This is how movers in Austin set your moving costs

The process of how a moving company sets your estimate can be quite complicated, but it is easily explained to anyone looking to hire a moving company. Many factors can affect your estimates, such as time of day, date of your move, the distance of transportation, and the number and weight of items to be transported by the Austin mover.

An estimator will provide you with a free quote over the phone. But before them, it’s best to know first how and why they arrived at such an estimate for their moving services.

How the moving company sets your estimate

1. Analyze your move plans.

Estimators will look at whether or not your move is one story or two stories in height based on their experience with similar houses in that area. They might then conduct their measurements or estimate over the phone depending on how complex these numbers are to determine accurately.

Tip: Although you may receive an initial free estimate, it’s best to ask for the company’s straightforward pricing for transparency.

2. Assess items for moving.

A moving company has several tools and tricks to assess the size and weight of each item that needs to be moved. These include:

• A scale that is accurate to within a tenth of a percent to weigh even the smallest items.
• The company’s own ‘rule of thumb’ estimates based on its knowledge and experience.
• “Visioning” or visualizing how an item is going to be placed in the truck. It thus assesses where it needs to be positioned on the truck for stability. Visioning involves actual physical simulations with dummy models of furniture pieces to see if they fit properly.

3. Reset estimates when necessary.

Suppose the estimate proves inaccurate later on in the process. In that case, however, estimators will refer you to one of their moving consultants. The latter can provide more detailed information about what factors determine final pricing for the move.

4. Set the final price for the moving process.

The moving services company sets the final price based on their list of hourly rates. It also uses a formula that accounts for the volume of space each item takes up in the truck or storage unit and any additional charges (like fuel). This system allows them to easily adjust for a number of movers or the type of service (long distance vs local moves).

List of factors that influence how professional Austin movers set your estimate

Below are some factors that will affect your estimated moving costs. Not all are taken into account by each moving company, however.

Seasonal demand

One significant factor about price estimation is whether or not the time it takes to complete the move will be during high-demand or low-demand seasons. This can affect how fast movers in Austin can fulfill such service requests.

For example, if someone wanted the moving process in January instead of May or June, there would be much higher demand for home moves during this period. They probably wouldn’t be able to get the best price possible as well. That’s because these employees would have been busy catering orders from more clients during high-demand seasons.

Another reason why timing matters is that even though it might be cheaper for the moving services company to make your move, it would rather save that truck space, manpower, and equipment for someone willing to pay more money than you do.

What house you are moving out of and into

If your new home doesn’t have enough room for all of your belongings, you might need more than one trip with their truck. However, this could increase your final price significantly.

Packing expenses

Packing services charges are fees for boxes and bags and packing and unpacking services. If you hire a full service moving company, it will also manage unpacking your stuff. This makes the moving experience stress-free as you reach your new home.

Time to complete the transport

Austin movers will estimate how much time it will take to package everything. It will also drive to your new home, load the truck, and then deliver everything. This way, they can give you a ballpark idea of what it will cost before they start working.

Fuel surcharge

This is levied by movers in Austin to compensate for fluctuations in the price of gasoline or other fuels. In addition to fluctuating costs, fuel prices can be considerably higher or lower than estimated due to factors such as:

• The amount and type of cargo transported (the more weight and bulk, the less fuel-efficient)
• The number of miles expected during the move (a cross-country move will use more gas than an in-state one)
• The time of year (summer travel tends to require more gas since families are taking long road trips)

Frequently Asked Questions about how Austin movers set your estimate

1. How does the moving company estimate the cost to move my belongings?

   A moving company will assess what items you have to move and how much space they will take up. This information is used to generate an estimate of costs. A bigger move with more items will have a bigger estimation for the cost than a smaller removal with fewer items. In addition, additional services such as storage solutions can add to your total bill.

2. How much is the deposit fee when hiring local movers?

   The moving company will require a deposit. This can be anywhere from 5% to 50% of the total cost of transport. The standard amount required by movers, however, is around 10%. This retention is paid before loading begins at either origin or destination.

3. Should I seek other Austin moving companies’ estimates?

   Hiring the first Austin moving company you find may cost you money in paying for extra services. Rushing through everything only to have to go back and do it over again means things weren’t packed well enough or items got damaged during transport. You should also try negotiating prices with your mover to keep your move day stress-free.

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Enjoy a streamlined relocation with expert moving teams no matter where you live with Heavenly Moving and Storage. Book your move knowing you have the full support of the only moving company in Austin on ABJ’s 2021 Best Places to Work and Best of the Best Moving Company Finalist. Get your free quote today or call us at 512-340-0551.