Moving Quotes: When Cheaper Isn’t Always Better

Moving Quotes: When Cheaper Isn’t Always Better

When receiving estimates for moving services, striking a happy medium between cost and quality of service isn’t always the easiest balancing act. In looking for the lowest price, it can be easy to ignore certain red flags. While you may be tempted by the lowest price, cheaper isn’t necessarily better when looking at moving quotes for a variety of reasons.

1. Checking Credentials

Make sure to do some research on each and every moving company that gives you a quote. Most importantly are they licensed to perform your type of move. Any interstate moving company has to be registered with the Department of Transportation and can readily provide a “DOT #” to prove they are licensed and insured. In many states, New York included, licensing through the DOT is a requirement for local moves as well.

To check if the moving company you’re looking into is properly licensed and insured look them up on the DOT database
Other things like a professional website and a physical location are all other signs of a reputable moving company. Movers who cut costs on creating a professional website or operate only online are likely to cut costs in other ways as well.

2. The Lowball Quote

Unfortunately, a very common sales tactic is to give clients a lowball quote that ends up much higher on the day of the move. It’s no secret that moving is usually an expensive endeavor. After all, you’re paying for a company to safely handle all of your possessions and get them safely from one place to another. More so, you’re paying to alleviate the stress associated with moving yourself (or being “that person” asking your friends in exchange for pizza and beer).

The old adage, “It it feels too good to be true, it probably is” couldn’t ring more true when receiving moving estimates. This is the main reason why in past blog articles we’ve stressed getting multiple quotes before deciding on a company. When one quote looks suspiciously lower than the rest it could be a lowball offer to get your business only to increase the price on the day of the move through extra fees and hidden charges.

While sometimes underestimating the price on a move (especially with hourly quotes ) is a blatant scam, sometimes it can be a lack of communication. When receiving moving quotes, things like furniture assembly and disassembly, heavier or bulky items, or stairs at either location that weren’t initially mentioned could result in a higher quote than previously estimated. This is why it’s so important that any moving company you decide to go with offers the option for an in-home evaluation to get a guaranteed price on the move rather than a rough estimate subject to change.

In worst-case scenarios, but surprisingly common, moving companies will cancel your move all together (often on the day of or day before the move) because they received a bigger job. When there aren’t enough trucks to make both moves happen the less expensive one could be canceled last minute leaving you, the client, high and dry.

3. Hidden Fees

Hidden costs and fees act as a great segue from the last section. While you may receive an initial quote, there are a variety of factors that could increase the price of your move on move day with no other options. Some of these include:

• Providing Certificates of Insurance to building management and costs associated with processing them.
• Valuation coverage (sometimes referred to as insurance): All moving companies are federally obligated to provide at least basic valuation (60 cents per pound of inventory), be sure to ask about full valuation if you’re moving particularly valuable items. More on valuation coverage here
• If any parking tickets or tolls are accrued during the move (a very common occurrence) they may be added to your bill.
• Extra services such as furniture disassembly, packing/unpacking, disposal and navigating bulky or heavy items may also result in a higher than expected quote on move day. Be sure to ask who is paying for the packing materials as well, especially if you’re getting boxes directly from your moving company. Oftentimes, they may not have been factored in initially.

Make sure to choose a company that takes these things into account before giving you a quote to avoid a stressful experience upon paying for your move. There’s nothing worse than thinking you’re below your budget and end up much higher than expected.

4. Quality Trucks and Materials

It’s often helpful to think about moving from the company’s perspective. It’s very likely that a moving company that charges more than some other quotes is doing so for a reason. Generally, this is to offset the cost of quality movers and supplies. Things like high quality moving boxes directly from the moving company are worth an extra fee to prevent the possibility of damage to your items.
Moving blankets are also a huge factor in making your move a seamless experience. Dirty or overly used moving blankets are not only disgusting they are a breeding ground for bedbugs and other pests to make their way into your home. Making sure blankets are thoroughly inspected and washed on a daily basis or replaced from time to time is something that FlatRate Moving holds to a high standard but other companies may not.
The same rules apply for the interior and quality of moving trucks being used by a company. Making sure trucks are regularly inspected to be free of pests as well as in good working order can make the difference between a smooth and a nightmare of a move. If a truck breaks down and you’re being charged an hourly rate on your move, there’s no telling how much this will add to your final cost.

5. Quality Movers

Realistically, would you rather have a few college students back from a break or career movers entrusted with what could be all of your possessions? Career movers are more experienced with the nuances of packing and moving which leaves your items less likely to be damaged or lost. This extra experience could also save you as a client a lot of money if you hired an hourly company.
The best way to ensure a great moving crew is to go through a referral from a close friend or family member. If they had a great experience with a moving company simply ask for the same moving crew that they used.

Like anything in life, you often get what you pay for. Moving is no different. While some companies are extraordinarily higher priced than others, take into account where that extra cost is going. It’s likely to higher quality trucks, supplies and towards the movers themselves. The last part of this is extremely important because a mover who feels like he’s being properly compensated is a happy mover and more likely to do an above and beyond job.

Thanks for reading and if you’re ready to proceed with getting a quote with the new knowledge from this article reach out to FlatRate Moving today!

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