Moving for the first time is always the most stressful as you don’t have the experience of working with a top moving company. Even with a first-time move there are some simple ways to determine if you are working with one of the best moving companies in Nashville, or if you should keep looking.
Generally, all of the top moving companies in the city will be very competitive in their pricing. One sign that you are working with a less than professional company is a very low quote on the move. To help you understand why this is the case, it is important to understand the different types of quotes or estimates you can be offered by the movers.
The Non-Binding Quote
This is the quote that is the least desirable, and it can be a sign that you are working with less than reputable moving companies. This quote or estimate is often provided through an online survey form on the company website, or it is done by the representative asking questions about what is to be moved.
These quotes are non-binding, which means that the company does not have to honor the price provided. Instead, they will charge based on the actual weight once the items are on the truck. This presents a problem for the customer as the estimate can more than double and some shady moving companies may refuse to unload items unless this additional cost is paid in full.
The Binding Estimate
This type of quote or estimate provides the customer with the actual price of the move provided additional services are not requested. The cost of the move, even with a binding estimate, can increase if issues such as flights of stairs at the other end of the move or problems in getting the truck to the location become an issue.
However, if the information provided is accurate, the customer knows just what the amount of the move will cost, regardless of the actual weight on the truck. The estimate will require an in-home survey so the movers can verify the contents to be moved.
The Not-To-Exceed Estimate
This is the best option for the consumer, and it is also very fair for the moving companies based on their in-home survey. In this type of quote the moving company in Nashville will charge the customer one of two amounts, either the quoted price or the actual weight price.
When the weight of the items on the truck is lower, the customer pays the lower of the two costs. There are definite advantages for a customer to ask moving companies for this quote, and it is one of the most common for reputable movers to use.
