Binding vs. Non-Binding Estimates: What’s the Difference?

Knowing exactly what you’ll pay with a binding estimate from a flat-fee mover could offer peace of mind and makes budgeting much easier, since you won’t have to worry about last-minute price changes.

But binding estimates aren’t very flexible — any changes to your move size or location will result in additional fees or a new estimate.

One way around this is to get a binding “not-to-exceed” estimate. With this type of estimate, long-distance or interstate movers will essentially put a cap on your costs. This means that even if some key details change, you won’t be charged more. But you could be charged less if, for instance, you declutter before your move and have fewer items than anticipated come moving day.

Knowing your final bill is subject to change with a non-binding estimate could free you up to make some last-minute additions or changes without stressing over it too much.

A non-binding estimate is a bit of a gamble — it could be a boon… or it could seriously hurt your wallet. A lot of that depends on the accuracy of your quote.

If your mover provided a precise estimate, your final cost shouldn’t change too much. And if your belongings weigh less than expected, your costs could actually go down! On the other hand, if your belongings weigh more than the estimate, your costs could increase significantly.

That’s why it’s crucial to work with a reputable long-distance mover that has a reputation for transparent pricing to get a non-binding estimate.

With binding estimates, you eliminate the risk of unexpected price increases and potentially lower your final price, but the initial estimate is usually higher than with a non-binding quote (particularly if you opt for “not-to-exceed”).

Considering this, there may be situations where you would end up paying less with a non-binding estimate, like if you have a small move that you can easily estimate the size of.

This requires organizing the belongings you expect to take with you and making a list of your items. That way, when you speak with a moving coordinator, you’re able to give them specific inventory details. Make sure you let them know upfront whether you’ll need additional services like packing. Omitting or overlooking key information could end up costing you.

With a non-binding estimate, it’s generally better to err on the side of overestimating. That way, you may be pleasantly surprised with a lower final bill, while also adding some protection against added fees if your approximation doesn’t match actual weight.

That’s what Joshua wished he had done when he moved with Safeway. He miscalculated the cubic footage of his belongings and added more items on moving day, resulting in an increase of $800 he didn’t find out about until the last minute.

Looking back on his mistakes, Joshua’s advice is to create a detailed inventory to determine a best guess at weight and volume… then add a little more to those numbers when getting estimates, just in case.

Your best bet at an accurate estimate is with an in-home or virtual survey. With these surveys, a professional from the moving company will conduct a walkthrough of your home (either in-person or via video call). This allows them to fully assess how much stuff you need to move as they prepare their estimate.

When Kyle used North American Van Lines for his move from Washington, D.C., to North Carolina, the company set up an appointment for an in-person estimate. As a result of that leg work at the start of the moving process, his final costs matched the initial estimate.

One of the biggest mistakes we see people make is not reading the fine print before accepting a moving estimate, then being critical of a mover for charging “surprise” fees.

This happened to Josh when Mayzlin Relocation charged him a $150 long-carry fee because his oversized couch wouldn’t fit in the apartment building’s elevator. He was also billed for furniture assembly and disassembly.

Josh felt blindsided, but these charges were laid out in the paperwork. Long-carry fees are pretty standard in the moving industry, and most companies also have built-in charges for multiple flights of stairs.

We know contracts don’t make for good reading, but doing so prepares you for possible increases and helps you avoid situations that could lead to add-on fees. You can also ask movers about their terms and conditions when you call for a quote.

Our rule of thumb here is to get estimates from at least three similar moving companies. “Similar” is the key here. If you are considering a full-service move, getting one quote from a van line, one from a moving container company, and a third for a moving truck rental won’t really help you. You want to have an apples-to-apples comparison to see what each company provides for the money and weed out those that charge extra for services that come standard with other movers.

Multiple quotes also enable you to negotiate with movers on a lower quote. Lots of moving companies, including BLVD Moving and American Van Lines are willing to price match top competitors.

Binding estimates aren’t always more expensive. However, the initial estimate is usually higher than it would be with a non-binding estimate in order to protect the company’s bottom line if they underestimate the size of your move.

A non-binding estimate can turn into a binding agreement if you and the mover agree to make this change. However, this scenario is uncommon and would require the creation of a new written contract.

If your move costs less than the binding estimate, your costs will remain the same. With a standard binding estimate, you pay the initially quoted amount no matter what, unless you make last-minute changes to your move.

However, if you get a binding “not-to-exceed” estimate, your costs could go down if the move is smaller than initially estimated.

Yes, you should always get multiple moving quotes. This allows you to confirm whether a quote seems reasonable for your move details, compare pricing and services, and potentially take advantage of price-matching offers.