What a moving change order is for
Moves change on the day: the customer has not finished packing, adds a storage unit stop, or remembers the garage shelving. Writing the change down before doing it, with the added time and cost, keeps the end-of-day bill from becoming a fight. It also gives the crew lead a clear reason when the day runs long.
What to put on a moving change order
- The original estimate.
- What was added or changed.
- Added time, stops or materials.
- Credits.
- Approval before the extra work.
A worked example
On move day the bedrooms are not packed, the customer adds a stop at a storage unit, and decides to leave the patio set.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Packing labor, bedrooms not packed | 3 | hour | Your price |
| Second stop, storage unit | 1 | each | Your price |
| Credit: patio set not moved | -1 | each | Your price |
Get the signature before the crew starts packing. An unpacked house is the most common reason a move runs long.
Line items moving companies use
| Line item | Unit | How to write it |
|---|---|---|
| Movers and truck | hour | Crew size and truck size; say when the clock starts. |
| Travel time or trip fee | each | Time from your yard to the first stop and back. |
| Packing labor | hour | Full or partial packing. |
| Boxes and packing materials | each | By box size or as a bundle. |
| Furniture disassembly and reassembly | each | Beds, tables, cribs. |
| Piano or safe move | each | Specialty items with their own price. |
| Stairs or long carry | each | Walk-ups and long walks from truck to door. |
| Mattress bags and furniture pads | each | Protection for the move. |
| Storage, per month | month | If you hold items between homes. |
| Junk haul-away | load | Items left behind or not wanted. |
| Valuation coverage | each | The level of liability you accept for damaged items; explain the options. |
| Unpacking | hour | At the new home. |
Terms and deposit language for moving
- Deposit. A booking deposit holds the date and crew, especially on weekends and month ends.
- Payment. Balance due at the end of the move, before the truck leaves the new home.
- Warranty. State the liability coverage you provide for damage, how claims are made and by when. Explain the options plainly before the move.
- Hourly moves bill from the time stated to the time stated; say whether travel and breaks count.
- Valuables, cash, jewelry, medicine and hazardous items are moved by the customer.
- Interstate moves are governed by federal rules and need different paperwork; this template is for local moves.
How to fill it in
- Put in the original estimate number and amount.
- Write what changed in the reason box, plainly.
- Add the new work; type a minus quantity for any credit.
- Fill in the days added.
- Print it for a signature on site, or send it from Koira to sign by phone.
Free tools for moving
The same change order for other trades: appliance repair, auto detailing, carpet cleaning, chimney, house cleaning, commercial cleaning, concrete, drywall, electrical, fence, flooring, garage door, general contractor, gutter, handyman, hvac, irrigation, junk removal, landscaping, lawn care, locksmith, painting, pest control, plumbing, pool service, pressure washing, remodeling, roofing, septic, snow removal, solar, tree service, waterproofing, window cleaning.