Understanding The Different Kinds of Moving Estimates
If you’re planning to hire professional household movers to help with your upcoming move, you might be confused about estimates. Arranging a move is difficult enough without figuring out the different kinds of moving estimates. So here’s a quick rundown of what to expect to make an informed decision.
Binding Estimate
A binding estimate is a price a mover quotes based on the estimated weight of your possessions. The estimate is the amount you’ll pay upon your move. If your shipment exceeds the actual weight, the mover is bound to honor the estimate. However, if your shipment’s weight is less, you’ll still pay the agreed-upon price.
The most considerable perceived benefit is for budgeting purposes. With a fixed price, you’ll know precisely what you’ll be paying with no surprises as long as you don’t add any additional items to move.
Non-Binding Estimate
A non-binding estimate is what it sounds like. It’s a rough estimate of how much your move will cost. On moving day, the amount you pay may be lower or higher, depending upon the actual weight of the items being transferred to the new home. The biggest downside to this is that there is no way to budget exactly how much a move will cost ahead of time.
Advantages include obtaining phone or online estimates without arranging appointments for movers to look at your household items. Movers cannot collect more than 110% of what was quoted unless additional services are ordered after giving you the estimate. Non-binding estimates tend to be accurate as long as the amount of agreed-upon items to move doesn’t change.
Binding Not-to-Exceed Estimate
Binding not-to-exceed estimates are popular with consumers, especially for long-distance moves. These estimates mean that even if the weight of your items exceeds the estimate (without adding more belongings—this breaks the contract), you won’t be charged extra fees for weight. However, you will pay less if your items weigh less than the estimate quoted.
Moving Made Easy! Tips for Obtaining Quotes
Understanding these different kinds of moving estimates can help you make an educated decision before signing a contract with a mover. The following tips can help.
- Research your move, including mover reputations, and whether they have Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration authorization to cross state lines.
- Compare moving service packages and pricing—try to get at least three estimates.
- Request a direct point of contact to speak with during the moving quote process so you can ask questions and obtain clarification where needed.
- To receive the best price, carefully consider the date of your move, season, distance, home size, the weight of belongings, and packing/labor costs—all of these will affect how your moving costs are estimated.
- Always carefully read any contract before signing on the dotted line. Don’t hesitate to ask your mover for clarification about anything in the estimate.
- Consider obtaining online moving quotes if you’re pressed for time or live a hectic schedule.
Moving Help
Need more information about the different types of estimates? Contact us today. We’re happy to discuss the quotes we offer and how we can help make your next move seamless.
