When you’re planning a move, it is vital to gather quotes from multiple moving companies. This will give you a good idea of the prices that are available and make it easier to spot red flags, like a price that is far higher or lower than what the competition offers. It’s also a good idea to get at least three moving estimates in order to compare prices and get the best possible deal.
The most accurate way to get a moving quote is to have a company representative come to your house and physically assess the cost of your move in person. This will allow them to take everything that you need to be moved into account, including heavy items like furniture and appliances. It will also enable the moving agent to determine whether or not certain items can be disassembled or broken down in order to save space on the truck, which can lead to significant savings.
Once they’ve surveyed your belongings, the company will provide you with a moving quote that includes a breakdown of the labor and services they will provide, as well as any applicable taxes and fees. This is typically a non-binding estimate, which means that the actual price you pay will depend on the weight of your shipment and the services you choose. However, by law, movers can only require you to pay up to 110% of the written nonbinding estimate at delivery and bill the remaining amount later.
Binding moving estimates are the safest option for a consumer because they guarantee that you will not pay more than the amount you were originally quoted, provided that nothing changes throughout the move. However, if you do end up adding additional items to your shipment or the shipment ends up being heavier than expected, then you’ll have to either agree to stick with the original binding estimate or negotiate a new one.
Non-binding estimates can be tricky, too. Since they are based on an estimated weight, bad movers will often purposely underprice their initial estimates to lure customers in, then tack on extra charges on moving day (like for example, filling up the truck’s gas tank right before they weigh your shipment in order to increase the weight).
Other things that can affect your moving estimate include the date of your move and the time of year, as these factors will all have an impact on the final bill. For example, movers will charge more during the spring and summer when demand for their services skyrockets. Additionally, if your move is on a weekend or national holiday, this will also increase the overall cost of the move. To help offset these costs, it’s prudent to consider getting insurance coverage through the moving company. This will protect you in the event of any loss or damage during transit. It’s important to note, however, that not all movers will offer this service. In addition, you may want to consider a less expensive alternative such as a self-pack container or storage facility. what is a moving quote