A move can be pricey, but the final total shouldn’t surprise you. Proper planning can keep your costs low, but if you can’t pay your movers, you can end up in serious trouble.
If you don’t pay the agreed-upon amount, moving companies have the right to lock your stuff up in storage. As a fun bonus, you would be the one footing the storage bill. At the end of the day, you’ll have to pay your moving company for their services, and you’d also have to pay for your items being kept in storage.
It’s best to plan ahead to avoid this kind of situation. Getting a moving quote or estimate can save you from excess costs and the temporary loss of access to your household items and furniture.
Types of National Moving Estimates
Before signing any contracts or booking any moving services, you should do ample research on different cross country movers in your area to get several quotes and estimates for your move. There are two different types of moving estimates to look for: binding estimates and non-binding estimates.
Binding Cost Estimates
A binding estimate clearly outlines services rendered and details about your shipment. When you’re given a binding estimate, you can’t be charged more than the original estimate unless you decide to add additional services after you receive the estimate.
Cost Estimates that are Non-Binding
A non-binding estimate also outlines services rendered and details about your shipment, but the numbers provided by a non-binding estimate can change. Fortunately, your final costs can’t exceed the original estimate by more than 10%. Any additional charges will also need to be paid within 30 days of delivery.
What If I Need To Cancel Movers?
If you decide for any reason that you no longer need the services of a moving company, you can contact the company to cancel your moving services. This is easily done if no paperwork has been signed, but both you and the moving company will need to agree to cancel services if you have already signed a bill of lading.
A bill of lading is a document that outlines the payment agreement for moving services, and acts as a contract between you and your moving company. This document is extremely important, and should always be kept in a safe place so you have all the information you need to cancel, or facilitate, your move.
It may seem surprising that you can’t just cancel your move on a whim, but this is to protect all parties involved. If you wanted to cancel your moving services after they already started, you’d be breaching the contract you signed with your movers – and you could be subject to legal penalties unless the moving company also agrees to cancel services.
How Much Does It Cost to Cancel Movers?
If you need to cancel within 10 business days of your move, you could end up paying for up to 60% of the total cost. Within 48 hours, you may pay up to 75%. And if you try to cancel the day of, your moving company may charge you the total moving amount!
There’s a good reason for cancellation fees: Moving companies put a lot of planning into your move, and as soon as you’ve agreed to work with them, they factor your move into their schedules to see how they can best help you.
You need to let your moving company know as soon as you’ve made your decision to cancel. The sooner they know about your cancellation, the lower the cost of the fees. In fact, if you cancel early enough (in general, more than 10 business days before your move), you may avoid incurring any fees at all!
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to be present when movers are in my home?
Movers can’t start until you have all the proper paperwork in hand, and until all necessary documents have been signed. Movers might be able to handle things on their own, but you’ll still need to be present to make sure the job is done right.
Do movers get paid before they move my items?
Typically you won’t pay national movers until your items arrive at their destination, but this depends on the moving company. Some companies require a deposit, which should be a reasonable amount – usually no more than $500. Make sure you’ve done your research so you know what to expect when it comes to payment.
Should I use cash to pay national movers?
Some companies accept cash, but if you ever need to provide proof of payment, this could leave you at risk. Oftentimes, movers will ask for a credit card or some other form of secure payment. In any case, you should set up your payment agreement with your moving company before signing anything.
Make Sure You Can Pay
If you plan on moving, you need to figure out your budget, and you need to read over your provided estimates very carefully. The last thing you want is to pay extra fees and lose access to your stuff because of nonpayment.
If anything changes with the status of your move, let your national moving company know immediately so both you and your mover can plan accordingly. Your wallet will thank you.
