February 24, 2010
Managing Your Moving Expenses
The various costs in the moving industry you need to be aware about.
The moving industry charges certain standard rates but some expenses are unique to the moving company you will choose for your move. The better you understand the various costs and their representations, the more capable you will be of making money-wise choices. Differences in estimates, variable costs and criteria for choosing a good moving company are discussed below.
1. BINDING AND NON-BINDING APPROXIMATIONS
Moving companies can provide you with two types of quotes or estimates: Binding or Non-Binding. Our recommendation would be to ask for a Not-to-Exceed binding estimate which means you pay whatever amount was quoted at the beginning of your contract even if your actual shipment weighs more than the initial estimate. And if your shipment weighs less, you get to pay a lesser amount. This gives you a ceiling limit for your moving expenses and while the estimations used to give you a quote could be inflated or misrepresented, you can be sure that you know beforehand exactly what you will be paying to the moving company. In the non-binding type, the final price you pay may be above or below the cost you were originally quoted. However, there are certain rules which must be followed and that makes the system less vulnerable than the description will have you believe.
2. WEIGHT RATES
Weight is one of the measures you should know your moving company’s rates for. If you are aware of the per-pound rates for your moving company, you can make better decisions about your shipments. Check out the official website of Good Stuff Moving to find out the moving company’s offered rates based on weight measures.
3. LINEHAUL CHARGES
Distance is the most important factor used by the moving industry to calculate expenses. You should make sure you discuss the per-mile rates, which will apply for your move, with your moving company. In addition to weight rates, Good Stuff Moving also allows you to get an estimate based on the distance involved in your move.
4. EXTRA SERVICE FEES
If your move will require services, such as special handling or flight expenses, in addition to your standard cost estimation, you need to factor them in your total costs. Tell your mover to let you know in advance if there will be any fees over your standard estimation for your move. Also find out if your quotation includes charges for a service you do not require. This should be one of the factors you choose your moving company on the basis of.
Moving involves a lot of complexities you need to understand to make better decisions. After educating yourself about the different methods of expense approximation and types of costs involved, you’re better equipped to choose your moving company.