When planning a house move, the first thing you need to do is to decide whether you’re going to use professional moving services or perform a self-move. Unless the specific circumstances in your case tip the scales in favor of either option, the most crucial factor in your decision will be the moving cost:
- If you find out that the cost of performing a DIY move will be much lower than the cost of hiring movers, you will likely try to move without professional help;
- If it turns out that professional movers are easily affordable, you will probably choose to leave your move to the experts.
While it may not be easy to calculate your self-moving costs (there are just too many unknowns when moving by yourself), it is extremely easy to find the cost of hiring movers – all you need to do is to request price estimates from several reputable moving companies in your area.
In order to get an accurate estimate of your moving costs, however, you’re advised to request a visual survey of your home and get an in-house written estimate.
Here is everything you need to know about in-home moving estimates so you can plan your move – and your finances – in the best way possible.
What is an in-person moving estimate?
An on-site moving estimate – also commonly referred to as an in-person moving estimate – is a moving cost estimate provided after a visual survey of the home.
When you request an in-house estimate, a representative of the moving company will come to your place to see what you have for moving. The professional will walk through your home, taking note of the number and type of items you plan to relocate and discussing the logistics of your move with you.
During the visual survey of your home, the moving consultant will:
- Make an inventory list of the items you’re moving to your new home;
- Measure furniture and other larger household items and estimate their weight;
- Note down specialty items that might require special care;
- Determine how much space your goods will take up;
- Estimate the approximate weight of your entire shipment;
- Look for obstacles and special conditions that may present difficulties on moving day – steep stairs, small doorways, narrow hallways, restricted access to the home, etc. ;
- Determine what specialized moving services will be necessary – hoisting, furniture disassembly, shuttle services, etc.;
- Inquire about any accessorial moving services you’d like to use – packing, appliance servicing, temporary storage, etc.
Based on the above information, the moving company will be able to determine what size truck and what kind of specialized moving equipment will be needed for your move, what specialized moving services will be required, how many workers will be needed, and how long the job will take. When they know all this, the pros will be able to prepare an accurate estimate of your moving costs.
Related: Types of moving estimates
Why do you need an in-home moving estimate?
When trying to figure out how much your move will cost you, you can quickly and easily get an estimate over the phone or online – all you need to do is call the movers or fill in a moving quote form. You will be asked to provide some basic information about your move – pickup and delivery locations, preferred moving date, number of bedrooms within your home, and number of people in your household – and will be provided a price estimate right away.
While it seems very convenient, you should keep in mind that cost estimates given online or over the phone are non-binding and highly inaccurate – the movers just don’t have enough information to determine the actual cost of your move.
The pros use average values to make an assessment of your likely moving costs – if you’re moving a 2-bedroom home, for example, the movers will determine the weight of your shipment to be 6,000 lbs. (as the approximate weight of goods in a 2-bedroom home is estimated to be about 5,000-7,000 lbs.) and will calculate your moving costs based on that approximate weight. Needless to say, depending on a number of factors, the items in your 2-bedroom home may weigh far more or significantly less than 6,000 lbs., so the received cost estimate may be highly inaccurate.
Besides, when giving an estimate over the phone or online, the movers have no way of knowing what obstacles they may encounter during the job and what additional services may be required. These factors have a great impact on the final moving cost, so it may differ considerably from the initial estimate.
Therefore, if you want an accurate estimate that will guarantee the final price of your relocation, you’re advised to get an in-house moving estimate.
What are the benefits of on-site moving estimates?
It is of paramount importance to know in advance how much your move will cost you – and as already detailed above, in-home estimates are accurate.
It may be a bit more of a hassle to schedule an in-person moving estimate, but this way you will learn the actual price of your move. As a result:
- You will be able to make a realistic moving budget and plan your finances in the best way possible.
- You won’t need to worry about financial surprises – which will give you peace of mind, greatly reducing the stress of moving.
Additionally, on-site moving estimates provide a number of other benefits as well:
- When the moving consultants come to your home, you will be able to ask them about their company (and get all the information you need to determine whether that company is right for you), about the logistics of your move (and get all the answers you need in order to plan your relocation well), about specific items (and find out if they’re worth moving and how to best handle them if you decide to take them along), about insurance options (and decide what kind of liability coverage to get for your items), and about any other concerns you may have regarding your relocation (See also: What questions to ask movers);
- The moving experts will be able to give you a lot of practical tips and advice on how to better prepare for your move and how to make things safer and smoother on moving day (See also: What movers want you to know);
- The movers will have all the information they need, so they will be able to prepare for the job well and will perform your move in the safest, smoothest, and most efficient way possible;
- When discussing your move with the moving company representatives, you may find ways to reduce your moving costs – ensure easy access to your items, get your belongings ready for moving yourself, etc. (See also: How to cut down moving costs);
- With a binding written in-house estimate, the risk of moving scams will be much smaller (See also: How to avoid moving scams)
Good to know: As advantageous as it may be to get an in-home moving estimate, it may not always be the best choice for your circumstances. If you don’t currently live in the home that the shipment will be taken from, for example, it will be very difficult to complete this process. In such a case, a video survey is your next best option.
What to know when requesting an in-house moving estimate
There are a few more important things to keep in mind when it comes to in-person moving estimates:
How many on-site estimates to get?
It’s best to request in-home estimates from three or four reputable moving companies that provide quality service at a reasonable price and seem to suit your specific relocation needs.
See also: How to find good movers
When to book your in-home estimates?
It’s recommended to schedule an appointment as early as possible – at least four weeks before your preferred move date.
See also: How far in advance to book movers
How to prepare for an in-house estimate?
When preparing for a home survey, you’re advised to:
- Make a list of the items you want to move to your new home;
- Ensure easy access to furniture and other larger household items, so the moving experts can have a good look at them and measure them;
- Note down specialty items that may have special packing or handling requirements;
- Label items you won’t be moving to your new place;
- Determine what kind of accessorial moving services you’d like to use;
- Consider possible obstacles and difficulties;
- Prepare a list of questions to ask the movers.
How much time does a home survey take?
Depending on how big your home is and how many storage areas there are (attics, basements, garages, sheds, etc.), a visual survey can take from one to two hours.
Make sure at least one decision maker from your household is present during the entire home survey.
Does getting an on-site estimate cost money?
No, moving companies provide in-house written estimates free of charge.
Must-read: How to get an accurate moving estimate
Here is an explanatory video about the types of moving estimates and quotes:
