What is a binding estimate?

When you are moving, there are many obstacles involved that are standing between you and a successful relocation. Packing, organizing the logistics of the move, and other tasks make the process of moving rather hard. Of course, a moving company will make this process much easier. However, it is still important to know just what you are signing when it is time to seal the deal between you and the moving professionals. One of the things to be aware of involves moving estimates. So, let us take a look at these estimates, with a special emphasis put on the so-called binding estimate. What are binding estimates all about?

On moving quotes

Once you contact a moving company, if the company is any good, its representative will visit you personally at your home in order to provide you with a free moving quote NJ. Know that if nobody at the company in question offers to give you an estimate based on the first-hand inspection of the belongings you will be transferring, this could very well be a sign of a fraudulent moving company, or at least of a company with little or no respect toward its clients. So, do steer clear of such companies.

All estimates are based on the number of belongings that the company will be transporting. The logic behind this is easy to see. Namely, the more things you are shipping, the higher the cost. The price is not calculated randomly, but rather with a system that should be transparent. Before signing the legal document presented to you after the inspection of your belongings, pay attention to the way the estimate was calculated.

A man carrying five boxes, while a lot of boxes are waiting on the ground as well. — The more items you move, the larger the estimate.

Now, before we proceed, let us discuss all the important types of moving estimates. Knowing what kind of estimates exist will make you see the difference between a binding estimate and other kinds of estimates more easily.

Non-binding estimate

With a non-binding estimate, you will only receive an approximate value of the fee. This means that this estimate may change at a later date. It could be lower, but it could also be higher. If you are looking to cut moving expenses, going with a non-binding estimate could turn out to be rather bad for your budget. The price may increase, leaving you with insufficient funds.

Binding estimate

A binding estimate, on the other hand, is a sure proposition. The price will not change. This is very good for planning. You will know exactly how much money you need to allocate, at least for this aspect of your moving plan. As moving is a multifaceted operation, there are multiple expenses that you will need to take care of. So, planning your budget can be tricky. With binding estimates, this task will be easier to accomplish.

Lots of money. — With a binding estimate, you’ll know just how much money you need to spend.

Binding not-to-exceed estimate

There is also a sub-type of a binding estimate, that is even better and more practical. Namely, there is a so-called binding not-to-exceed cost estimate. With this useful estimate, you can be sure that the final price will not be higher than the original estimation. However, as this is the sum that the movers will not exceed, the cost could actually be lower!

This kind of estimate (and binding estimates in general) is certainly more appealing than their non-binding counterparts. However, the prospect of the final cost being lowered should not entice you into not managing your moving budget dutifully. You may expect the price to lower. While doing so, you may spend more money on other products and areas of life than you should. This could leave you with less than enough money that is necessary for a successful relocation. So, do not let that happen. If the cost actually turns out to be lower (which very well may be the case) – great! However, do not count on it. Be vigilant and organized with your expenditure.

Finding the right moving company

Other than the option to grant you a binding estimate, there are other factors influencing the quality of a moving company. Choosing the right moving company, in fact, is paramount when one is relocating. Only the people with plenty of free time on their hands should attempt to move on their own, without the help of experienced professionals. Of course, you can pull it off on your own, but at a cost of lots of time and nerves wasted.

The professionals moving someone after providing a binding estimate. — Find a reliable moving company to help you with your move.

Simply put, there are lots of things to take care of. Packing, for example, is far from being an easy feat. It is a very time-consuming process, even without the other aspects of the relocation procedure involved. Finding the right packing materials, making a moving checklist and inventory, organizing the shipping – it all takes time. If you are busy with your work or you have children to take care of (or both of these things), you will find that moving is a nightmare come true.

Not with the best residential moving company NJ, though! We will take care of all that, and more. Say you have a piano that you need to move. You will first need to disassemble it. If you do not know how to disassemble and then later assemble a piano, do not worry. Professional movers do! Apart from all the usual obstacles that everyone who is moving faces, it is with these highly-specific tasks that the movers will also help you with. They have seen it all, so nothing will surprise them. There isn’t a problem they haven’t faced before. You can trust them with all the moving issues there could possibly be.

To conclude

So, there you have it. When hiring a reliable moving company, it is best to receive a binding estimate. You will have a much easier time planning your budget that way. Whatever you do, we strongly advise against attempting to move on your own, without any outside assistance. As you can get high-quality assistance at an affordable rate, there is no need to place such a burden upon your shoulders. With all that said, good luck with your move!