Overview
Moving is sold by the volume and the distance, and the survey is the line that decides whether the quote holds on the day
Moving companies handle residential and commercial relocations: house moves, flat moves, office relocations, individual furniture removals, sometimes the long-distance and international work that adds shipping, customs, and storage to the mix. The customer is rarely an expert at estimating their own move: they underestimate the volume of belongings, the loading time, the access at both ends, and the inevitable last-minute additions on moving day. The cost shape is part labour (the team size and the hours), part vehicle (the truck or trucks), and part the materials (packing supplies, blankets, straps). A flat 'house move, $1,200' quote without the survey, the volume estimate, and the access plan misses what the move actually costs.
QuoteGenio gives moving companies a quoting shape built for the variable trade. Pre-move survey (in-person or video walkthrough) as the first line, volume estimate in cubic metres, team size and hours, vehicle size and number of journeys, packing service as a separately priced option, materials (boxes, bubble wrap, tape, blankets) at supplier or included rate, dismantling and reassembly of furniture, insurance cover named, and any storage or short-term holding as a separate record. Send via WhatsApp or email to the customer with the survey notes, take a deposit at booking, raise the balance on moving day, and the final invoice closes with the items delivered and the inventory signed off.
Who it is for
Who uses QuoteGenio
Built for every type of moving and relocation business.
The problem
The quoting headaches every mover knows
Moving quotes are won and lost on speed. The first clean quote a customer sees usually books the job.
Quotes lost to faster movers
Customers shop three or four movers in one afternoon. If your quote takes a day, the booking is gone before you reply.
WhatsApp guesses look unprofessional
A typed message saying 'about R14,048' loses to a competitor who sends a branded PDF with truck size, hours, and floor count itemised.
Underquoting eats your margin
Without lines for stairs, long carries, packing materials, and fuel, surprise costs on moving day come out of your pocket, not the customer's.
The fix
QuoteGenio fixes the moving quote workflow
A fast, structured workflow built around the way movers actually quote. From the truck, on the phone, between jobs.
The payoff
What you get with QuoteGenio
The everyday wins that add up across a year of quoting and invoicing.
Built for movers
Line items for truck size, crew, hours, distance, floor count, packing materials, and insurance. Everything a moving quote needs.
Quote from your phone
Build and send a quote from the cab between jobs. No laptop, no delay. Just your phone and the customer's brief.
Quote in under 2 minutes
A structured workflow that gets you from enquiry to sent quote before the customer has even called the next mover.
Invoice on moving day
Convert the accepted quote to an invoice the day of the move. Add any extra hours or stairs, and email or WhatsApp the invoice from the truck.
Built for your trade
Quoting calibrated to how moving companies actually work
Pick your trade in Settings and the entire quote flow switches to fit. Line item presets, compliance fields, on-the-quote calculators, and per-m² / after-hours pricing all change to match your industry.
Trade-specific line items
Quick add picker pre-fills the common items your trade quotes. Skip the blank rows.
Brand-specific catalogues
Pylontech, Hikvision, Canadian Solar, Sunsynk and others pre-named. Pick the brand, the description writes itself.
Compliance fields built in
IOPSA, ECASA, PIRB, PSIRA, NHBRC, SAQCC. Set once. Every quote prints them under FROM.
Registration expiry alerts
Dashboard notification 60 days before your PSIRA, CoC or any dated registration lapses.
Per-m² / hour / day billing
Unit selector on every line item: m², hr, linear m, days. Stop doing the maths externally.
After-hours and emergency
1.5× and 2× multipliers as a one-tap toggle. Customer sees the breakdown on the quote.
Quote-flow calculators
Solar size, battery backup, cable run cost. Compute on the spot, drop straight onto the quote.
Staged payments
Deposit on acceptance + balance on completion as two separate amounts on the quote PDF.
Scope-of-work checklist
Structured Included / Not included lists. Client acceptance = signing the scope.
Site-survey mode
Log a location per line item: camera positions, fixtures by room, sensors by zone.
Regional rate hints
Pricing ranges per item per currency shown as you quote.
Free on every plan
All of the above included on the free plan. Premium is for capacity, not the trade tooling.
Why QuoteGenio
Why Moving Companies choose QuoteGenio
The tools that matter most when you are quoting on-site, under pressure, and between jobs.
Quote from your phone
Most Moving Companies build and send quotes directly from the job site. No laptop, no office, no delays.
Win more jobs, faster
The first professional quote a client receives usually wins. Respond in minutes, not hours.
Quote to invoice in one click
When the job is accepted, convert to an invoice instantly. No retyping, no double entry.
Pricing guide
Typical Moving Companies job pricing
A rough guide to what moving companies charge for typical jobs. Pricing varies by city, distance, season (peak summer is busiest), and whether the move is residential or commercial. Use these as a benchmark when building your own rate card, not as fixed numbers.
| Job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Small van (1-bed apartment, local) | R1,240 - R2,479 |
| Mid truck (2-bed home, local) | R2,975 - R5,289 |
| Large truck (4-bed home, local) | R4,628 - R7,933 |
| Long-distance (per km, mid truck) | R36 - R79 |
| Stair carry surcharge (per flight) | R578 - R1,405 |
| Packing materials (full 3-bed home) | R3,636 - R7,933 |
| Office relocation (mid-size, per truck) | R14,048 - R36,359 |
Pricing converted from USD to ZAR at indicative rates. Rates vary significantly by country, region, currency, and market.
Call-out fees
A call-out and assessment fee covers your time to visit the home, walk through the inventory, and price the move accurately. Most movers charge R1,240 to R2,479 for an in-home survey on larger jobs, refundable against the booking. For smaller moves a video walk-through is usually free. Show the survey fee on the quote so customers see your effort is real work.
Hourly vs fixed pricing
Use hourly pricing for local moves where the time on site varies by access and customer readiness. Use fixed pricing for long-distance and office moves where the scope is known. Add separate lines for stair carries, long carries, packing materials, and insurance so surprise costs do not come out of your margin on moving day.
See it in action
Example quote breakdown
Here is what a clean, itemised local moving quote looks like for a typical 3-bed home. Notice how every cost is visible: hours, travel, stairs, materials, insurance, fuel. Transparent quotes win bookings because they answer every question before the customer has to ask the next mover.
Try it yourself
Job size
Region
Sample quote
Local home move, 3-bed house, mid truck and 3 crew
Mid truck and 3-person crew (per hour)
Travel time (depot to depot)
Stair carry surcharge (1st floor flat at origin)
Packing materials (boxes, tape, paper, blankets)
Transit insurance (standard cover)
Fuel surcharge
| Description | Qty | Rate | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid truck and 3-person crew (per hour) | 6 | R4,049 / hr | R24,295 |
| Travel time (depot to depot) | 1.5 | R4,049 / hr | R6,074 |
| Stair carry surcharge (1st floor flat at origin) | 1 | R1,074 | R1,074 |
| Packing materials (boxes, tape, paper, blankets) | 1 | R4,710 | R4,710 |
| Transit insurance (standard cover) | 1 | R1,570 | R1,570 |
| Fuel surcharge | 1 | R1,240 | R1,240 |
| Subtotal | R38,962 | ||
| Tax (10%) | R3,896 | ||
| Total incl. tax | R42,859 | ||
Totals recalculate as you change the controls above. Tax rate inferred from the sample quote.
Items often forgotten
Travel time depot-to-depot, stair and long carry surcharges, packing materials, transit insurance, fuel surcharge, parking permits in city centres, dismantling and reassembly of beds and wardrobes, and the disposal of old furniture if requested. Add these as standing lines on your moving quote template.
Peer snapshot
How Moving Companies actually use QuoteGenio
Indicative activity for Moving Companies on the platform. Use it as a benchmark for how often to quote and how fast to respond.
34
Quotes sent per month
54%
Average quote acceptance
2 min
Median time to send quote
R42,859
Typical quote value
Figures are indicative platform averages for this trade segment.
Start quoting Moving Companie jobs like this, free
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Avoid these
Common quoting mistakes
We talk to a lot of moving companies. The same quoting and pricing mistakes come up again and again. Fix these and you protect your margin, win more bookings, and stop arguing with customers on the day of the move.
Mistake: Quoting an all-in flat fee with no breakdown
Better: Itemise truck, crew, hours, materials, and insurance. Customers comparing three quotes pick the one they can understand, not the lowest blind number.
Mistake: Forgetting travel time depot-to-depot
Better: The clock starts when the truck leaves your depot, not when it arrives at the customer. Quote travel time as a separate line so the customer knows you are not free for the drive.
Mistake: Skipping stair carry and long carry surcharges
Better: List a per-flight or per-metre surcharge upfront. Negotiating it on moving day with the homeowner standing there never goes well.
Mistake: No insurance line on the quote
Better: Quote standard transit insurance as a line so the customer knows what is covered. Offering an upgrade to full-value insurance on the same quote also lifts your average ticket.
Mistake: Underestimating hours on multi-storey moves
Better: A 3-bed home with stairs takes 30 to 50 percent longer than a 3-bed bungalow. Quote a realistic hour range and explain the variables, rather than promising a tight number you cannot hit.
Mistake: No after-hours or weekend premium
Better: Friday afternoons, weekends, and end-of-month dates are peak demand. Quote a 1.2x to 1.5x premium for these slots so the price reflects the demand.
Mistake: No expiry on the quote
Better: Set a 7 to 14 day validity. Diesel and crew availability move week-to-week, and you do not want to honour a quote from six weeks ago at a loss.
Mistake: No follow-up after sending the quote
Better: Most quotes that don't close, don't close because nobody followed up. Send a polite check-in 48 hours after the quote lands, and a second nudge at day 7. Two of every three accepted quotes get there because someone followed up.
Step by step
How to quote moving jobs
Run an in-home survey or a structured video walk-through before you price anything beyond a small van load. Count the rooms, note the floor at origin and destination (stairs or lift), check the parking distance from the truck stop to the front door, and ask about oversized items (pianos, gym equipment, wardrobes that will not clear a stairwell). Photograph the goods-lift dimensions on apartment blocks and the driveway turning circle on houses, because a truck that cannot reach the front adds a long-carry surcharge you need to price upfront. Confirm the date flexibility, because Friday afternoons, weekends, and end-of-month slots are peak demand and carry a 1.2x to 1.5x premium that customers accept when you explain the supply pressure on those dates.
Itemise the quote so the customer sees every cost before moving day. Show truck size and crew as an hourly line (for example 'mid truck and 3 crew at $ 245 per hour'), then add depot-to-depot travel time as a separate line because the clock starts when the truck leaves your depot, not when it arrives. Include stair carry surcharges per flight, packing materials as a line (boxes, tape, paper, blankets) even on self-packing jobs where you supply the blankets, transit insurance as a standard line with declared value, and a fuel surcharge tied to the current diesel rate. For office relocations add the after-hours premium line openly because most run nights and weekends. A 7 to 14 day quote validity matches the speed at which customers actually book.
Take a 20 to 30 percent booking deposit to confirm the date, especially on peak weekends, because movers who do not take deposits lose 10 to 20 percent of bookings to no-shows. State the cancellation policy on the quote (for example 'deposit non-refundable within 14 days of move date') so the customer accepts it in writing when they book. For long-distance moves and international removals always quote fixed-price with a clear scope rather than hourly, because customers cannot absorb hourly creep across multi-day moves. Diesel prices move week to week, so a 7 to 14 day validity protects you from honouring a quote at a loss three weeks later. On office moves state that out-of-hours access fees and building manager cover are variations if the brief changes.
Send the quote while the customer is still at the kitchen table on a home survey, or within 30 minutes of a phone enquiry on smaller jobs. Moving customers shop three or four firms in one afternoon, and the first clean branded PDF with itemised hours, stairs, and insurance almost always books the job even if the price is not the cheapest. Share the quote as a WhatsApp link from the cab between jobs, and follow up with a short friendly message after two or three days if you have not heard back. On moving day, convert the accepted quote to an invoice from the truck, add any extra hours or stair carries incurred on the day, and send the invoice before you drive back to depot so payment is triggered that evening rather than waiting for the customer to chase you for paperwork.
FAQ
Common questions from moving companies
Everything you need to know before getting started.
Yes. Each line item has its own description, quantity, and rate. Quote 'mid truck and 3 crew' at an hourly rate, then add hours, travel, materials, and insurance as separate lines. The total calculates automatically.
Yes. Once your quote is ready, share it as a link via WhatsApp. Your customer gets a professional branded document instantly. Most movers reply to enquiries with a WhatsApp quote in under 5 minutes and book significantly more jobs.
Add them as separate line items with a per-flight or per-metre rate. List them on every quote even if the surcharge is zero, so the customer understands when extras would apply on the day.
Yes. Every quote has a unique public link. Your customer opens it on their phone and accepts online. No signup required.
Yes. Convert the accepted quote to an invoice with one click. Add any extra hours or stair surcharges incurred on the day, and email or WhatsApp the invoice from the truck before you leave.
Yes. The free plan gives you 5 quotes and 2 invoices per month with no credit card required. Upgrade to Premium for unlimited quotes, invoices, statements, and reports.
Use hourly pricing for local moves where the time on site varies by access, stairs, and how packed the customer is when you arrive. Use fixed pricing for long-distance moves and office relocations where the scope is well-defined upfront. State clearly on the quote which method you are using and what triggers extra hours.
Quote a per-km rate for the long-haul leg plus crew hours at each end for loading and unloading. Add fuel surcharge, overnight accommodation if the move spans two days, and transit insurance. Long-distance quotes should always be fixed-price with a clear scope so the customer is not surprised by hourly creep across multiple days.
Yes. A 20 to 30 percent deposit at booking confirms the date and protects you against last-minute cancellations on peak weekends. State the deposit terms on the quote so the customer agrees in writing when they accept. Movers who do not take deposits lose 10 to 20 percent of bookings to no-shows in peak season.
Office moves are typically quoted as fixed-price for the truck and crew time, plus separate lines for after-hours premium (most office moves run nights and weekends), packing materials, and IT decommission and recommission if you offer it. Site survey is essential on office moves to get the inventory right; never quote an office move from a phone call alone.
Still have questions? We would rather answer them now than after you have signed up.
Pricing benchmark
What do moving companies charge in 2026?
Hourly rates by region, common job prices, a worked sample quote, and the FAQs customers actually ask. The complete pricing reference for moving companies.
Typical hourly
$80-$280/hr
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Reviews
Trusted by tradespeople
Real feedback from people who quote for a living.
"My quotes look a lot more professional now. Clients take them seriously and I spend less time formatting documents."
Megan Daniels
Interior Designer · Birmingham
"Quoting per square metre used to take me forever. I have templates set up now that cover lawn, pavers, and planting separately. Cuts my admin in half."
Nathan Walsh
Landscaper · Melbourne
"I used to forget to follow up on quotes. Now I can see what has been viewed, approved, or still pending. Makes my workflow much easier."
Brandon Daniels
Installer · Paris
Guides
Guides for Moving Companies
Practical advice to help you quote better, get paid faster, and grow your business.
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