Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Critical Elements in a Moving Company’s Estimate

Finding movers can be quite easy. In fact, you could come up with a long list of prospects just by flipping through the yellow pages. However, hiring a good one could be very challenging. One of the most important tasks you should not miss out on is to require your shortlisted prospects to submit an estimate of the costs that your moving will incur. Comparing the quotes submitted by your prospects could help you make a good choice of Moving Company Hudson County NJ. Nevertheless, understanding the different critical elements of these quotes could help you gain a more thorough overview of what these estimates are trying to tell you. 


Binding setup. Some estimates come with a binding arrangement. Thus, the fee indicated in the estimate serves as the final amount you are expected to pay. Other moving companies practice giving quotes based on a pre-estimated weight. This type of quote involves a non-binding arrangement. If you have signed in with a non-binding estimate, you should anticipate a possible variation from the quoted price to the actual charge. Some companies also submit a ‘not-to-exceed’ estimate. This type of quote indicates that the final payable you will have to settle could only go lower, but not higher, than the estimated fee. By understanding the type of estimate you have received from your prospect mover, you would surely not be caught off-guard with what you have to deal with later on. This could also help you ensure that you are comparing apples to apples and oranges to oranges.

Weight. To be able to pinpoint which offer is better, you should be able to compute and compare your prospect’s quoted price per pound or per kilo. You should also bear in mind that there is no universal rule on the unit of measurement to be used in estimates. It is definitely just a matter of preference for your mover. Before you focus on the amount highlighted in the quote, make sure to check the unit of measurement for the weight.

Distance. Aside from the cost per pound or per kilo, you should also look into how much this Moving Company Hudson County NJ is charging per kilometer or per mile. Make sure you are comparing the same unit of measurement. It is also advisable to check the distance indicated in the quote with the actual distance from your old location to your new house. You do not have to be an expert in geography for this. You can use web-based mapping and location platforms such as Google Maps. For those who will be relocating to another city or state, even a minor discrepancy between what is stated in the quote and the actual distance could already cost you a lot.

Extra fees. Straightforward moving requirements may be exempted from extra charges. However, most moving situations involve special needs and requirements that would incur extra fees. You could do yourself a huge favor by identifying which special arrangements you would really need and which ones you can remove from the quote.