Getting an Accurate Moving Estimate

1. An Accurate Estimate is Key to a Successful Move
2. Don't Let Yourself Be Surprised By a Higher Cost!
3. Get All of the Estimates Done in the Same Day
4. Get Everyone Involved
5. Make Everything As Clear As Possible
6. Ask Questions: Communication is Vital!
7. Don’t Forget to Mention Dates
8. Packing and Unpacking Estimate

1. An Accurate Estimate is Key to a Successful Move

Everybody who moves knows that an estimate is a key to happiness during the moving process. An estimate that is too high can send people who are moving into a frenzy trying to save money during the process, while an estimate that is too low could cause suspicion about their legitimacy as a moving company, upsetting the moving company. Not to mention, an inaccurate estimate could be a major issue in the event that the cost of the move is greater than what the customer is willing to pay or had planned a budget for.

2. Don't Let Yourself Be Surprised By a Higher Cost!

This article is meant to help you obtain an accurate estimate from your moving company, and avoid all the trouble that comes with having to pay an unexpected price. After you have chosen a group of reputable movers to work with, give each of them a call and set up estimates. Use Moving Authority's moving cost estimate tool to find the most comprehensive list of reputable movers in your area.

3. Get All of the Estimates Done in the Same Day

A normal in-home estimate should not take more than an hour. Although it may seem grueling, if you are knocking out one estimate after another, you will not regret it. Leave a two-hour opening between each appointment. During this time, you can take notes or make changes to your plan. Scheduling all estimates for the same day keeps information fresh in your mind. This is one of the most important steps during your moving process. To get an accurate estimate make sure that you have already made a list of inventory. Anything that's been forgotten to add in the estimate will give you a false sense of how much a moving company will cost. This will create problems between the movers and the customer, who will be charged more than they were originally quoted.

4. Get Everyone Involved

If your spouse does not have time to be present with the movers, then you should schedule another walk around with them. More often than not, the inventory will be vastly different from the first estimate to the second, depending on the person. Try to get everyone in the family that you can to help with inventory, you'll find more often than not that each member comes up with different estimates.

5. Make Everything As Clear As Possible

If you do not do this, you run the risk of having to pay more on the day of the move because of items left out of the initial estimate. Take time before any of the movers arrive to ensure that there is nothing out of site that will have to be moved. Very often, people moving will forget that they have items in the attic that need to be moved out of there on the day of the move. If these items are not seen by the mover, then you will not be provided with an accurate estimate. It is of vital importance that you ensure all items are accounted for, especially larger ones. Check attics, basements, and garages, and inform the estimator of any special items that must be moved.

Some moving companies also require a list be made of items that are not being moved. This is a way to save themselves in the event that a fraudulent claim is made for a missing item when in reality the movers were never in possession of the item, to begin with.

6. Ask Questions: Communication is Vital!

Keep in mind that you are doing a lot more than just collecting prices during the move. You are also getting some time to get a feel for the company you will hand your entire life over to. Many moving companies will offer similar prices for your move. So, it is crucial to collect other pieces of data on them as well. This will make it easier for you to get a good sense of which company you should go with. If you know what questions to ask, you may also protect yourself from rogue movers.

7. Don’t Forget to Mention Dates

In the moving industry, it is a known fact that dates have a massive effect on price. If you want a fairly priced estimate, then you should not have a set-in-stone move date. If you want an exact date of delivery, be ready to pay more to get it. Find out what your moving window delivery time might be.

8. Packing and Unpacking Estimate

Depending on your individual situation, it may or may not make sense for you to do packing yourself. If you are planning on packing everything yourself, you will still get a list from the estimator that details how many boxes and what kind of materials you will need. If you request a packing and unpacking estimate, you may find that it is financially logical to add the convenience to your move. On the other hand, the packing and unpacking service may be way too expensive, and you will find it far more reasonable to get things packed yourself.

If you do choose to use packing and unpacking service through the moving company, use the time you are saving to do some other things. For example, you may want to take the time to get rid of things you don’t want to take to your new home. This can also help you save money on the move since some (usually long distance moves) are based on weight. If there is less for the movers to pack, then you will pay less for packing services as well.