What is the difference between a binding and a non-binding moving estimate?
A binding estimate sets an agreed price for the goods and services listed. A non-binding estimate is a projection, and the final cost follows the actual weight and services. A binding not-to-exceed estimate caps the price but can come in lower if the shipment weighs less.
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How each estimate type works
With a binding estimate, you and the mover agree on a price for a written list of goods and services. The number is tied to that list. If the list stays the same, the price stays the same.
With a non-binding estimate, the number is the mover's projection. The final bill follows the actual weight of your shipment and the services used. It can land above or below the first figure.
A binding not-to-exceed estimate sits between the two. The price cannot go above the estimate. If your shipment weighs less than expected, the cost can come in lower.
Which one fits your move
If you want a firm number for budgeting, a binding or binding not-to-exceed estimate gives you that. You trade some flexibility. If you add furniture, boxes or services, the list changes, so the price may change too.
A non-binding estimate can suit a move where the amount of belongings is hard to pin down. The risk is a final bill that is higher than you planned. Ask how the mover figures weight and what extra charges could apply.
Local moves work differently. They are usually quoted by the hour for the crew and truck. Your estimate is really a projection of the hours, so stairs, long carries from the door to the truck and driveway access matter a lot.
What to settle before you accept an estimate
Ask which estimate type you are being offered and get it in writing. Check that the list of items and services matches what you plan to move, including packing help and specialty items like a piano or gun safe.
For a long-distance move, ask who will actually carry your goods. A moving company uses its own crew and trucks. A broker arranges the move and hands it to a separate carrier. Interstate household goods movers must be registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and must give you the rights and responsibilities booklet before the move.
Related questions
What happens if I add items after getting a binding estimate?
A binding price covers the goods and services on the list. If you add furniture, boxes or services, ask the mover to update the estimate before moving day. That way you know the new total before anything is loaded.
Do estimate types apply to a local move?
Local moves are commonly quoted by the hour for the crew and truck, so the estimate is a projection of hours. Stairs, access, packing and specialty items all change how long the job takes. Ask how the hourly time is counted.
What information helps a mover give a more accurate estimate?
Share the pickup and delivery towns, the type and size of the home or office, any stairs or long carries, specialty items, whether you want packing help and your preferred move date. Complete details make the list and the projection more reliable.
Does the estimate type change how my belongings are protected?
No. Valuation is the mover's liability for loss or damage, and it is not insurance. On interstate moves the basic option is released value protection at 60 cents per pound per article. Full value protection costs more. Ask about valuation separately from the estimate.
When should I ask for an estimate?
Late spring through early fall is the busiest moving season in the region, so asking early gives you more choice of dates. Winter moves on rural properties may need extra planning for snow, gravel roads and long driveways.
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Services
- Local MovingMoving a house, apartment, condo or storage unit within the area, loaded, driven and unloaded by one crew.
- Long-Distance MovingMoves out of the area or across state lines, planned around an inventory, a pickup date and a delivery window.
- Commercial MovingOffice and business relocations planned around your operating hours, with furniture, files and equipment wrapped and labeled.
- Military MovesPCS and orders-driven moves for service members and their families, scheduled around report dates that can change.
- Labor-Only Moving HelpMovers without a truck: loading or unloading your rental truck, container or storage unit, or rearranging heavy furniture.
- Packing ServicesFull, partial or fragile-only packing with boxes and wrapping supplied, plus unpacking at the new place.
- Specialty Item MovingHeavy or awkward items such as pianos, gun safes, hot tubs and pool tables, moved with skids, straps and dollies.
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