One is noticeably cheaper. One is somewhere in the middle. One is considerably higher.
It is tempting to start by comparing the totals.
But before you do, ask a more important question:
Are all three companies actually quoting the same move?
A moving estimate is built from assumptions about what you are moving, how much work is involved, which services you need, the access at both locations, and how the move itself will be handled.
If those assumptions are different, the prices are not really comparable yet.
To compare moving quotes fairly, first make sure each mover is pricing the same inventory, services, access conditions and responsibilities. Then compare how the price was calculated and what could cause it to change.
The goal is to get the quotes onto reasonably equal footing before deciding which number represents the better choice.
Questions Answered In This Topic:
- How do you tell whether two moving quotes are actually comparable?
- Are the movers pricing the same inventory and amount of work?
- How was each moving quote calculated?
- Which services are actually included in each estimate?
- Have stairs, elevators, parking and other access conditions been accounted for?
- What can legitimately cause the final price to change?
- What valuation terms should you understand when comparing quotes?
- What should you do when one moving quote is dramatically higher or lower than the others?
Start with what each mover thinks you are moving
This is one of the easiest differences to miss.
Two movers can look at the same household and come away with very different estimates of how much is actually being moved. That difference can affect estimated time, crew requirements, shipment weight, truck space, packing needs and ultimately the price.
It becomes especially important when one quote was created after a detailed walkthrough and another was based on a short phone conversation or online form.
One East Coast Moving salesperson described customers receiving competing estimates based on only 2,000 or 4,000 pounds when his more detailed assessment suggested the move could be closer to 8,000 pounds.
At that point, comparing the dollar amounts alone does not tell you very much.
The first thing to compare is the inventory behind the price.
Make sure each mover knows about the same rooms, furniture, storage areas, garage contents and other belongings. If estimated shipment weights or amounts of work are substantially different, ask why.
Understand how each quote was calculated
Not every move is priced the same way.
Because local and long-distance moves can involve different estimating methods, the number at the bottom of the quote is only part of what you need to understand.
Some local moves may be quoted using factors such as crew size and estimated time. A longer-distance move may involve estimated shipment weight, actual weight, transportation distance and additional services.
Before comparing prices, find out what each estimate is actually based on.
For example:
- How many movers are assumed?
- How many hours are estimated?
- What shipment weight is being used?
- What distance is being priced?
- Which additional services have been included?
Understanding the pricing method also makes it much easier to understand what could cause the final amount to change.
Find out what the quote actually includes
Moving companies may offer many of the same services without automatically including all of them in every estimate.
Packing is a good example.
One customer may want to pack almost everything themselves to keep the cost down. Another may want the movers to pack only fragile belongings. Someone else may want a much more complete packing service.
Those moves can involve the same house and the same furniture while requiring very different amounts of work.
The same applies to things such as packing materials, storage, crating, furniture disassembly or reassembly, additional pickups and specialty handling.
That is why phrases such as “everything is included” deserve one more question:
What does “everything” mean in this quote?
You do not need to approach this suspiciously. You simply want to understand who is responsible for what.
A useful estimate should leave you with a reasonably clear picture of what the moving company is doing, what you are doing yourself, and which services would cost extra if the plan changes.
Make sure each mover understands the properties too
The belongings are only part of the move.
How easily the movers can get from the truck to those belongings can affect the amount of work required.
Stairs, elevators, parking, apartment access, loading areas, long distances between the truck and the door, narrow entrances and truck-access limitations can all affect the plan.
If one mover has seen the property and another has not, they may be working from very different assumptions.
This is one reason a thorough walkthrough can matter. It is not simply an opportunity to count furniture. It gives the estimator a chance to understand the actual move, identify complications and answer questions before moving day.
If there is something unusual about your current home or your destination, make sure every mover quoting the job knows about it.
Otherwise, the companies may still be pricing different versions of the move.
Understand what can change and what valuation applies
An estimate is based on the information available when it is prepared.
If the move changes, the cost may change too.
You might add belongings, decide you need packing help, add storage, change a pickup or delivery location, or discover an access issue that was not part of the original plan. For some long-distance moves, the actual shipment weight can also affect the final amount.
That makes this question more useful than simply asking whether a quote can ever change:
“Under what circumstances could my price change?”
The answer should help you understand the major variables before you book.
This is also the time to understand the valuation and responsibilities attached to the move.
If you are packing some or all of your own belongings, ask how that affects the valuation terms that apply to those items. The important thing is to understand what applies to your move before moving day.
When one quote is dramatically different, figure out why
The difference is a reason to investigate.
Canadian consumer guidance similarly recommends getting several estimates, making sure the mover understands what is being moved, and clarifying possible additional costs before committing.
If several companies are reasonably close and one estimate is dramatically different, go back through the assumptions behind it.
Quote Comparison Worksheet
| What to Compare | Quote A | Quote B | Quote C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Same inventory? | |||
| Estimated weight or hours | |||
| Number of movers | |||
| Packing included? | |||
| Packing materials included? | |||
| Property access considered? | |||
| Storage or other services? | |||
| Valuation explained? | |||
| What could change the price? | |||
| Questions still unanswered | |||
| Total quoted amount |
Once you fill in the rest of the table, the total at the bottom becomes much more meaningful.
- You may discover that the cheapest company is genuinely offering the better value.
- You may also discover that the companies were never quoting exactly the same job.
Either way, you now know more than you did by comparing totals alone.
Compare the plan before you compare the price
Moving quotes are easier to evaluate when you stop thinking of them as three prices and start thinking of them as three plans.
- Do the companies agree on what is being moved?
- Do they understand the properties?
- Are they providing the same services?
- Have they explained the same responsibilities?
- Do you understand what could change?
- Are there important questions one estimate answers that another leaves open?
- Once you understand those differences, go back to the price.
At that point, the question is no longer simply: “Who gave me the cheapest number?”
It becomes: “Which quote gives me the clearest and most realistic plan for my move?”
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A lower price is not automatically a warning sign. The important thing is understanding why it is lower. Compare the inventory, services, pricing assumptions and responsibilities before deciding whether the quotes are actually equivalent.
Different companies may gather information differently. A detailed inventory can identify belongings that a shorter phone, online or virtual estimate may miss. If the estimates are substantially different, ask each mover what they included and how they arrived at the number.
It can, depending on the type of move and the terms of the estimate. Changes to the inventory, services, access conditions or other parts of the move can affect the final cost. For some long-distance moves, actual shipment weight may also matter. Ask the mover to explain what could change before you agree to the move.
Not automatically. An in-home walkthrough can give the estimator an opportunity to see the inventory, understand access, identify unusual belongings and answer questions face to face.
Virtual estimates can also be useful when an in-person visit is not practical.
The important thing is whether the mover has enough accurate information to build a realistic estimate.
