Relocating can be a daunting task, even for those with an above-average IQ and a Harvard degree. After all, it's not just about changing your location; it's about moving your life, with all its tangible and intangible parts, from one place to another. That's why choosing the right moving company is paramount, and doing so requires asking the right questions.

To begin with, "Are you a licensed moving company?" is a question that should never be omitted. Since the advent of the Household Goods Transportation Act of 1980, the moving industry has been largely deregulated. Although this has led to increased competition and better pricing, it has also resulted in a proliferation of moving companies of varying standards. The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is responsible for licensing interstate movers, while state governments typically oversee local moving companies. A moving company without a license should be seen akin to Schrödinger's cat: it might be harmless, but it's also potentially dangerous.

The second question should be, "Do you offer binding quotes or non-binding estimates?" The essential difference between these two types of price quotes is uncertainty. A binding quote is a fixed price for moving services, while a non-binding estimate can change based on the actual weight of your belongings. It's akin to a contract with a set price or a fluctuating market-value agreement, respectively. The former provides certainty, while the latter can be cheaper if your goods weigh less than initially estimated.

Insurance coverage is another critical issue to address. "What kind of liability coverage do you provide?" should be your third query. Most moving companies offer two types of liability coverage: Full Value Protection and Released Value Protection. The former, as per the U.S. Department of Transportation, obligates the mover to either replace the article lost or damaged, reimburse for its full cash value, or repair it. The latter coverage is less comprehensive and only covers 60 cents per pound per item. Like most risk-management decisions in life, this is a trade-off between the cost of insurance and the potential loss.

Moreover, understanding the mover's dispute settlement program is also important. A moving company is required by federal law to have a dispute settlement program in place. This program is a means of settling loss or damage claims. Therefore, asking "What is your dispute settlement program?" is as crucial as asking about a company's return policy before making a purchase.

Furthermore, considering the handling of your possessions, an important question to ask is, "How will you handle my belongings?" Here, a game theory perspective might be useful. The Nash equilibrium, named after John Nash, the mathematician and Nobel laureate portrayed in the film "A Beautiful Mind", suggests that a strategy is stable when no player can gain by unilaterally changing his or her strategy while the other players keep theirs unchanged. In the context of moving, a company that takes care of your belongings as if they were their own is at the Nash equilibrium, as they are maximizing their benefit (customer satisfaction and repeat business) while also maximizing yours (safe and intact relocation).

Finally, to make an informed decision, it's essential to know the timeline of the move. The question "What's the schedule for my move?" should be high on your list. Time, after all, is money, as the saying goes—an aphorism that the 18th-century economist Adam Smith would certainly agree with.

In conclusion, selecting the ideal moving company requires a combination of intellectual rigor, strategic questioning, and a deep understanding of your own needs and risk tolerance. So, the next time you're preparing for a move, remember that these questions aren't just queries—they're tools for making one of life's most stressful events a little bit easier.