Getting estimates from more than one moving company is a smart way to start planning a move. But comparing them takes more than looking at the total at the bottom of the page. One mover may include packing materials, specialty handling, or other services that another has priced separately. Two companies may also be working from different assumptions about what you are moving or what the crew will need to do on moving day.
Before you decide which estimate offers the best value, make sure you understand what each mover is actually quoting.
Start With the Same Move
You cannot make a useful price comparison if each moving company is estimating a different job. Give each mover the same basic information about your move. That includes the belongings you plan to take, your origin and destination, any large or unusual items, and the services you expect the mover to provide.
Be sure to mention anything that could change how the crew approaches your home. Stairs, elevators, difficult parking, long walks between the truck and the house, and unusually heavy items are all worth discussing before moving day. If you decide later to add another room of furniture or ask the movers to pack items you originally planned to pack yourself, tell the moving company. Your estimate may need to change because the job has changed.
Look Beyond the Bottom-Line Price
A lower estimate does not necessarily mean one mover is less expensive. First find out what is included. One company may quote transportation alone while another includes packing, packing materials, specialty-item handling, storage, or other services you requested.
Compare the scope of work as carefully as you compare the price. Ask yourself: If both companies showed up tomorrow and did exactly what is written in their estimates, would they be doing the same job?
If the answer is no, you do not yet have an apples-to-apples comparison.
Check What the Mover Used to Prepare the Estimate
A mover needs an accurate picture of what you are moving before it can prepare an accurate estimate. That is why an in-home or on-site survey can be valuable. Instead of relying on a quick description of your house, the estimator can see your furniture, talk with you about what is moving, identify specialty items, and discuss access to the property.
Gerber Transfer & Storage offers free on-site estimates in the Kansas City area. A Gerber representative will review your move with you and use that information to prepare the quote. Request a free on-site estimate.
For interstate household moves, federal regulations also require movers to provide written estimates and generally base them on an actual or virtual survey of the household goods being moved. A verbal rate quote is not the same thing as the written estimate required for an interstate shipment.
Understand Binding and Non-Binding Estimates
If you are moving from one state to another, you may see the terms binding estimate and non-binding estimate.
Under federal interstate-moving rules, a binding estimate is a written agreement based on the goods and services listed in the estimate. If you add belongings or request additional services before loading, you and the mover may need to agree on how those changes will affect the estimate.
A non-binding estimate is an estimate of what the move is expected to cost rather than a guarantee of the final amount. Final charges can depend on factors such as the actual shipment weight and services provided.
These are federal rules for interstate household moves. Requirements for moves that stay within one state can differ, so ask your mover how your particular estimate works.
You can learn more about interstate moving estimates through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Protect Your Move resources.
Confirm Which Services Are Included
Review each estimate for services beyond loading, transportation, and unloading. Your move may include professional packing, packing materials, custom crating, storage, appliance preparation, or specialized handling for items such as pianos, safes, spas, or pool tables. If you need one of those services, make sure it appears clearly on the estimate.
You should also tell the mover which services you plan to handle yourself. If you are packing your own boxes, for example, both you and the mover should understand what must be ready when the crew arrives.
Learn more about packing for a move and what you may want to handle yourself.
Ask How Storage Will Be Priced
Storage can make two otherwise similar estimates look very different. If you may need temporary storage between homes, ask how the mover will handle it and what costs are included. You may have charges related to moving your belongings into storage, storing them, and delivering them later.
Learn more about Gerber Transfer & Storage’s storage services.
Review Your Protection Options
Ask each mover what protection applies to your belongings and what choices you have if something is lost or damaged.
For interstate moves, federal regulations require movers to provide information about available liability options. Those options are not the same thing as ordinary homeowners or renters insurance, so read the documents the mover gives you rather than assuming the word “coverage” means the same thing in every estimate. If you are comparing interstate estimates, make sure you are comparing similar protection choices as well as similar moving services.
Ask Questions About Anything That Is Not Clear
Before choosing a mover, ask about anything you cannot identify on the estimate. Useful questions include:
- Is this a binding or non-binding estimate, if those terms apply to my move?
- What could cause the price to change?
- Are packing materials included?
- How are specialty items handled and priced?
- Is storage included if I need it?
- What protection options are available for my belongings?
- What happens if I add items or services before moving day?
- When and how is payment due?
You do not need every mover to organize its estimate in exactly the same way. You do need to understand what each company has agreed to do and what you will be expected to pay for.
Compare the Move, Not Just the Number
The best estimate for your move is not automatically the lowest number on the page. It is the one that clearly explains the work being quoted and gives you enough information to compare your options.
Gerber Transfer & Storage provides free on-site estimates for Kansas City-area moves. We will review what you are moving, talk with you about the services you need, and prepare a quote based on your move.
Request an Estimate
The best way to give you a fair, accurate price is to have a Gerber representative visit your home or business. This service is free—there is no charge for us to do an on-site survey and prepare an estimate.
