Compare the total price for the same job, not the first number each mover sends. Two quotations can describe very different services even when they both say “2 BHK move.” Align the inventory, addresses, date and work included before deciding which offer gives better value.
Give every mover the same brief
Prepare one inventory with furniture, appliances, estimated cartons and unusual items. State what you will pack or carry yourself. Provide the floor, lift information, stairs, vehicle approach and building instructions for both addresses.
If a survey changes the inventory, update the comparison for every proposal. An old quote for fewer items is no longer a like-for-like alternative.
Use this comparison sheet
| Part of the move | What the written quote should clarify |
|---|---|
| Inventory | Items, approximate quantity or volume and any declared special goods |
| Packing | Materials, fragile-item handling and what you pack yourself |
| Furniture | Dismantling, reassembly and excluded carpentry or fixtures |
| Pickup | Floor access, loading point, carrying distance and permissions |
| Transport | Vehicle arrangement, shared or dedicated mode and any transfers |
| Delivery | Unloading, room placement, unpacking and the receiving window |
| Price | Included charges, applicable taxes and separately priced options |
| Protection | Contract responsibility and any optional policy details |
| Payment | Advance or stages, payee, receipts and booking confirmation |
| Changes | Inventory additions, waiting, rescheduling and cancellation |
Not every row needs a separate rupee line. It does need an unambiguous answer. “All inclusive” is only useful when the included work and exclusions are defined.
Download the editable moving quote comparison sheet (CSV). Open it in Excel or another spreadsheet app, name each provider column and copy the answers from their written proposals. Leave an unanswered charge marked “not confirmed”, rather than treating it as zero. The sheet includes separate rows for the base amount, selected options, tax and the quoted total; it does not calculate prices or replace the accepted quotation.
Ask what could change the price
Common scope changes include additional goods, a different date or destination, a lift that cannot be used, extra carrying and specialist furniture work. Ask how a proposed extra is assessed and who must authorise it. Do not assume a fixed price protects a materially changed job, or that a mover can add unexplained charges after completing it.
If a quote includes an allowance, ask what it covers. If a service is optional, keep it separate so you can choose deliberately rather than discover it at handover.
When you compare moving quotes, check whether the amount is an initial estimate or an assessed price for the recorded inventory. If weight, volume or vehicle space affects the amount, ask how it will be measured and shown on the final bill. Check whether transport charges include fuel and tolls; if a fuel surcharge is listed separately, ask what calculation and date apply. These checks help you compare packers and movers charges without counting an included cost twice or overlooking an unresolved one.
Read the small print behind the total
Circle every charge marked “as actual”, “extra” or “subject to assessment”. Ask what triggers it, how it is calculated, what evidence supports it and whether a limit can be agreed. A grand total can still leave these amounts unresolved. Get the explanation beside the relevant line before accepting the quote.
After a discount or phone conversation, compare the revised inventory with your original list. Check the carton count, furniture work, floors, packing and delivery scope as well as the new amount. Keep both versions and ask the coordinator to confirm what changed. A lower price is only a saving when it still covers the work you need.
Clarify whether cartons are sold, loaned or collected after unpacking. If they must be returned, agree the return time, any deposit and how belongings will be protected until you can put them away. Record whether ordinary wrapping and any specialist crates are included. That avoids having to negotiate materials after your cupboards have been emptied.
Compare the schedule as well as the amount
A shared shipment with a flexible arrival window may suit one household and create accommodation costs for another. Collection, departure and delivery are different stages. Ask how the proposed schedule fits your building slots, personal travel and key handover.
Likewise, an office move with a phased reopening has different labour and coordination needs from moving the same furniture in one trip. A cheaper proposal may simply contain less work.
Resolve unclear tax and insurance wording
Ask the provider to state the applicable tax treatment and invoice details for the actual service. A percentage copied from another quote may not settle the classification of your own transaction. If you need tax advice or input-credit treatment, consult your adviser using the issued documents.
For insurance, request the policy details rather than comparing only premiums. Insured value, exclusions, deductibles and claim steps affect what the product means. Read the questions to ask about claims and insurance.
Make the decision from a complete proposal
Save a booking snapshot
Before paying, bring the accepted proposal into one message or document. Include the quote reference and date, current inventory, two addresses, agreed work, total, payment stages and any unresolved items. Ask the booking contact to confirm that this is the version being accepted. A revised attachment should not leave the old inventory as the only record of your belongings.
Check the quote’s validity date separately from the collection appointment. Ask what confirms the moving slot and retain that confirmation with the payment receipt. If your decision or moving date changes, reconfirm both the amount and availability before making travel or building arrangements.
Keep the accepted version, inventory and payment instructions together. Confirm the identity and contact details of the business before paying; our mover verification checklist covers that separate task.
Choose the proposal that meets your requirements at a price you understand. Request a Shiftify quote with the same brief so you can compare its scope fairly.