Everything about Moving Estimates

Posted on 06/12/2013

Doing a successful house move depends on plenty of factors and one of the most important things is to understand how moving estimates are formed and work. This will help you choose the right mover and know how to prepare your budget plan.

1. Non-Binding or Binding: You can never find two moving companies that have the same costs. Not only that, but they also vary in the way they calculate their costs for the move. You can find a company that will give you a rate which is based on the pre-calculated weight of your shipment (non-binding estimate). Another company will offer you a firm rate or the so called binding estimate. In this case what you are given as a quote you will have to pay. There is also a binding not-to-exceed estimate which states that what you pay in the end cannot be more than the initial quote you’ve been given. On the other hand, the final amount could be less if the weight of your shipment is less than the first calculation. The most common estimate is binding not-to-exceed, but make sure you always have at least three estimates to compare and choose from.

2. Weight: If you want to assess the different prices of the companies you are considering, you need to find out how much they charge per kilo and per mover. However, not only the weight charges determine the cost – there is also charge for distance and extra services. When you compare companies the weight is only one consideration. If you don’t want to pay too much you need to get rid of old and unwanted items. There is no point transporting them to your new place and paying so much for something you don’t even use anymore.

3. Distance: This is one of the key determinants for every move. Even if you are doing a local move, you still have to pay a certain fee. Most movers charge per kilometer or mile and they add to that the weight cost too. Find out about their fees in advance and work out whether this suits your needs. If you are moving to another state or town, the distance costs will be a major factor for choosing the removals company.

4. Fees for Extra Services: If your move is a straight-forward one, without any special items, then you might avoid the extra fees. However, some of the additional charges you probably don’t even anticipate. They include any obstacles or issues on the moving day and they are not included in the initial quote you’ve been given, so you need to be well prepared for the moving day in order to avoid these fees.

There are many things about moving estimates and additional charges that the representative of the removals company won’t inform you of. The truth is that every company will try to make as much money as possible from your move. Even if they give you a reasonable quote and insurance, they can still charge you with accessorial charges and extra fees, based on the specific circumstances during the move. The more you read about estimates before you start organizing the move, the better for you. If you don’t want to break your budget, you need to know what you can be charged for and how to avoid it. The above-mentioned information is only the basic about the moving estimates.