10 Ways Movers Calculate Bids

When you are pricing around the cost of a move with different moving companies, it may come as a surprise the large differences in bids. No two moving companies have the same exact formula, but it can come in handy to know exactly what the moving company employees are considering when giving you an estimate. The following are the main things movers consider when calculating bids for different moves. 

1. Distance: How far away you are moving will be a large part of determining the cost of your move. Some companies charge by the mile while others give a flat rate for moves in the area. This cost is especially vital if you plan on moving a long distance.

2. Time:  Most movers can estimate about how a long a move will take, because they move stuff everyday. How the moving company charges for the amount of time a move will take varies largely between houses. Some moving companies charge by the hour, some charge by the day. To cut down on this cost you can have everything packed and ready, because the less time they spend the lower the cost.

3. Weight: This is where moving companies will try to add on additional fees. Some moving companies will look at your items then give you a low estimate on the weight of your items, so they get your business by giving you a low bid. When they get the items on the truck and weigh them they will add on fees. To avoid this unexpected cost make the company give you a binding agreement on the original quote at least for the charge of weight of your items.

4. Access: If either your old or new residence is not easily accessed due to no parking, narrow streets or long hanging branches, most moving companies will charge you more. The charge is due to the extra labor from shuttling all of your items a greater distance from the home to the truck.

5. Don't be a Jerk: Like most things in life, a good attitude will get you a long way. The chances are if you rude or unpleasant to employees of moving companies, they may just round up your bid or add on extra fees. Movers are used to dealing with stressed out and crazy people during the move, but they figure if you are crazy even before the move has begun you'll more than likely go nuts on moving day.  

6. Lots of Delicate Items: If you have a lot of breakable and delicate items with specific instructions, the movers charge for the extra time it'll take to pack and move these items. You can pack up your delicate items yourself to lower the cost charged by the movers. It is surprisingly easy to package art, electronics and the like when you get the right supplies to do so.

7. Uncertainty: Make sure that you let movers what you will expect them to do or not to do. If you seem a bit wishy-washy about what will be pack and what will not be packed, they are going to add on extra just in case they end up with a lot of extra work.

8. The Season: If you move during peak moving season during the summer, the movers will just charge more. The reason for this is they usually have more business than they can actually handle. Moving off season is a great way to get a lower bid, because the moving companies usually get a little more desperate for business.

9. Holidays: It is understandable to want to move on a holiday, but movers are people too. If they have to skip their celebration with their families and friends, they are going to want to get a little bonus working on a holiday. Wouldn't you?

10. Ask questions: Make sure that you know what you are and are not paying for on the bid. Get the company to give you a detailed list of how the estimate is broken down. If you have any questions do not hesitate to ask. Being thorough in your understanding of the cost can save you a lot of time, money and trouble in the future.