People tend to believe you can’t avoid surprise moving fees. But, fortunately, they are mostly wrong. You can avoid most moving fees surprises, and be sure you are not overpaying when moving house if you ask the right questions. 

The average costs for using moving company services vary by region. But, regardless of where you live, some consistent red flags signify you’re about to overpay when moving house. Before you sign anything you must know how to negotiate the best price for a moving service. 

Here are some questions to ask yourself to be sure you are not overpaying when moving house.

Do you have flexibility around your move? 

You can save money by avoiding the peak moving months. In case you have some flexibility around your relocation. Moving companies are usually busy in the summer, and often around the end of the year. So, to be sure you are not overpaying when moving house, do some research. Find out when is the best time to move. Move during the off-season and take advantage of lower pricing. But, if you have to move in mid-July you can still avoid overpaying. Just book a move a Tuesday or Wednesday instead of on the weekend. Because that is the time when everyone else is trying to move, too.

How to be sure you are not overpaying when moving house – Binding or non-binding estimate

Get to know the difference between binding and non-binding moving quotes. With the non-binding agreement, you could have a rude awakening on moving day. Movers could unexpectedly increase the costs by a huge margin. Then, you’ll either pay more or have your stuff held hostage on the truck. So, take a binding estimate instead. Because then movers can only add costs if something changes. For example, you add 20 more boxes than expected.

Be sure you are not overpaying when moving house – Do you pay four hours for a short move?

Before moving house, find out how much do movers charge per hour. When you’re just moving across town, don’t settle for what movers their minimum hours. Some companies will charge you for no less than four hours, for example. So, if your relocation only takes two and a half hours, the company makes out like bandits. You will end up wondering where that extra $200 is going. Therefore, if you have a simple move, negotiate fewer than the stated minimum hours. See if you can relocate in the middle of the week? The movers may meet you in the middle because they’re happy to have the business. But, keep in mind that you have leverage.

Are movers pressuring you to pay for packing?

Be sure you are not overpaying when moving house and pack belongings by yourself. Get boxes at a home improvement store or from neighbors and friends. Pack and label it by yourself because that is drastically less expensive than using movers service. If the company insists on charging you for packing, they are probably looking to overcharge. So, hire another one.