Everything you need to know about moving estimates in Ottawa

When planning a move there are many important things to take care of. From researching the best movers Ottawa and finding good ones to handle your move. To preparing your family for the move, and taking care of details like changing your address. But when hiring movers one of the more important things to be knowledgeable about is moving estimates, because through moving estimates you will know how much you are going to pay for the move. And they can be done over the phone or in person, with the latter being much more accurate. You should schedule at least three moving estimates with the moving companies you like, and choose the one that suits you the best. Going through a moving estimate can be somewhat confusing, so learning more about it will definitely help a lot. Here are some things you should know about moving estimates in Ottawa.

There are three types of moving estimates

Before getting a moving estimate you should know that there are three types of moving estimates. And it is important that you know the difference between them. Then then you can decide which one suits you the most. And what to watch out for when getting a moving estimate in Ottawa.

Binding estimate

With a binding estimate, the moving company is giving you a guarantee on the price they gave you, so you will know exactly how much you are going to pay. And it won’t change. Knowing how much you are going to pay and not having to worry about it is going to help cope with moving stress too. This is the best estimate to get and go for.

Non-binding estimate

A lot of people avoid non-binding estimates. But if you want to get one you should approach it with caution. With non-binding estimates, the movers don’t have to respect the quote but can change it. And this happens quite often, so there is a risk that you end up paying much more. And this is why a lot of people avoid non-binding moving quotes.

Binding not to exceed

This is a popular type of moving quote. With a binding not to exceed moving quote, you are going to know the maximum, you can be expected to pay. So if your things are for example heavier than the company originally estimated, you won’t have to pay more. But if your things end up being lighter, you will pay less. So it is a good type of moving estimate in Ottawa to choose for your move. Together with the binding estimate, it’s one of the better ones.

When looking into moving estimates in Ottawa be wary of estimates by weight or cubic feet

It is a common business practice by questionable movers to underestimate the weight or volume to get you to hire them with a non-binding quote knowing that you will end up paying much more in the end. Of course, if you are working with a reputable moving company, then you don’t have to worry about this. As they won’t hit you with additional charges like this. And that is why it is important to find good professional movers whether you are office moving Ottawa or moving your home.

When looking into moving estimates have extra services and additional costs in mind

All of the experienced and professional movers offer a multitude of services that go alongside the moving itself. Things like moving specific things like pianos, to packing services and storage units Ottawa. So if you do end up requiring some of these additional services, make sure that you check what the price would be. And whether it fits into your moving budget or not. And there are some things you might have to pay additional fees for. It’s best to ask your movers about all the additional fees you have to pay after they give you a moving estimate in Ottawa. Here are some of the possible additional costs:

• Long-carry service
• Large items
• Stairs
• Last-minute changes

When getting moving quotes inquire about their moving insurance

Your movers accept liability for your things while they are moving them. Although that doesn’t necessarily mean that they will pay for the cost of replacing or fixing the thing that gets damaged. Either way, you need moving insurance so that you can make claims against a moving company for damages should it come to that.

If you get full value moving insurance the movers are required to pay for the damaged thing or to replace it. With limited value moving insurance the coverage is based on the weight of your items, which can be as low as 60 cents per pound per item. And with third-party insurance you also get full-value coverage, this will cost extra money, but it is usually worth it. You should take your time to decide what kind of insurance suits you the most, which will mostly depend on the things you are moving.

Additional advice on moving estimates in Ottawa

There are some important things to keep in mind when going through moving estimates in Ottawa. First thing is that you shouldn’t sign blank or incomplete estimates. And definitely don’t hire a moving company that asks you to do so. This is a very common scam and it can easily be avoided. Make sure that you get an accurate inventory list. When they give you a moving estimate, they will also give you a list of all the things they are going to move. Check is it accurate and is everything on the list. Lastly, you should know that the time of year affects moving costs a lot. Charges are quite higher in the summer. You can always just ask your movers how different the charge would be if you changed the date by a few weeks.