Non binding Estimate

What is a Non Binding Estimate?

Non Binding estimate tend to be more common the binding estimate since they are more easy to use.
 

In a non binding estimate, moving companies give you an estimate of weight or cubic feet for your

inventory list.
 

No binding estimate is not a bid or a quote and only reflects a minimum job order.

Non-binding estimates must be in writing and must accurately describe the shipment and all the services provided with the price offer and not provided and require additional charge.

Before loading your household goods, if the moving company thinks you have additional belongings not stated in the non-binding estimate, the mover can refuse you service. Make sure everything you need to move is clearly outlined in the estimate. If you need to add items, tell your mover so you can work out an agreement before they start to load your shipment.

If your mover thinks additional services are needed to properly complete your shipment, after your household goods have been loaded, they must tell you what the additional services are before they act on them. You must be given one hour to decide if you want the additional services. If these services do not appear on your mover's non-binding estimate, your mover must deliver your shipment and bill you later for the additional services.

If you add additional services after your belongings have been loaded, you will be billed after the move for these services.

Should I agree to a Non Binding Estimate?

Non –binding estimate is price quote given by a moving company.

This estimate is based on an average weight or volume that house hold goods take,
 

Or an average price for moving a _ bedroom house or apartment.
 

A non binding estimate should include all the necessary services in order to complete you move under one quoted price.

The problem begins when there is lack of information about the exact weight or size of the house hold goods or how many of those exist in your residence.
 

For example a 3 bedroom house not always contain the same amount of furniture as an “average” 3 bedroom house, it can have more furniture or less furniture.
 

Also a three seat sofa can weight 50 Lbs or 200 Lbs, depend on the type of the sofa and the materials it’s made of or if it’s a sofa bed or just a regular sofa.
 

This is the main reason why moving quote tend to go off the final bill.
 

Its hard for you as a customer to get specific with the description of your house hold good and its hard for the movers sales person to be accurate with the estimate.
 

In a non binding estimate there is an important term witch moving companies not always emphasize enough.
 

That term called additional price per Lb or per Cu ft:

Our research shows that 63% of the moving companies in the united state low ball the amount of weight or Cubic feet with the charming of low price for the quote, however the additional price per Lb or Cu ft will be extremely high and once the truck is already loaded and on the way to your new residence you get hit with a “surprising” bill.
 

All binding estimate or moving quotes work in the same way:
 

As higher as you go with the final weight on the estimate, so does the price per additional goes lower, and when the final estimate of your goods go low, so does the price per additional go up.
 

Another issue is disposable packing materials.
 

In a non binding estimate disposable packing materials will never be included in the price quote and a sales person will never volunteer useful information about that unless you ask them.
 

Disposable packing materials can be: moving tape, bubble wrap, shrink wrap, and moving boxes.
 

On your move date any fragile pieces of furniture have to be packed inside a box.
 

The price of those moving boxes are cheap if you get them at a local store but if the moving company

will provide the boxes it will always be more expensive.

Packing labor:

Packing labor is another expense that gets forgetting to be told by a moving sales person.
 

Packing labor is an additional cost for actually put your item into the boxes. 
 

We advise you to ask for the packing materials and packing labor price list if you consider a full packing service.

Hidden moving cost.

Some companies will not include all the necessary services that require completing your move in the quote; we recommend you check our example of a non binding estimate.

Here are the main thing you should know about non binding estimate.

1. Moving company cannot charge you for a non-binding estimate or quote. It is not a bid or contract it is a minimum price for job order. Non binding estimate does not bind your mover to this price. In most cases, your final cost will be more than the estimate, unless otherwise stated. The final cost must be in accordance with your mover's tariffs. Federal law requires your mover to collect the charges shown in its tariffs.
2. Non-binding estimates must be in writing and must accurately describe the shipment and all the services provided. 
3. make sure the mover indicates the amount estimated on each form.
4. Non-binding estimates based on an estimated weight or size of the shipment and the services you and the company think are required to complete the move.
5. The moving company must retain attach a copy of the quote to the bill of lading.
6. Your mover must describe the entire shipment and all services that will be provide.\
7. Your mover may not collect more than 110 percent of the amount of this estimate upon arrival in case that the revise estimate is off.
8. If your mover believes additional services are require to complete your shipment, after your household goods have been loaded, they must let you know what the additional services are before they act on them. You must be given at least one hour to decide if you want the additional services. If these services do not appear on your mover's quote, your mover must deliver your shipment and bill you later for the additional services.