In most states a “local move” or “intrastate move” is based on time so if you get your quote over the phone there is certain information that your local moving estimator should gather.  A visual “onsite” estimate is usually more accurate but for small moves like studio or one bedroom apartments a local quote can be given over the phone and still be good. There are generally 3 areas that should be covered to insure the proper information is conveyed to the move estimator.  Those areas include how much do you have to move, what are the logistics of your origin and destination, and how far and what type of drive is it from your origin to your destination.  This is assuming you don’t need your boxes packed for you.  If you do, an onsite estimate is a better idea.

The first area to cover is how much do you have to move?  You need to determine what’s in each room (not just how many rooms you have) so it’s best to go from room to room while on the phone with the local move estimator listing the furniture (and boxes) you have.  Each room is different so the more detail the better (even the smaller items matter).  Any local estimator worth his or her salt will also ask questions prompting you like is there any artwork? Are there any lamps? (what style, what size, etc).  Calculating your number of boxes can be difficult for a novice but the estimator should, again, ask questions, like how many linear feet of closet rod do you have (for wardrobe boxes), how many, and what length shelves  of books do you have? (For book boxes) how many cabinets do you have in your kitchen? How full are they? Of what? (for dish packs and large cartons).  These questions can help figure out the most difficult part of your local or intrastate moving quote.  Once you complete what’s in your apartment (or condo) your local moving estimator should check with you to see if you have any storage either in the building (or off site) or any garage or outdoor items like patio furniture, bikes, grills, or sports equipment.  It doesn’t matter whether you think something “isn’t much” or “isn’t a big deal”, the more precise you can be with your list of goods to be moved; the more accurate the local move estimator will be on his or her moving quote.

The second part of the local moving phone estimate equation is the logistics of your origin (where you live now), your destination (where you are moving to), and any restrictions that need to be followed related to the move.  Your local move estimator should find out what floor you live on, whether it’s an elevator or walk up (and the number of flights or stairs that are involved).  All these factors can affect your quote so be as detailed (and truthful) as possible, misinformation can only hurt you in the end.  Other questions should be is there a dock or loading area in the building? how far is it from the building to the truck parking (known as the push by movers) what is the distance from your unit to the elevator, etc? It sounds nitpicky but the logistical aspects of your move (on both sides) can make a difference of 25% to 35% in the time it can take to move out or move in.  Other areas of interest include are there time restrictions? If you live in an elevator building, do you have to make an elevator reservation? and is it exclusive use?  Are there height restrictions for the truck to get into the dock?  Do you have closing times?  The more information you give the better chance you have to get an accurate phone quote.  This is often the most over looked part of the local phone estimate process.

The third part of the local phone estimate is the distance and type of drive it is from your origin to your destination.  The local move estimator needs to get addresses (or at least neighborhoods) and the mileage between the two points to determine the time it will take a moving truck to get from point A to point B.  For instance, ten miles in a rural setting goes much faster than ten miles in a tight urban area.  Remember, in all traffic conditions a moving truck takes longer than a car to travel the same distance.

Once the local phone estimator retrieves all this information, he or she should be able to give you a quote including pricing (and how it’s determined), approximate length of time of your move, moving truck size, and approximate cost of materials, etc.  Also, if you can get 3 estimates you can compare and validate the quote you go with.  Like with any other part of the moving process, the more knowledge you have and your moving company has, the better decision you will usually make, and the more prepared your moving company will be to do you move.  Remember, you should always get the moving quote in writing after getting a phone estimate to insure there is no confusion.

When it comes to the moving world, movers are required to weigh the shipment long distance or interstate, unless the shipment is 1000 pound and can be weighed on a warehouse platform scale. Your licensed mover is required to determine the weight of the shipment by one of the following:

Origin weighing:

When your shipment is weighed in the city you are moving from, the truck is weighed before it arrives at your origin. Tare weight or empty weight. The truck may have moving blankets, dollies, ramps, and other equipment; this is not applied to your shipment weight. Once the movers are finished loading the truck, it will be weighed again. This is called the gross weight. The net weight is the tare weight or empty weight subtracted from the gross weight.

Destination weight:

This is another option your long distance movers may choose to do. The shipment is weighed at destination and this will not affect the weight of your shipment. When weighing at destination your mover is not able to determine the cost until the shipment is off the truck. The truck will be weighed before your shipment is offloaded and then again when the truck is empty and this is how the weight is determined. When the mover weighs a shipment, the driver must get a weight ticket and it must include the date, place, and weight of where the truck was weighed. The ticket should also include the customer’s name and shipment on it along with the truck identification number. If the empty and gross weight are recorded on the same scale, this can be recorded on the ticket. The consumer can be present at the weighing of the truck and the moving company should give enough notice to the customer so they can be present. If you want to be present for this, you should let the mover know at the time the order of service is placed or before your move date.

Re-weighing shipment:

The moving company is required to give you written notice of weight and charges on your move before unloading the truck if you agree to the charges and weight. If you feel the weight is not correct, you can request your shipment to be reweighed before they offload truck. The mover is not allowed to charge you for it. If the weight is different than the mover originally weighed, this needs to be recalculated based on the updated weight.

Another option you may want to consider before you ask your mover to reweighing it is to figure out how many items are a part of your shipment. Each inventory page is usually 30 items, so multiply the number of each full-page times the number of items on each page plus the number of items on the incomplete pages. For example, if you have seven pages full +8 items this comes to 218 items or 7×30+8. If an auto is being shipped, don’t factor it into the calculation. Divide the number of items into the shipment weight and if the weight per item is between 35 and 45 pounds then a reweigh is probably not necessary. If the shipment had lots of bulky boxes that were tools, etc. the weight could be on the 45 pound and over range. If the shipment had a large number of wardrobes, plastic toys, or bulky items not heavy items the weight per item could be 35 pounds or less.

Be careful when asking your mover to reweigh the shipment as this could result in increased charges. If a company gives you a binding quote, then they do not need to weigh the shipment, or if it is a “not to exceed” quote, then if less is sent and If the shipment weighs less than the charges could be decreased.

A nonbinding estimate is not a contract, it is provided to the customer to give them a general idea of what their costs will be.  Also it is not a guarantee that the final bill will be less than or equal to the amount estimated.  The estimate should be following the mover’s tariff and the mover should not charge more or less than what their tariff states depending on the weight of the shipment and the services provided.

Nonbinding estimates are provided in writing and should be descriptive on the the shipment entails and all services that are provided to the do the move.  Whenever a moving company provides this type of estimate, the amount of charges must be on the order for service and bill of lading.

If the mover is giving a nonbinding estimate, and the total bill exceeds 10% of the estimated amount, the customer does have 30 day to pay anything more than 10% over the estimated amount.  If more services are required of the mover that were not originally included on the estimate, then the mover may require payment due at the time of delivery, this is up to the moving company depending on the situation and services provided.  The shipper is obligated to pay 110% of the estimated amount at the time of delivery.

With a binding estimate, you are not required to pay more than the amount stated, unless there are additional services provided, that were not included with the original quote, such as an elevator charge, shuttle, stair charge, destination regulations, long carry, etc.

The moving company will require payment at time of delivery.  A binding estimate must be provided in writing and prior to the customer moving.

As a customer, you are responsible for the entire amount stated on the quote/bid, by cashier’s check, cash, travelers, bank check, unless the company has agreed upon payment terms, or if the company will accept major credit cards as a form of payment.  If more services are provided by the company not stated on the binding quote that was not included, this will be due at the same time.  If the customer fails to pay the amount of the binding quote or additional services that have been, or need to be performed, the company may hold your items in storage until payment in received.

A “not to exceed” quotes can also be issued.  This means the quote will not exceed the estimated amount but may be less if the weight and/or services and packing provided are less.

Having multiple estimates helps verify the validity of shipment size.  For example, if 3 movers estimate an 8 hour move, but the 4^th mover estimates a 4 hour move with the same amount of men, be wary!  Your actual charges will be based on the movers’ tariff, so it’s a good idea to inspect that part of the moving company.  When someone comes to estimate your home or office, make sure they see everything you want to move including:  attics, basements, crawlspaces, garages, sheds, outside items, and even contents of shelves, cabinets, etc.  Once a walk through is complete, get the estimate in writing including the type of service, tariff charges, number of men, vehicles, movers liability options (valuation or insurance options) types of payment accepted and required and have the mover sign.

This step is complete!  Now it’s time to find the mover you are most comfortable with and book your move date.