Moving jobs is expensive, and it can cost you a large amount. Your clients may ask you for detailed and accurate estimates before they purchase your services. A moving company can have an accurate estimate of the costs and profit they will make up by the end if they write a proper formal estimate.
What should a moving estimate include?
A moving job estimation should include the following:
- Visit the House
- Make a List of Inventory
- Choose a Type of Estimate
- Consider the Moving Date
- Charges Based on Weight
- Distance Factor
- Additional Costs
1. Visit the House:
It is important to visit your client’s house before making any deal with them. It will help you see all the major and minor things you will be working on, and you can easily estimate the costs, including all the additional expenses. It allows you to charge accordingly.
According to the U.S. DOT Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. You must formulate your estimation on the basis of the in-person evaluation of the home’s content if your potential client lives within 50 miles of your location.
2. Make a List Of Inventory:
When you visit your client’s house, it will also help you make a detailed list of all the inventory you are expected to move, including furniture, boxes, smaller items, and other electronics, etc. You must include this inventory list with your estimate.
3. Choose a Type of Estimate:
The three types of moving estimates are:
Binding moving estimate: Here, the estimated price you provide is included in the final invoice, and in the case of additional services, the price is adjusted in an invoice.
Non-binding moving estimate: Here, you bill the additional charges later and can bill up to 110 percent of the price. The final estimate depends on the shipment weight and services provided.
Binding-not-to-exceed moving estimate: It is similar to the binding estimate. The only difference is that if the client’s item weight is less, he will pay less than the estimated price.
4. Consider the Moving Date:
You can charge an extra amount during the busy moving seasons, like the summer and holiday seasons. It is best to set a limit on the quote, like 20 days, and if the client is unable to decide even after the expiry date of the quote, draw a new one and add extra charges if the new date falls in a busy moving season.
5. Charges Based on Weight:
The moving companies usually charge based on the weight of the shipment. It is illegal to charge on the basis of volume (cubic feet). According to The Consumer Affair, you must charge per pound, whereas according to the Home Advisor, the average is 50 cents per pound.
For local moves, you must charge by the hour. According to My Moving Reviews, the average price is $25 per hour per mover. At the same time, Home Advisor puts the average between $25 to $50 per mover.
Some average times for local moves are: Multiply the $25 per hour per mover rate as needed.
- Studio apartment: three to five hours with two movers
- Two-bedroom apartment: five to seven hours with three movers
- Three-bedroom house: seven to ten hours with four movers
- Homes over 5,000 square feet: it depends, but this can cost $1,500 to $2,000
6. Distance Factor:
Distance also plays an important role in estimating the final costs of moving jobs. Long-distance moves will definitely cost your client more than short-distance moves.
Some average prices for a moving job that’s about 1,000 miles away with no additional services are:
- Studio apartment: $1,500 at minimum.
- One-bedroom apartment: $1,800 to $2,500
- Two-bedroom home: $3,500 to $4,200
7. Additional Costs:
Additional costs affect your final cost estimation, so you must consider adding all the additional charges in your calculation for the estimate of moving jobs. It will also help your client know what extra costs they are being charged.
The moving cost calculator will help you figure out the average prices of moving services in your area.
How much should I charge for moving jobs?
Specifically, talking about the local moves, you can charge based on per-hour rates for local moves. According to My Moving Reviews, the average price is $25 per hour per mover. Home Advisor puts the average between $25 and $50 per mover.
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