If you’re thinking about hiring movers, getting a moving quote is an important step in the process. Depending on the company, some may be able to offer instant quotes online while others will need to conduct a physical survey of your items and provide a more detailed estimate. The latter option can be time consuming and stressful, especially when you have to let strangers into your home or sit on hold for long phone calls with customer representatives. Fortunately, many reputable moving companies are now offering an easier alternative: a virtual move survey.
The type of move you’re planning will affect your moving cost. For example, a minimalist living in a studio department will have less belongings to move than someone who has a fully-furnished four-bedroom house. Hence, the former will have a much cheaper move. In addition, the size of your home will influence your move price because it requires more resources to transport. A bigger space also means more rooms that need to be surveyed and larger furniture that will need to be disassembled. Cargo weight is another factor that determines your moving costs because heavier loads require a higher number of trips and will take longer to load and unload.
In addition, if you’re moving from and to a different state, your mover will have to follow the rules established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. This is because interstate movers are required to provide estimates based on a physical survey of your items unless you waive this requirement in writing. That being said, it’s best to get quotes from multiple movers and compare prices to see what the competition is charging.
It’s important to understand the difference between formal moving estimates and instant ballpark quotes that you get through a moving estimate calculator. While the latter are great for establishing a ballpark figure, it’s best to have a professional conduct an in-person or virtual walkthrough of your belongings to give you a more accurate and binding estimate on your moving cost.
The moving process can be stressful enough without having to worry about a dishonest company taking advantage of you. Whether you’re obtaining an instant moving quote or a formal estimate, be sure to read through the fine print to ensure that you’re not being overcharged.
Some movers will offer you non-binding estimates that are based on the number of rooms in your home and your possessions’ weight. This type of move estimate isn’t binding because it may change once the actual load is weighed on moving day.
However, a few of the most reputable moving companies will offer you binding estimates. This means that the final price on your moving bill will not exceed the original estimate – even if your items end up weighing more than expected. This type of move estimate is known as a guaranteed not to exceed estimate and is one of the benefits of hiring a reputable moving company. moving quotes instant
