Online quotes can be particularly treacherous because they assume that you have listed every possession you will need to have moved. Online quotes also make it easy for a mover to offer a “guesstimate” under the guise of offering an estimate.
Some movers will “spitball” a number hoping to get you to sign a contract, only to hit you with the real price after everything you own is loaded onto their truck.
This is a huge red flag.
There are plenty of good movers out there, but dealing with just one unethical company can drain you emotionally and financially.
The trick is to be savvy, better educated than any moving company would like. Rogue movers have a bit of a pattern. They ask you to fill out a form online, giving them an idea of what you will be moving, then offer a lowball estimate without coming out to see your belongings.