Introduction
When you’re preparing for a move, one of the earliest questions is whether you’ll get a binding vs non-binding estimate. Both have pros and cons: binding estimates give you price certainty, while non-binding estimates allow flexibility but risk higher costs on move day.
Another question movers often ask is whether they need to do an in-home survey or a virtual survey to create your estimate. Both approaches help movers understand what’s being transported, but they take time — and if you miss items, you risk surprise charges.
That’s where Movana comes in. Our AI-powered platform lets you quickly inventory everything in your home using just your phone. You can then share that digital inventory with multiple movers, helping them create more accurate binding or non-binding estimates without repeat walkthroughs.
Binding vs Non-Binding Estimate Explained
Binding Estimate — price locked in
A binding estimate guarantees the price of your move based on the inventory and services listed in the contract. Movers cannot raise the price later (unless you add extra items or services not included in the original scope). (fmcsa.dot.gov)
- Pros: Predictable cost, no surprises at delivery, easier budgeting.
- Cons: If your load ends up being lighter, you don’t save money. Adding items may require a new agreement.
💡 How Movana helps: By providing movers with a precise digital inventory, you avoid under- or overestimates. This makes binding estimates more reliable and reduces disputes about “what was included.”
Non-Binding Estimate — flexible, but variable cost
A non-binding estimate is essentially a mover’s best guess. The final cost depends on the actual weight and services on move day. Movers cannot demand more than 110% of the estimate at delivery for listed items, but anything extra can be billed later. (fmcsa.dot.gov)
- Pros: Lower initial quote, more flexible if your inventory changes.
- Cons: Greater risk of final costs being higher than expected.
💡 How Movana helps: When you use Movana to capture every item in advance, movers’ non-binding estimates get closer to the real cost. Even if you adjust your list later, you can resend updates instantly, giving movers a clearer picture.
Binding-Not-to-Exceed Estimates — the middle ground
Some movers offer a binding-not-to-exceed estimate (or “guaranteed not to exceed”), which caps your cost at the quoted amount but allows you to pay less if the weight or volume comes in under.
💡 How Movana helps: By using our app’s inventory feature, you minimize the chance of surprises. Movers are more comfortable offering not-to-exceed contracts because they trust the accuracy of the data you provide.
In-Home vs Virtual Surveys
Why movers conduct surveys
Traditionally, movers schedule in-home surveys to walk through your rooms, check furniture, and note obstacles like stairs or elevators. Today, many companies offer virtual surveys through video calls or apps. Both are meant to improve estimate accuracy.
But surveys take time, and if you’re getting quotes from multiple movers, you might need to repeat the process several times.
💡 How Movana helps: With Movana, you can skip repetitive surveys. Our app creates a clean, shareable inventory — complete with photos and itemized lists — that you can send to as many movers as you like. This makes in-home and virtual surveys faster, or in some cases, unnecessary.
In-Home Survey
- Best for: Complex moves, large households, or when movers need to assess tricky access points.
- Pros: Very accurate, catches details like stairwells, door frames, parking.
- Cons: Time-consuming, needs scheduling, usually only one mover at a time.
Virtual Survey
- Best for: Busy households, long-distance moves, or when time is short.
- Pros: Convenient, can be done remotely, saves scheduling time.
- Cons: Accuracy depends on what you show; movers can only price what they see.
💡 Movana Advantage: Whether you choose in-home or virtual, Movana helps by giving movers a baseline digital inventory before the walkthrough. That way, nothing gets missed — and your estimates are closer to reality.
Pros, Cons & Best Use Cases
Binding Estimate + Movana
Best when: you need certainty.
- No surprise price hikes
- Easier to budget
- Movers rely on your Movana inventory to create precise, binding quotes
Non-Binding Estimate + Movana
Best when: your inventory is changing.
- Lower initial quotes
- Flexibility to add/remove items
- Updated Movana lists help keep movers aligned
Binding-Not-to-Exceed + Movana
Best when: you want both protection and flexibility.
- Guaranteed ceiling, possible savings
- Inventory precision from Movana makes movers more willing to offer this option
How Movana Streamlines Estimates
- Quick inventory capture — Use your phone to scan items room by room.
- Centralized digital list — Movana organizes your belongings clearly.
- Share with movers — Send your list to multiple movers at once.
- Accurate estimates — Movers give better binding or non-binding quotes because they know exactly what you have.
- Reduced disputes — With a verified list, you avoid arguments about forgotten items.
This saves time, prevents underestimates, and gives movers more confidence in their pricing.
Conclusion
The difference between a binding vs non-binding estimate matters, and so does the choice between an in-home surveyand a virtual walkthrough. Each has strengths, but accuracy is everything — and that’s where Movana gives you an edge.
By creating a detailed digital inventory, Movana ensures movers have the information they need to give reliable quotes, whether binding or not. You save time, avoid surprise costs, and make the process smoother from start to finish.
👉 Ready to simplify your next move? Download Movana today on Google Play and Apple App Store.
