In Person vs. Over the Phone Estimate

In Person Versus Over the Phone Estimate For Moving Services

The first step in hiring a moving company is narrowing down which companies you’re interested in and then contacting them for a cost estimate. You can use your own judgment and criteria when it comes to assessing which companies are best for your specific needs, but the real decision making occurs after you get a price quote and compare prices and services against each other from the companies you’ve contacted. When you contact moving companies, there are two different types of processes you’ll find that they use to formulate your estimate: in person and over the phone. In this article, we’ll explain the difference between the two, as well as how to determine which one will work best for you.

Over the Phone Price Quote

The quickest and easiest way to get an estimate is over the phone. The main drawback is that your price quote is less likely to be as accurate as it would be with an in-home estimate, but you can still get an accurate quote so long as you provide the moving company with all the information they need. Over the phone estimates are more convenient and can be relied upon if you don’t have time to arrange for an in-person assessment, or if you live in a more remote area that’s not as easy for the movers to provide a more precise estimate.

Information You’ll Need To An Estimate Over the Phone

You can get an estimate by providing some basic information about your move that includes the following: requested move out and move in dates, your current address and where you’re moving to, and how big of a home or apartment you live in to give them an idea of how much furniture you need moved and the size of the truck needed. If you can provide an inventory list of exactly what you’re moving, at least for the larger items, it can help the moving company better determine how much your move will cost. It’s also helpful if you mention any larger or heavier items that you need moved, such as a piano, hot tub, safe, or any other item that’s oversized or particularly heavy. Not only will this information allow a mover to give you a more accurate quote, but it will also help them to determine if any special equipment is needed for your move, as well as how many people will be needed to load and unload your belongings. Be sure to also mention if you need any special services, such as packing supplies or short term storage, as that will also be factored into your moving costs. Alternately, you can get a quote online by supplying the same information on a form.

If you need a moving estimate, either in person or over the phone, contact us today at (888) 202-0036 for a FREE price quote! Our staff of expert moving professionals is available seven days a week and we are ready to provide you with a quick and accurate estimate right away! If you need an in home estimate, simply call us and we’ll make arrangements to visit your home at your earliest convenience to give you a more precise cost estimate for FREE!

In Person Estimate

Getting an in-home estimate means you’ll have to provide the same information mentioned above as when you get one over the phone. The main difference is that the moving company will dispatch movers to your home to determine exactly how much your move will cost based on what you need moved. This is the way to get the most accurate estimate and ensure that your final moving costs will be more in line with the quote you receive. With an over-the-phone estimate, there is more flexibility in the cost due to the fact that there is more guess work involved in the specifics of your move.

When the moving company arrives to take inventory of your belongings, it’s best to have your home clean and easy to get around in as they may need to take measurements of certain items. This helps them determine how much space will be required in the moving truck, what size of truck will be needed, and the amount of labor required if they will be doing the loading and unloading for you. Just as you would when getting an over-the-phone price quote, it’s important to mention any additional services or supplies you may need during the move. An advantage of getting an in-home estimate is that they will be able to figure out what you need rather than relying strictly on information that you can provide them with. If you’re moving long distance, it’s advisable to get in-person estimate since longer moves are priced by weight and moving distance, rather than a flat hourly rate as most local moves are.