Movers' Estimates: Can You Trust Them?

by Courtney Ronan

The majority of moves take place because of a job transfer. And in the midst of a healthy and vital national economy, many transferees need not concern themselves with the cost of their move, because their companies graciously pick up the tab. For most of us, however, the cost is ours to bear alone or at least in part. And it's daunting - especially if you're moving cross-country.

Many moving companies will ask you to rattle off how many items of furniture you own, then give you an estimate. It's probably going to sound fantastic. But what about the sea of boxes sitting in every room in your home? Are you prepared to move them yourself? Don't assume the movers will do it without a considerable mark-up. The estimate you received is based only on the transport of your furniture, unless specified otherwise. And if it was specified otherwise, by all means, get it in writing. Investigative news media have exposed in recent years an unfortunate breed of moving companies who quote their customers one price for the move, then announce that, due to unexpected factors, the bill is actually much, much higher. There's little that customers can do to contest when all of their worldly goods are still in the moving van under lock and key. That's not a coincidence. Some movers have threatened customers that if they don't agree to the inflated price, they'll simply drive away with the customers' possessions.Your first step on the ever-so-labor-intensive-and-let's-face-it-plain-miserable adventure of moving is to track down several moving companies and get estimates from them. Some estimates will seem astronomical, and others like the steal of the century. Before you pass judgment, however, keep in mind that the offer of a great deal shouldn't be the decision-maker for you. Be careful. Maybe that estimate doesn't take into consideration your packing materials (which, as any veteran transferee will tell you, add up very quickly), special handling for your breakable items, the disassembling and reassembling of your furniture, and the transport of your car(s), motorcycles, boats and any other large items you own.


Your best recourse is to find yourself a moving company who makes house calls. Have a representative pay a visit to your existing residence and survey just how much you have to move. Then, and only then, is a realistic estimate possible. And have that estimate in writing in your hand by the time the representative leaves.


Estimates come in two different varieties: binding and nonbonding. Binding isn't always your best bet, contrary to what you might believe. It depends upon the situation. Binding estimates are more tedious to create because they're based on a very detailed assessment of how much you own. The movers have to take more time to gather this information and will probably charge you for the privilege. The quote you receive will seem high, but it will take into consideration the sum of your possessions. That higher price also protects the moving company, who could stand to lose out financially in your transaction if they didn't build in some sort of profit margin.


The upside of a binding estimate is, of course, that it's binding. Regardless of whether the move takes more time to complete than the company had expected, or whether the weight of your furniture exceeds expectations, you pay the figure outlined in your contract. And by the way, that figure must be written in a contract for your estimate to be binding. If you decide halfway into the move that you'd like your crew to perform additional services, you can expect to pay an additional cost on top of your binding estimate. If it wasn't in writing initially, it's going to cost you. That contract protects both you and the moving company.


Nonbinding estimates are usually lower than binding estimates - and for several reasons. First, these estimates are free of charge; that's your legal right. Nonbinding estimates are created from an assessment of how many hours your move will take to complete, or much your possessions will weigh. Very often - and it's not necessarily intentional on the part of the mover - the actual process takes longer than everyone expected (delays could result from bad weather, traffic or anything Murphy's Law decides to send your way). Should you be cynical when asking for a nonbinding estimate? Not necessarily, but do be prepared to pay more than what you're quoted. These estimates are not promises by any stretch of the imagination. However, if for any reason your move comes in under the estimated time and weight allotments, you'll be given a lower price; you won't be bound to the initial estimate.


So which kind of estimate is right for you? That depends on just how much you own. If you're young, haven't settled down yet and aren't moving a tremendous amount of furniture and other possessions, you have a bit more leeway to choose a nonbinding estimate if you wish. The odds of that estimate being met are perhaps greater for you. On the other hand, if you've been established in your current residence for many years and have a lot of items to move, it may be a smarter move to receive a binding estimate. Nonbinding estimates simply leave too much "wiggle room" on the part of the moving company, and you could find yourself slapped with a higher bill than you'd ever imagined.


Source:  http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20000928_moverestimate.htm


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