It always comes down to cost. Which car lease has a lower monthly payment? Which laundry detergent costs less? Which gas station offers cheaper gas? We do the same thing when we move. We weigh the cost of hiring a moving company against the hassle of doing it ourselves. Sometimes we decide to use a moving company to help; sometimes we don't and end up regretting it. A big mistake is to go with a less expensive moving company and end up paying in frustration. Walls get scratched, a leg of a chair breaks off or something turns up missing. How smoothly your move goes may depend on how you evaluate and select a company. And many people choose a moving company based on their ?estimate.?



Most professional moving companies will offer you an estimate on how much it should cost you to move your possessions. On any move going over 40 miles, they base their quote on the weight of the items, the distance that you're moving, and the amount of packing you require the movers to complete. Many times a consultant from the moving company will come to your home ahead of time so that you can receive a more accurate estimate. So what can you do to get an accurate quote?

Know what you're asking a company to move

Have a clear idea of what you plan to move and, if you obtain multiple estimates, be sure to include the same items in each representative's inventories. Ask for a copy of each inventory to make sure that the consultant has included everything that you told them you would like to move.

It is also important to remember that some very heavy things that are not furniture will cost more to move. Books are a prime example of this. A small box of books can weigh 30-50 pounds, so the cost of shipping a large number of books will increase the total cost of your move.

Things that are an odd size or shape might also cost more, especially when the movers have to come up with creative ways to get your furniture into your home. Sometimes a front door or a stairway is not wide enough to get a large couch inside and it has to be taken through a window or the furniture may need to be disassembled to get it out of a room.

Also, if you are moving something of significant value, there may be special considerations for moving it. The item may require special crating or third party services. These types of challenges may end up increasing your costs.

By knowing as much as you can about the services that will be required, you will be able to obtain an accurate quote and can make an informed choice as to which moving company you will want to use.

Understand how a quote differs from the final price

There will always be companies who quote their services too low, only to increase them after the move is completed. You end up getting stuck and are obliged to pay on delivery. It helps to understand how a company is calculating your charges and how that rate may change when you are transferred to your new location.

If you move more items or request the mover to pack more than you had originally indicated, the total costs will increase. Ask your moving consultant to tell you if there are any additional charges that can be added to the total cost of your move.

Reputable moving companies provide a contract or Order for Service to their customers. Be sure to read your contract so that you will know what services you are paying for and how much it will cost in the end.

Do your homework---take time to research each mover

It is important to do research on the moving companies. By speaking to the consultants and the office staff, you should be able to evaluate each company and select one that you can trust. If you do a search online, take note of the good comments and bad. Ask your friends and family in the area who they have used and what their experiences have been. If you hear negative reports from them, you can be fairly certain that you will not want to use this company.

There are no tradeoffs when it comes to moving. You get what you pay for in a moving company. Take the time to check out each mover with the PUC (Pennsylvania Utility Commission) and the Better Business Bureau to see how many complaints have been issued against them.