Why Did My Moving Price Change on Moving Day? How to Get an Accurate Quote
Updated: 2 days ago
It is one of the most frustrating moments in any move: the crew arrives, walks through the home, and the price is higher than the estimate. Customers feel tricked. Movers feel blamed for something they could not see. In most cases, the cause is simple: the move on moving day is bigger than the move that was described in the estimate.
The good news is that this is almost completely avoidable. Here is how moving prices are calculated, why they change, and what you can do to get a number you can trust.
IN THIS GUIDE Moving price higher than your estimate? Learn how binding and non-binding estimates work and how a complete inventory keeps your price from changing on moving day. |
HOLIDAY MOVING TIP Moving during the holidays? Include decorations, gifts and storage closets in your inventory so your quote matches what is really moving. |
How movers price a long distance move
For interstate moves, the price is based mainly on the weight or volume of your shipment, the distance, and any extra services (packing, stairs, long carry, storage, and so on). Every item and every box adds to the total. That is why the estimate can only be as accurate as the inventory it is built on.
Binding vs. non-binding estimates
Federal rules for interstate moves recognize two main types of estimates:
Binding estimate: a fixed price for the items and services listed on it. If you move exactly what is listed, that is what you pay.
Non-binding estimate: a good-faith approximation. The final price is based on the actual weight and services. At delivery, the mover can only require you to pay up to 110% of the estimate; any remaining balance is billed afterward, generally with at least 30 days to pay.
Here is the key point many people miss: a binding estimate covers the items written on it, not everything in your home. If there are more items on moving day, the mover may, before loading, either keep the original price, write a new binding estimate for the added items, or move the shipment under a non-binding estimate. All of this must be done in writing and agreed to by you before the truck is loaded.
The most common reasons the price goes up
1. More boxes than declared. Some customers report fewer boxes because they think it will make the move cheaper. It does at first, on paper. On moving day, the crew still has to carry, load, and transport every box, so the price must be updated. A low estimate built on a low count is not a discount; it is a surprise waiting to happen.
2. Forgotten rooms and spaces. The garage, basement, attic, patio furniture, the shed, under-bed storage, the closet in the hallway, and the storage unit across town are the most common ones.
3. Items added at the last minute. A relative's dresser, a new treadmill, or "just a few things" from a friend.
4. Access details that were not mentioned. Stairs, an elevator that has to be reserved, a long walk from the truck to the door, or a street where a large truck cannot park. These add labor and are charged as extra services.
5. Packing that was not ready. If boxes are not packed when the crew arrives, packing service and materials are added.
How to get an accurate quote: a simple checklist
Go room by room, including the garage, basement, attic, balcony, closets, and storage units.
Count your boxes honestly, and include the ones you have not packed yet. If you are unsure, estimate high. Kitchens and bedrooms usually need many more boxes than people expect.
List large or special items: pianos, safes, gym equipment, aquariums, artwork, antiques, and anything very heavy or fragile.
Describe both homes: floors, stairs, elevators, parking, and distance from the truck to the door at pickup and at delivery.
Do a video or in-home survey. Walking the mover through your home is the best way to make sure nothing is missed. MLV offers on-site quotes in the Chicago area.
Tell us right away if something changes. Selling the sofa? Adding a storage unit? A quick call lets us update your estimate before moving day, not during it.
Read your estimate before signing. Make sure the inventory matches what you are actually moving.
Not ready to pack it all yourself? Our Home Relocation service includes full packing and packing supplies, so the packing is planned into your estimate from day one.
Honesty works in your favor
A complete inventory is the best protection you have. It gives you a price you can plan around, a truck of the right size, and the right number of crew members. It also avoids delays on moving day, because the team arrives prepared for the real job.
MLV TIP At MLV Transportation, we would rather give you an accurate number today than an uncomfortable conversation on moving day. Our estimates are built from the information you share with us, and we explain every line so there are no surprises. See how a direct move works on our Long Distance Moving page. |
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