When choosing your long distance moving company, start your search early. Go online. Research a variety of moving services. Make some decisions about what you need. Do you want the movers to pack for you, or do you have time to do it yourself? Do you need a long distance moving company that can also move your car? How do you balance out quality with price?
One of the most frustrating things about hiring interstate movers is the whole estimated pricing scam. The price the company estimates the move to be is often just a fraction of the price they eventually charge. Forget about hiring the company with the lowest estimates. Estimates and reality often have nothing to do with one another!
Fortunately, a minority of moving companies do guarantee their prices. Of course, you'll have to give them very detailed information about what you plan to move. You need to be forthcoming if you expect them to be accurate. Filling out a form, however, is a very small price to pay, if it means protecting yourself from unethical price gouging.