Moving Estimate

Why Do You Need a Moving Estimate?

To plan your budget, you need to know at least the approximate cost of your relocation. You’d also like to avoid any unpleasant surprises once everything is done, and there’s no going back. This is what a moving estimate allows you to do.

Yes, you can find some rough numbers of how much relocation usually is. But, since every move is different, an estimate is the perfect way to determine how much you’ll need to pay, depending on your specific demands. This may differ significantly from what you’ve found as an average price for a move between your current and future city.

When you get some insight into what shapes the final price, you can, perhaps, do something to reduce the expenses. The more you leave to the movers to handle, the higher the price. So, if you want to lower the cost, you can take something upon yourself.

However, don’t forget that professional movers are called professional for a reason. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is leave the experts to do their job. In the long run, this is usually the most cost-efficient thing to do, too.

Now, let’s take a look at some of the crucial factors that will affect your relocation price.

Most Important Factors That Affect Moving Costs

Determining the price can be a somewhat tricky task because a wide range of things are taken into account. It is important that you, too, are familiar with these to know what information you should provide to get a free quote.

Some can make a huge difference, while other, less significant specifics can’t affect the price that much. We will focus on these that have a greater impact to help you get the idea of what to expect. Let’s start with the distance.

Long Distance Moves Cost More Than Local Moves

Are you staying within the same area? Are you relocating just a few blocks down the street, or to another part of the city? If so, you are getting ready for a local move, which is more affordable than a long-distance relocation.

If you’re staying somewhere close, the distance between point A and point B is short. So, movers will charge for the service provided per hour. When it comes to local relocation, it is usually completed in just a couple of hours, so there’s no room for high costs.

Those that are relocating to another city, across the state or even all the way to another part of the country will have to allocate a bit more for the long-distance move. Travel fees, including fuel costs, alone are enough to make this type of move more expensive than a local relocation.

The distance between the two places is much greater, but there will probably be more services included. For instance, if you’re relocating down the street, you’ll simply drive there. But if you need to get to a whole other corner of the country, you might need the auto transport service, which affects the final price.

So, it’s simple – the greater the distance you need to cross, the higher the price.

The Size of Your Move and the Number of Bedrooms in Your Home

Another important thing taken into account is the size of your move. If you have a lot of stuff to relocate, it will take longer to get everything done. In addition to the time needed to complete the move, your shipment will be heavier if you have many items.

And this means that the price will go higher. So, if you want to save a few bucks, you might want to consider giving away or simply throwing some of the things that you can do without.

To determine the size of your move, it’s usually enough that you note the number of bedrooms in your home. Naturally, whether you’re relocating a studio apartment or a four-bedroom house makes a great difference. So, when you start filling out the free quote form, you’ll be asked for the number of bedrooms in your home.

However, we are aware that the number of bedrooms does not necessarily tell the volume of your move. Someone living in a two-bedroom apartment might have more stuff to move than another living in a large house. To avoid any misunderstandings on that end, it’s best that you point this out, if applicable.

The Time of the Year

Summer is probably the best time of the year to relocate. It is also the most popular period for relocation. The temperatures are favorable for relocation, plus, many people take some time off during summer, so they have more time to deal with relocation. As a result, moving companies are swamped with requests, and that, in turn, also affects the price. The peak season is always the more expensive option.

In addition to summer, there are some other periods when moving companies are likely to be particularly busy. For instance, the first and last days in a month are usually the busiest, as well as weekends and national holidays. So, if you’re planning to schedule your relocation date then, be prepared for a higher price.

Not only does a relocation cost more during summer, holidays, and weekends, but it is also much more difficult to get a date. So, if you’re planning last-minute relocation during summer, it can be quite tricky to schedule it. The safest way to go about it is to start planning your move as early as possible and contact our representatives early enough to get the best possible date.

Professional Packing and Other Services

Every relocation is much easier with the help of professional movers. Whether you’re relocating somewhere within the area or far away to another state, when you have experts by your side, the entire process goes more smoothly. You can rent a truck and try to handle it by yourself, but if you want to avoid major hiccups along the way, it would be best to turn to experts. Depending on your specific situation, you may ask for some of the following services:

• Professional packing – If you have too many things in your home, it will be quite time-consuming for you to handle packing all by yourself. Even if you don’t have many things, some of them might be highly valuable. So, you don’t want to risk causing any damage due to improper packing. You probably also keep some items of sentimental value. Whatever the case, packing these on your own is probably not the right way to go.

Our movers have all the necessary supplies and equipment to make sure your stuff is delivered intact to the new address. And with the valuable experience they have, you can be sure they will get the job done more efficiently than you would.

• Storage – In case you have some extra stuff that you don’t need to move right away, but you do need them, you’ll need a safe place to keep those things. That’s when our storage units come in handy. You can also ask for storage if your move gets somewhat complicated, and you need to store your belongings for some time before, during, or even after relocation. Depending on your situation, you may need short-term or long-term storage, which may incur additional costs.

However, we have some good news here – with Flat Price Auto Transport, you get to rent a storage unit for one month completely free of charge. Should you need it for longer than that, we will discuss the price. But for the first 30 days, you don’t have to worry about any storage costs.

• Auto transport – As previously mentioned, auto transport is usually necessary if you’re planning to relocate to another state. The greater the distance, the higher the price. There are different types of car shipping service, which, again, don’t cost the same. For instance, door-to-door delivery is somewhat more expensive than terminal-to-terminal delivery. Similarly, shipping your car on an enclosed carrier is pricier than open auto transport. But before you choose the more affordable options, be sure you think about what you’re losing.

The services you choose do affect the final price to a great extent, but there are some other minor factors, too. Let’s take a look at those.

Other Factors that May Increase Moving Costs

We’ve mentioned that the number of bedrooms and the size of your home are among the decisive factors. But in addition to that, living on the fifth floor of a building can also cost you a few extra bucks. Each mover on our team will have to go up and down several times to take out your boxes. So, it will take them longer to finish everything, hence, the higher price.

Another thing that can eventually add a few bucks to the final price is the access to your house or building. If our truck cannot access your home because the street is too narrow, that means we will need to use an additional van or a shuttle truck. This, too, will probably come at an additional cost.

Should You Choose the Cheapest Movers You Find?

Moving estimates can help you determine which company to choose. The quotes you get will differ from mover to mover. So, there will be some extremely low offers, while other services will be overpriced. As it usually happens, the golden mean is the safest bet. If a mover offers a suspiciously low price, this is usually a sign that there’s something wrong. More often than not, it happens that such companies actually have some hidden fees that are added when everything is done. So, you eventually pay a lot more than you were initially told you would. Either that or the service provided is not of good quality.

Ask for a Quote to Get the Idea of How Much Your Move Will Cost

Now that you know how a price estimate is formed, you’re ready to get one. All you need to do is fill out the form for a free quote here on our website, and you’ll get the approximate price for relocating with our company. Another way to get a free quote is to simply contact our representatives and ask for one. If you would like to explain some specifics to get the most precise quote possible, it’s better to give us a call.

You should also feel free to contact us at any given time if you have any other questions or concerns. Flat Price Auto Transport is at your service whenever you need us. Whatever doubts you may have, we are here to clear everything out and help you get ready for your local or long-distance relocation. Don’t miss your chance to work with one of the best companies out there. Our team of highly trained and devoted professionals is looking forward to helping you out. Let us be a part of your moving adventure.