Moving on a Budget
Getting Quotes That Don't Surprise You
A moving quote is a sales document, not a promise — until you ask the right questions and get the answers in writing.
The classic budget-move disaster starts with the cheapest quote. The estimator walks through in ten minutes, names a low number, and on moving day the crew announces the job is "bigger than quoted" — and your belongings are already on their truck. None of this is inevitable. Here's how to get quotes you can actually plan around.
Get at least three quotes, the same way
Three quotes is the minimum for a real comparison. The trick is making them comparable: give every company the same inventory list and the same conditions — same pickup and delivery addresses, same floors, same parking situation, same list of large items. If one quote is 40% lower than the other two, that's not a bargain; that's information about the other two's honesty or the cheap one's completeness.
Tip: Make your inventory list once — room by room, every item bigger than a microwave — and email the same list to each company. It takes an hour and transforms three vague guesses into three comparable numbers.
The 12 questions that reveal the real price
Ask every company all of these, and write down the answers. A company that gets annoyed by questions is telling you something important.
- Is this quote binding, or an estimate? A binding quote can only change if the job changes (you add items, the inventory was wrong). A non-binding estimate is the number the final bill starts from, not ends at.
- How do you charge — hourly, flat rate, or by weight/volume? Local moves are often hourly; long-distance moves are usually weight- or volume-based. Each has different surprise vectors.
- What's the minimum charge and how many hours? A "three-hour minimum" on a two-hour job is a 50% markup in disguise.
- What counts as extra — stairs, long carries, elevators? Ask for the specific surcharges. A third-floor walk-up with a distant parking spot can add several hundred to an hourly job.
- Are there fuel, mileage, or travel-time charges? Some companies bill travel time between jobs; some add fuel surcharges on top of the quote.
- Which items cost extra? Pianos, pool tables, safes, and oversized furniture often carry specialty-item fees — or require a separate crew.
- Do you disassemble and reassemble furniture? Some include it, some charge per item, some won't touch certain pieces.
- What valuation coverage is included? Basic coverage is typically minimal (cents per pound per item). Ask what full-value protection costs and what the claim process looks like.
- What's your cancellation and rescheduling policy? Closing dates slip. Know what it costs to move your move date.
- Who exactly is doing the work — employees or day labor? There's nothing wrong with either, but you should know which you're getting and who's accountable.
- Can I see your license and insurance? Requirements vary by region, but a legitimate company shows documentation without hesitation.
- What happens if the truck can't access my building? Shuttle fees (a smaller vehicle transferring your goods) are one of the nastiest surprise charges. Ask upfront.
Red flags of a lowball estimate
- A quote given sight-unseen with no inventory questions. A real estimate requires knowing what's moving.
- Refusal to put anything in writing. Verbal quotes evaporate on moving day.
- A large deposit demanded upfront. A small deposit is normal; a large one is a risk to you.
- No physical address or company name on the paperwork. Legitimate companies are findable.
- The price is dramatically lower than everyone else. The discount shows up later — in add-ons, in "unexpected" weight, or in your belongings held for extra payment. It is not a discount.
- Pressure to sign today. Real moving companies will still be there tomorrow.
Reading the fine print before you sign
When you've picked a company, read the contract — all of it, before signing. Check that the binding/estimate terms match what you were told, the inventory list is attached and accurate, the delivery window is stated (especially for long-distance moves, where "3–10 business days" is normal but should be explicit), and the valuation coverage is the one you chose. If anything differs from what you were told verbally, get it corrected before you sign, not after.
The cheapest quote is the most expensive kind of optimism. A fair, detailed, mid-priced quote with everything in writing beats a lowball number that grows on moving day. Budget for the honest number; you'll spend less than the person who booked the "deal."
DIY quotes need the same discipline
If you're renting a truck instead, the quote game is simpler but not absent: confirm the mileage allowance and per-unit overage rate, the fuel policy (return full or pay their rate), what's included versus counter add-ons (dollies, blankets, insurance), and the late-return penalty. Truck-rental "extras" at the counter are the DIY version of the lowball quote.