What are the types of moving estimates?

In the world of professional moving, there is this word that gets thrown around constantly. Estimate. There are several types of moving estimates, which fall into one of the three categories. If you are looking into Colorado Springs Movers, you will need to know how to differentiate between them. After all, the type of estimate can influence quite a bit. It can literally make the difference of you paying a lot more for your move than what you originally expected. We will be going over the different types of estimates, their pros, cons, and will ultimately let you know what is the best of the lot.

Things you need to know about 3 types of moving estimates

First of all, the estimates themselves. Here are the three main categories of estimates:

1. Non-binding estimate
2. Binding estimate
3. Binding not-to-exceed estimate

Non-binding estimate

First on our list is a non-binding estimate. This is the worst of the lot as it does not provide you with anything tangible. Consider this estimate to be a framework of sorts. Its main benefit is that you can get it quickly and usually without anyone coming over to your place. This estimate will have a default in most factors such as the number of items, size, and weight of those items and similar. This is something that you can get with minimal input on your part. You can even get such an estimate via the online estimate calculator if you so wish. That is how binding (or non-binding) these estimates are.

Usually, you will get this estimate via e-mail or over the phone. As estimates are based mostly on weight, you can’t get a proper estimate if you don’t have someone over to properly measure everything. You can also figure out the weight of your items before you make the call if you want a more accurate estimate. If you provide the moving company with the exact weight of your items, their estimates will be a lot closer to the actual mark.

So, to summarize: a non-binding estimate is only for informational purposes. It will tell you approximately how much you move will cost, with most of the default factors. It is usually a good indication but can sometimes be wildly inaccurate, due to other circumstances. Never sign a moving contract based on a non-binding estimate only.

Binding estimate

The older sibling of the non-binding estimate is the binding estimate. When you receive this document, it will entail how much your move will cost. There can still be additional costs but those fall in the “unexpected circumstances” territory. Such as an elephant falling out of the sky and damaging the road so the trip is 20. miles longer, for example. Jokes aside, a binding estimate is as almost as good as it gets as it is a contract on its own, which lists how much the move will cost.

If your local movers CO offered you a binding estimate, that will be the amount you are going to pay at the end, 99% of the time. The only issue with this type of estimate is that if you find yourself needing to transport fewer items, you will still need to pay the cost that is in the estimate. It is binding for both parties, after all.

A binding estimate is an industry staple and is something that you will want in your possession prior to the relocation. If you agree with the costs presented therein, you are safe to sign a moving contract that is based on a binding estimate. That does not mean that you don’t need to read the contract in full, just that the binding estimate is a good start.

Binding not-to-exceed estimate

Finally, there is the binding not-to-exceed estimate. This is a particularly interesting type of estimate, as it guarantees that your moving costs will not go over a certain amount. Regardless of what happens, the maximum amount of money that you will need to pay will not exceed what is on the estimate itself. This estimate is most popular when it comes to long-distance relocations, due to the variable nature of such moves. Just make sure to add acquiring it to your long-distance moving checklist, lest you forget among all the chaos that you might be in.

You want to have as many sureties as you can when performing an interstate move. You will also have the added benefit of paying less if you decide to transport fewer items. That is the main draw of this particular estimate type. Less weight at the end = you pay less. If you have more weight, you will pay the amount previously agreed upon. However, that does not mean that you can simply add more items to the truck after you’re done estimating.

The whole weight safety of this estimate has to do with the original amount of items. If you add more items, you will need to talk to your moving company as that is a breach of contract. You may need to negotiate a new estimate. Or your movers might simply decide that it is alright and still stick by the old estimate. It all depends on what exactly you plan to add to the shipment, really. It is not the same if you are adding a toaster or another living room.

Which one is the best among the types of moving estimates?

Once you know the specifics of all of the estimates, it is not that hard to figure out which is the “best” one. A binding not-to-exceed estimate is the best for the customer as it provides the most benefits without any drawbacks. However, moving companies are reluctant to hand out these estimates in a short amount of time. If you just need a frame to work around with, a non-binding estimate can also be a good choice as you are able to get it in the shortest amount of time. Finally, there is nothing wrong with a binding estimate but it is inferior to the not-to-exceed one.

Ready to move – Contact your professional mover!

Once you are ready to take the plunge, once you have all the information in hand, all that is left to do is to contact your movers and set up the relocation! You can also ask them about the types of moving estimates or services that they offer. They will be happy to get your call!