Movers: Binding, Non-Binding And Not-to-Exceed Estimates

There are many different moving companies around, which makes choosing the right one for your upcoming move quite a task. Hiring movers is not as simple as choosing a name out of the phone book and placing a call.

There are many different things to think about before making any type of agreement. One of the most important things to consider is the estimate. There are different types of estimates and it is imperative have that you pay attention to the type given to you. The three most common types are non-binding, binding, and not-to-exceed.

Estimates are set based on a variety of factors. This price analysis takes into consideration all of the services which the moving company will be providing to you.

Will you be having the movers pack and transport? What about the items that you have in the shed out back, would you like them to take care of everything, or are you going to handle some? These are all things you should think about before you make the call. When the customer service representative comes out to your house to give you a cost breakdown, they will go over all of the items with you and create an itemized list. Your price is going to be based off of that list.

If you receive a non-binding estimate, this means that your actual bill may be different from the quote that you were given. The moving company based your costs on an estimation of the weight of your property. However, the actual price is going to be based on the true weight, which means that your cost may be significantly higher or lower than your quote.

If the moving company gave you a binding estimate, then you pay the price that is on the quote no matter what the weight of your property is. If you ask for additional services from the movers or add more property to the move, you will be given an additional written quote.

An estimate that is given with a not-to-exceed clause is nice because the amount you owe will never be more than the total written on the quote. However, if your property weighs less than expected, your total due could be considerably less.

Be sure to thoroughly read through all itemizations and costs before signing any agreement. The day of moving, the driver needs to present you with the bill of lading before the movers begin loading items.

This bill should be an exact copy of the written estimate that you were given and should itemize all details of your pickup, delivery, and personal information. Keep a copy of this bill so that you may cross check any information upon the arrival of your property if need be.