (moves to the Canary Islands)?
- How much deposit do they ask for? (30% normal, 100% is a red flag)
- How many workers do they send and who is the foreman?
- Do they offer declared value insurance for valuable items?
- Do they have real verifiable reviews on Google/Trustpilot with dates spread out?
- Has the company name been active for years and hasn't changed recently?
- Is there direct contact with the foreman during the move (not just generic email)?
- Have they signed a contract with clear conditions and cancellation policy?
Over 15 years of experience backing every move
At Horizont Atlantic we meet all 10 points and many more: free technical visit, current MDL-N card, €1,500,000 insurance, our own staff on the mainland and in the Canary Islands, fixed-price written quote, DUA + exemption + IEDMT management included, identifiable foreman throughout the day and no invoice surprises. Contact us for a no-obligation technical visit or ask us for an online quote. If your move is specifically to Tenerife, also start with our guide best moving company in Tenerife: how to choose.
