Whether you're relocating locally or across the nation, one of the most important decisions you'll have to make when deciding to move is whether to hire a moving company or transport your items yourself. While hiring a professional moving company can increase the expense of your relocation, there are many benefits to doing so, as experienced movers can help coordinate your move to make it less stressful and allow you to focus on other things.
When looking for a moving company to use, make sure to get quotations from at least three different businesses. Make sure the movers assess your property or conduct a video examination of your things before providing you with an estimate; this will help you avoid any unexpected charges during the relocation.
The estimate will most likely be determined differently depending on whether the move is local or long-distance.
- Local relocation: If you're relocating inside the same city, your moving costs will most likely be based on an hourly charge. The rate will be determined by a variety of factors, including the number of movers required as part of the moving crew, as well as the number and size of moving trucks required.
- Long-distance move: The cost of a long-distance move will be determined by the weight of your items and the total distance traveled.
It's also crucial to determine whether the moving estimate is a non-binding, binding, or binding not-to-exceed estimate.
- Non-binding estimate: Because the moving company is not required to adhere to the estimate, the final moving cost may be greater or lower than the estimate supplied to you. If the final cost is higher than the estimate at the time of delivery, your mover cannot expect you to pay more than the estimate plus 10% of the entire cost. Furthermore, the moving firm has the right to charge you for additional charges after the transfer. Non-binding estimates are uncommon as a result of these factors.
- Binding estimate: The total cost of the move cannot exceed the original estimate. You will, however, pay the expected price even if the actual cost of the move is less than the estimate.
- Binding not-to-exceed estimate: Also known as a "guaranteed price" or "price protection" estimate, this sort of estimate is deemed "consumer-friendly." Only if the total cost is reduced once the move is completed will the final moving fee be altered. You will not be charged any additional fees if the final moving cost is more than the estimate. If the actual moving cost is less than the estimate, you will be charged the full amount.
