A senior FlatRate Moving consultant breaks down the six things that determine whether your quote holds, and how to protect yourself before move day.
When receiving a quote for a move, the moving company, the language and the intent play a crucial role in whether your cost will remain as quoted and how successful the overall experience will be. Many clients look at their move inventory and price, but rarely do they consider the terms and conditions that relate to the move cost. Are you being asked to sign a move contract or are you signing a release form? To help shed some light on the matter, below we provide some insider knowledge and examples of what ALL moving company sales representatives know and some hope you don’t.
1) The Guaranteed Quote
Guaranteed Quote. We hear clients state they received a “guaranteed quote” from a moving company and we know this is not entirely true. They received a Guaranteed Contract. The quote is based solely on the details written into the contract. The exact inventory down to even a plant or yoga mat not being listed will be off contract on move day creating an opportunity to increase cost.
2) In-Home and Virtual Quotes
It is common to hear, “The moving company doesn’t provide in home or virtual quotes for an apartment or home under a certain size.” This is not a real company rule that a representative must abide by, this is something a sales person says to be able to quote as many moves as possible in one sitting. Every moving company would ideally be able to see every move they perform prior to arrival. If a move representative tells you this, they have their best interest in mind not the success of your move as a priority
3) Hidden Spaces and Inventory
If you find yourself saying, “I forgot to tell my move representative about my basement storage, bicycles, attic, shed, garage, etc.” be aware that it’s not the client’s responsibility to divulge inventory, it’s the moving company’s responsibility to ask all of the right questions that we all know to ask. If a move representative didn’t ask you about these spaces outside of your general residence it was not by accident, it’s a quoting tactic. They will get the cost of these items charged on move day and the expectation is to have the client feel like they did something wrong.
4) The Pre-Move Walk-Through
If your rep mentions a ‘Carrier (moving company) walk through prior to the move’ be aware. No move starts without the moving company providing a site walk through prior to contract being finalized. It’s in a client’s best interest to have this performed prior to booking the move rather than signing a phone call quote and putting off this inevitable step until move day to be performed by the move team. If no visual assessment is performed, you are signing a release form that literally states in the contract that any discrepancies noted on move day will be additional cost
5) Stating the Obvious
When a move contract or representative makes it a point to state that they are including movers, a truck, dollies and move blankets in their quote, this is a red flag. They are setting the stage for all items outside of this obvious list to cost additional. Whether it’s plastic wrap for the mattresses, cardboard crating for glass/marble/stone table tops, TV packing, parking tickets, etc., these are all to be assumed not included as not listed in the “included” portion of the contract
6) Stairs and Elevator Access
For clients moving from or to an elevator building. Is there a flight of stairs to the basement the team will need to contend with on the way out of your building or when delivering to your new building? Did the move representative ask about this detail? This can add heavily to the move cost on move day
The FlatRate Approach
FlatRate Moving has handled more than 500,000 moves in New York City since 1991, and built its reputation on a simple principle: the price you are quoted is the price you pay. Every FlatRate consultation starts with a complete, room-by-room inventory assessment, conducted virtually or in-person before anything is booked. Every contract reflects the full scope of the move. Packing materials, COI coordination, elevator reservations, parking, and building management requirements are addressed before move day. The guaranteed price covers the move as it actually exists, not as it was summarized over a phone call. When everything is handled before you arrive, move day is exactly what it should be.