How do I compare moving quotes that charge in different ways?

First describe the same move for all three: the move date, rooms or inventory, access at both locations, and the services you want. Use the same description when asking for clarification; otherwise a price difference may reflect different assumptions about the job.

Then make a comparison sheet with one row per mover and columns for:

1. Pricing method and quoted amount.
2. What the mover assumes about the size or duration of the job.
3. Services and materials included.
4. Possible extra charges, and what would trigger them.
5. Details you still need clarified.

Treat the starting price as incomplete until you know what it covers. Don’t convert an hourly quote into a final total using a guessed number of hours.

The inventory is only one part of the job description. Quotes may be based on different understandings of access, timing, or the work requested. For example, one mover might be assuming that everything is packed and ready, while you expect packing help; another might not have accounted for a long carry from the door to the truck.

Use this as a working template, filling in only what you know:

“Move date: [date or range]. From: [general location and access details]. To: [general location and access details]. Items: [inventory or rooms]. Packing: [who packs what]. Requested services: [list]. Items or conditions to discuss: [list]. Please confirm which assumptions your quote uses and what could change the price.”

If you don’t know whether an assumption applies, mark it ‘please confirm’ rather than treating it as settled.

Here’s a fictional example using placeholders, not actual mover pricing or a recommendation:

• Mover A: Hourly rate: [quoted rate]. Included, as stated: loading and transport. Assumptions to confirm: crew size, what time is counted, and access. Open question: What services or materials cost extra?
• Mover B: Flat price: [quoted amount]. Included: [listed services]. Assumptions to confirm: inventory and job conditions. Open question: What changes would require a revised quote?
• Mover C: Starting price: [amount]. Included: not specified yet. Assumptions to confirm: scope is unclear. Open question: What does the starting price include, and what is the price for my described move?

Don’t compare the hourly rate directly with the flat amount. First ask what each quote covers and which circumstances could change the amount. Then compare the stated prices with the clarified scope. If an answer is still missing, leave it visible as an uncertainty instead of assigning it an invented cost.

Send the same short questions to each mover, referring to the specific quote:

1. “Please confirm the job details and assumptions used for this quote.”
2. “Which services, supplies, and tasks are included or excluded?”
3. “What could change the quoted amount, and how would that change be explained?”
4. “For an hourly quote, what time and crew details should I use to understand the estimate? For a flat or starting quote, what scope does the amount cover?”
5. “Could you send the clarification or updated quote in writing?”

Keep replies next to the original quote and update the sheet. Compare like with like: if one mover includes a requested service and another excludes it, note that difference before looking at the price. This is an organizing method, not a judgment about any particular mover or a guarantee of the final bill.