Getting a moving quote can seem straightforward at first, but the details behind the quote can matter just as much as the price itself. A full-service long distance mover that provides a quote should include a real survey of your belongings, specific valuation coverage, whether the price is binding, and a named point of contact. If your quote is missing any of these, you are not seeing the full picture of what your move will cost, or how it will go.
For almost 100 years, National Van Lines has helped generations of families make long distance moves. In nearly a century of business, we’ve seen the industry change in various ways, including how you receive a quote, and the details it needs to include. Keep reading to learn more about what you should know when it comes to getting a long distance moving quote, especially if you’re doing it digitally.
Why Long Distance Moving Quotes Are Often Built Remotely
Before the advent of the internet and more modern technology, getting a moving quote for your long distance move once meant having a moving company representative walk through your home and take notes.
Now, with smartphones, tablets and webcams, both customers and moving company staff can enjoy an easier, more convenient survey process. Between 2024 and now, about seven in 10 National Van Lines quotes were built from a virtual survey, using a smartphone video walkthrough, a phone call, or a remote AI-assisted tool.
If you do prefer that someone come to your home for a walkthrough, National Van Lines will be happy to arrange it. However, we encourage our customers to give this convenient method a try. Our MovePro coordinators are trained to make the estimate process go smoothly.
No matter how you complete the survey, getting your quote in writing gives you a record of the inventory, the services you’ll need, and other factors used to reach the estimate. Understanding why getting your quote in writing matters can also help you review its details before booking and avoid any confusion later.
5 Signs Your Long Distance Moving Quote Is Missing Something
At National Van Lines we understand that sometimes “life happens,” and that you might not remember everything you need to show in a survey. Maybe you missed a room, or that pesky crawlspace. Or, maybe you forgot about a valuable or large piece of furniture that needs extra care or protection. These factors will affect your final price because they affect your shipment’s weight and logistics.
Here’s a quick list of the top 5 things that are usually missing from a quote.
1. The Survey Did Not Cover Every Room
If your video call or phone conversation skipped the garage, attic, or a closet full of things you plan to pack, your quote is working from an incomplete picture. To account for all the items you’re planning to move, first walk through every space that you have, including areas that feel insignificant.
2. Valuation Coverage Is Not Mentioned
A quote should tell you what happens if something gets damaged in handling or transit. If valuation coverage is not mentioned at all, ask about it directly before you book.
3. It Does Not Say if the Price Is Binding
Binding, non-binding, and “not-to-exceed” estimates all work differently. Your quote should tell you which type you’re looking at, and what could cause the price to change if the estimate is not binding. Understanding how to compare long distance moving quotes can help you see how binding, non-binding and not-to-exceed estimates work before you book.
4. Services Are Listed Without Detail
Packing, stairs, long carries from the truck to your door, as well as storage needs should all be spelled out. A quote that just indicates “labor” or “additional services” without explaining what it covers does not give you the full picture.
5. There Is No One to Follow Up With
A complete quote comes with a name and a way to reach that person. If you cannot determine who to call with questions, you’ll want to ask about that before you move forward.
If you realize that your quote is missing something, call us! Our MovePro team is happy to help you update a quote at any time to make sure it includes every detail of your move. This helps you avoid surprises on moving day when you go to pay. It also helps us tell our crew how to best prepare for your unique circumstances.
If you are comparing quotes only by the number on the bottom line, you might miss the bigger question. Did the company actually walk through your move with you? A lower number built on a rushed or incomplete survey can turn into a higher final cost. A clear, detailed quote gives you a much better idea of what your move will actually involve.
How National Van Lines Builds a Complete Quote
National Van Lines has been helping families move long distance since 1929, and that experience shapes how the company approaches the quote process today, whether in person or remotely. Here’s a quick overview of how we build our quotes:
- We get your details and conduct the virtual survey. We’ll collect details like your name, address, move dates and shipment details. We’ll also estimate your shipment’s weight, which is the single biggest factor in determining the price of a move. This is the step where a detail can slip through on a video call, so we ask direct questions about every room, rather than relying on what the camera happens to catch.
- We confirm extra services or resources you’ll need. Are you adding valuation or protection options? Do you need special crating for some items, or short-term storage while your shipment is in transit? Knowing these factors will help us be more precise about the final quote.
- We build a quote based on your information, plus standard charges. Your final quote should include what you’ve already read about, plus payment terms and the type of estimate you’re getting.
Because National Van Lines is employee-owned, the people working on your moving quote are personally invested in making sure it’s accurate from the start. This accountability is there for all moving surveys via phone call, video call and in-person visit.
“A video call can show us almost everything an in-person visit can, but only if we ask the right questions. Our team is trained to walk through every room on that call, not just the ones the customer points the camera at first. That extra step is what keeps a quote accurate, whether we’re doing the survey by video, by phone or in person.”
— Dick Scaffa, Director of Sales and Agency
Get a Complete Long Distance Moving Quote From National Van Lines
Moving quotes used to demand having someone in your living room with a clipboard. Today, long distance quotes may be built by video, phone or in person. No matter how your survey is completed, it helps to understand what a complete quote should include before you book your move.
Ready to learn what a thorough quote looks like for your own move? Call 800-323-1962 or request a free quote from National Van Lines to see what your long distance move will actually involve.
