Quotes and what they mean
What makes a moving quote go up?
The short answer
Weight or volume above the inventory, services added on the day, access that turns out worse than described, long carries, shuttle trucks where the truck cannot reach the door, stairs and elevators, storage, and specialty items. Most of those are removable in advance by a proper survey and an honest description of both addresses.
The usual line items
- Additional weight or volume beyond the inventory.
- Packing and materials, if you decide on the day rather than in advance.
- Long carry, where the truck cannot park close to the door.
- Shuttle service, where a full-size truck physically cannot reach the address and a smaller one ferries the load.
- Stairs and elevator charges, and elevator bookings that were not made.
- Storage in transit, which is common when closing dates do not line up.
- Bulky or specialty items: pianos, safes, pool tables, large appliances.
- Waiting time, if the property is not available when the crew arrives.
How to remove most of them
Describe both ends honestly, including the things that make the job harder. A mover who knows about the third-floor walk-up and the narrow lane prices for it once; a mover who finds out on the day prices for it at the worst possible moment. Under-describing access to get a lower quote produces a lower quote and a higher bill.
Book the elevator and the loading dock at both ends yourself, in writing, and tell the mover the booked times. It is the most common avoidable delay in an apartment move.
Also asked
What is a shuttle fee?
A charge for transferring the shipment to a smaller vehicle because the full-size truck cannot physically reach the address. It is a real cost and a legitimate one, and it should be identified at the survey rather than discovered on the day — which is a reason to mention narrow streets, low branches and tight driveways when you are being quoted.
The long version
Moving quotes and estimates explained
Understand moving estimate types, surveys, contract documents, and the common reasons a quoted price can change before delivery.
Read the guide →General information about moving and about hiring, not advice about your move. Interstate household-goods moving within the United States is federally regulated; local, intrastate and Canadian moving is regulated by each state or province, and the rules differ. The authority for your move is the one to check.