Most families get the estimate and treat it as the answer. It is a proposal. The document that binds the mover and the family is usually a separate form, often the bill of lading or an order for service, and the terms that matter sit in the fine print of both. Dad may want to see only the price. Your job is to read the terms.
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What kind of estimate you have
Ask the mover to state in writing whether the estimate is binding, non-binding, or binding with a not-to-exceed limit. A non-binding estimate is an approximation, and the final charge can change once the weight or the work is known. A binding estimate fixes the price for the work described. Read the wording itself. Do not rely on a sales representative saying the number is firm.
The inventory list
The inventory is where most later disputes begin. Check that every item Dad plans to keep is listed, with a count of boxes and a description of each large piece of furniture. Check whether each box is marked as packed by the mover or packed by the family. Ask what happens to anything that is not on the list. Ask for a copy of the final inventory at delivery, and check it against the truck before anyone signs for the load.
Liability and coverage
Ask what level of liability the mover offers for loss or damage and what it costs to raise that level. Ask whether the mover's coverage is separate from the household policy, and whether the family's renters or homeowner's policy covers goods in transit. Do not assume either answer. Get both in writing.
Windows, late delivery, and cancellation
Ask for the pickup window and the delivery window in writing, and ask what the mover does if it misses either one. Ask whether there is a cancellation fee and how many days before pickup it applies. Ask for the name and direct number of the person who will be reachable on move day.
What the estimate may leave out
Stairs, long carries, elevator access, packing, unpacking, and storage in transit are often priced apart from the base figure. Check each one against the house you are leaving and the place you are moving to. If the family is moving Dad across a state line, ask for the company's federal motor carrier registration number and confirm it on the paperwork.
Who signs, and who keeps the copies
Whoever signs the bill of lading must read it first. Dad may be the person who signs. If he needs more time to read the whole document, give him that time. Ask for a complete copy before the truck loads, and keep it with the estimate and the inventory in one folder.
The next move
Before any deposit, email the mover and ask, in writing, for the estimate type, a copy of the inventory, the liability terms, and the cancellation rule. Then sit down with Dad and the papers together, mark the items he intends to keep, and send the marked list back to the mover before the walk-through is scheduled.