When planning a move, it is essential to gather quotes from several competing moving companies. This helps you to compare prices and services, and it can help you spot red flags like an unexpectedly high price or low-ball pricing that may indicate a less-than-reputable company. Many moving companies offer online quoting tools, which make it easy to get a ballpark estimate without scheduling a time for movers to visit your home. Using these tools can also save you money by eliminating the need to pay upfront for a full-service move.

However, it’s important to understand how these online tools work before using them to calculate your moving costs. There are a number of factors that can influence your moving quotes, including the size of your household and the total weight of your shipment. Some online quoting tools use a simple form to ask for information about your household items and their size. Others ask for a more detailed list, or inventory, of your belongings.

The inventory will typically include a description of each item, its condition, and its estimated value. The moving company will then use this information to determine the overall volume of your shipment and how much it will cost to transport. Some companies base their moving quotes on the weight of your items, while others use cubic feet. It is important to know the difference between these two methods, as your move will be more costly if it is based on weight rather than cubic feet.

Your online moving quotes will also depend on the distance of your move. Long-distance moves will have higher moving rates due to the added mileage and vehicle maintenance costs. The cost of gas, toll roads, and weigh stations can also affect the final price of your move.

Other factors that can influence your online moving quotes are the type of household goods you’re packing and the amount of specialty equipment or large, bulky items you’re transporting. Moving companies will add an extra charge for packing, disassembly, and reassembly of furniture and for crating or special handling of delicate items.

Some companies have additional services that can increase your moving quote, such as storage, a shuttle service, or professional cleaning. You should note that these extra charges are not included in your instant online moving quote, but will be calculated separately by the moving company once they receive all the details of your move.

Once you’ve submitted your online moving information, an employee with the company will review it and contact you if they need more information or need to schedule a home visit. They will then give you a moving quote with all the information they need to plan and execute your move. Agoyu also has a Third-Party Service Estimator that can help you find the best estimates for services such as disconnecting hazardous appliances, gas and water connections, or shed disassembly and relocation. Plus, 5% of all the fees you pay will go toward one of the foundations Agoyu has partnered with to help support cancer treatment. moving quotes online