If you’ve ever requested multiple commercial moving bids and thought, “How are these numbers so far apart?” — you’re not alone.
It happens all the time:
- One quote looks detailed and expensive
- One quote looks simple and cheap
- One quote lands somewhere in the middle
And now the pressure is on to pick the “best value”… without risking your business, your timeline, or your reputation.
Here’s the truth:
- A cheaper bid isn’t automatically wrong.
- A higher bid isn’t automatically better.
But big gaps between bids should never be ignored.
This guide will help you compare competing commercial moving quotes the right way — and avoid the most common trap: choosing a low number that turns into a high-cost mess.
1. Make Sure the Quotes Are Truly Apples to Apples
The #1 reason bids don’t match is simple: they aren’t quoting the same scope.
Some movers provide a detailed, itemized proposal that outlines labor, materials, supervision, special handling, and scheduling assumptions. Other movers give a single flat price with minimal detail.
When a quote is “lighter,” it’s often missing things that are easy to overlook until move day — when it’s too late.
Common scope gaps include:
- Manpower assumptions (crew size and hours)
- Overtime vs. regular time
- Disassembly and reassembly
- IT disconnect/reconnect support
- Cable management and workstation setup
- Packing materials (shrink wrap, pads, cartons, labels)
- Floor and wall protection
- Crates or specialty carts
- Valuation protection and liability coverage
- After-hours requirements
- Dump runs, recycling, and debris removal
If it’s not clearly included, it’s probably not included.
2. Understand What “Normal” Bid Ranges Look Like
In most commercial moves, you’ll see bids cluster within a fairly tight range.
- A 5–10% spread is normal.
- A 20–40% gap is not normal. If one bid is drastically cheaper, it’s a red flag that demands investigation.
3. Don’t Automatically Disqualify the Highest or Lowest Bid
The lowest bid may be missing the real work. The highest bid might be the only one pricing reality.
The right approach: ask both bidders to justify their number.
4. Ask Every Mover: “What Assumptions Did You Build This Quote On?”
Ask each bidder to confirm their assumptions about:
- Hours per day
- Crew size
- Trucks
- Access
- Dock distance
- Time restrictions
- Whether the office is packed or furniture disassembled
5. Schedule Matters More Than Most People Think
A commercial move is a production schedule. Cheaper labor isn’t cheaper when your business loses productivity.
6. Supervision and Project Management Are Not Optional
Commercial relocations fail because nobody is controlling the sequence. A professional mover should provide a move plan, labeling standards, and on-site leadership.
7. Protection and Risk Control Is Where Cheap Bids Hide Real Costs
If protection isn’t included, the mover isn’t saving you money — they’re shifting risk onto you.
8. Compare What Happens After the Move — Not Just During the Move
Ask who owns rework and punch-list work. The cost of the move isn’t the move — it’s the recovery.
9. Change Orders: The Silent Profit Strategy
Before signing, confirm what triggers change orders and what hourly rates apply if the job runs long.
10. A Simple Commercial Moving Bid Comparison Checklist
- Crew size and estimated hours
- Overtime vs. straight time
- Trucks included
- Disassembly/reassembly included
- Packing materials included
- Floor and wall protection
- Supervision/foreman included
- IT handling plan
- Cable management responsibility
- Valuation protection and liability explained
- Timeline expectations
- Rework/punch-list responsibility
- Change order policy defined
Final Thought: The Best Bid Isn’t the Lowest — It’s the Most Defensible
Businesses don’t hire movers for movement — they hire movers for predictable end results.
Need Help Reviewing Your Commercial Moving Bids?
Main Street Commercial Moving provides commercial relocation planning, labor modeling, and professional execution designed to keep your business running — without costly surprises.
