Whether you are moving to another neighborhood, another city, or across the state, the relocation process is not easy. So many things need to be addressed and adequately prepared in order to avoid all possible problems. If you have sorted out the place to live, job transfer, and settled your affairs at home, you are ready to take the next step. It’s time to safely transfer all your possessions to another location without having to worry about loading, unloading, or transporting things. Getting familiar with your options when it comes to moving estimates is a must!
Make sure to have a hiring contract!
As for longer moving distances, a proper moving estimate with a hiring contract is a must! So what are moving estimates? A moving estimate is a price offer that you will be getting from a moving company that will include an estimate of your possessions based on many factors. Mainly it refers to the weight and amount of possessions you will be moving, the distance of relocation, possible special insurance, and such. So before you decide what suits you the best, ask a moving company what kind of moving estimates contract they offer.
How to conduct an affordable but safe relocation?
The best way to do it is to run research about important factors before hiring a reliable local moving company that has good recommendations and highly trained and experienced workers. It is important to decide what kind of moving estimates suits you the best, based on your needs and the factors of your relocation. If you are moving somewhere close, one of the most used options is to pay-per-hour charges. The expenses are based on a fee that includes the number of moving crew and vehicles used. Since they charge per hour, make sure you have everything ready in order to save time and money.
Binding estimate:
An offer of fixed cost expenses based on an estimation of the approximate weight of possessions. Pros: you will pay the exact agreed price, no more and no less than your moving company has offered, even if your belongings turn to be heavier than expected. Cons: the same as pro factors. If the moving estimate was wrong, and your belongings are lighter, you will have to pay the full agreed price.
Non-binding estimate:
Basically the same offer of moving estimate, but if you pick a non-binding estimate, your final cost might change. It all depends on different factors and the actual weight of the possessions. A non-binding estimate is not recommended because you could be overcharged if the contractor gives you a low estimate starting price. Cons: You can pay more than the original offer of the moving estimate.
Not-to-exceed estimate:
The difference between a binding estimate and a not-to-exceed estimate is that the cost is based on a binding estimate or final weight results. A not-to-exceed estimate will make sure that the customer pays the cheaper option. It might be the best option for a long-distance move. Pros: You will possibly paying less if the shipment weight is less than estimated.
If you’ve decided what is the best solution for you, there are few more factors to consider; Do you need additional insurance if you are transporting delicate or valuable objects? Do you need to hire special services for packing? Or if you are doing your own packing, what kind of materials to purchase for it?
Make a moving list with all possible expenses and get to it! You already took a big, significant step, and the only way to go is forward! Happy moving!