Written by: Kate Becker
Date:

The moving contract may come in handy. It really can. It is something you need in order to ensure your and the safety of your belongings. And that is what matters the most. Even when you need to hire a local moving company, it is important. When organizing a long distance move, there is no way you should even try thinking about moving without having a binding moving contract. It is necessary for both you and your moving company to know what to expect from each other and have it all printed and sealed. But, if you are wondering what are the elements of a valid moving contract, keep on reading and learn more about them! If you have any more questions, make sure to visit our platform. Verified Movers will be glad to offer a piece of advice when it comes to anything moving-related.

What is a moving contract?

When two individuals or entities reach an agreement regarding the course of business, they usually put it in a contract. And for a good reason. A moving contract protects both parties – the mover and the person looking for moving services. First things first – a moving contract is an agreement reached both by a mover and a party interested in hiring a mover for some help. There are two types of contracts – written and verbal ones. And even if a handshake deal sounds much easier, and in most cases is the only contract people have, it is really not your best choice. And for many reasons.

A person in a suit signing a contract
Make sure you know what are the elements of a valid moving contract before you sign anything

As we mentioned before, you need a moving contract for your own safety. And if something goes wrong, missing or ends up broken you won’t have any evidence. You not having any evidence of a moving contract won’t help you much in a court of law. That is exactly where a written moving contract comes in handy. In most cases, you won’t even need or use it. But, if you end up needing it – it is always better to have a written agreement in place. It is important to know that there are binding and non-binding contracts. Of course, when you come to the point to move with one of long distance moving companies Tennessee, for instance, a binding contract is all you should be thinking about, and the same really applies for moving with professionals from other states as well.

The difference between binding and non-binding contracts

The non-binding contract is something that is used in the first phase of your negotiations with a moving company. It doesn’t have all the elements of a valid moving contract, though it can also be written. When you contact a moving company, before you agree on anything, they give you a non-binding moving estimate. This means you can agree, talk and see all the terms and conditions, but you don’t want to make anything 100% sure.

On the other hand, a binding contract is signed by you and the moving company that is going to conduct your relocation. They can give you a binding moving estimate, which would mean that you agree with everything written there if you decide to sign it. On the other hand, your moving company also has some obligations. For example, once you have a binding contract, there should be no extra charges. You pay only the price you both agreed on.

A person giving another person a pen to sign a contract after getting familiar with elements of a valid moving contract
Both parties should agree on all the aspects of the contract

What are the elements of a valid moving contract and how to know which documents you can sign?

The agreement you have reached with your mover must be valid, or a court won’t have the power to enforce it. That is the main difference between binding and non-binding contracts, as we have already said. But, what are the elements of a valid moving contract? How can you recognize the elements and make sure you don’t sign anything that can do you harm later? Well, keep reading and find out what to look for in a document before you put your name at the bottom of a page. The most important elements of a moving contract are:

  • Offering
  • Consideration
  • Acceptance
  • Legal purpose.

Offering

Not everything is considered a contract. So, if you call your mover and ask for something – just talking about it isn’t actually an offer. A party must offer something in order for a contract to be valid. That something can be a service, material goods, or else. But it must be something that a service provider offers to another party in exchange for something else. And that something can be money. Or material goods. Or even another type of service. However, an offering must be made in order for a contract to be valid.

Of course, not everything that is offered will be out on a document and you won’t make every word you and a moving company said during your conversation legally binding. However, you must know exactly what a moving company offers and what to expect from them. That is the only way there won’t be surprises even if you put everything on paper. You need to know how to negotiate with interstate movers and ask all of the questions that come to your mind. Only when you are completely sure that is what you want, you can move on to other elements of a legal moving contract.

Two people shaking hands
A non-binding contract can’t be enforced by law

Consideration

Consideration is the value that will make a party engage in the moving contract. That value can be another service, material goods, or money. But, you’ll need to pay your mover somehow. And that is what consideration is. Every contract must be supported by consideration in order to make all the other elements of a moving contract valid. In this case, consideration is the amount of money you will have to pay your mover to get a wanted moving service. However, you need to be careful when it comes to the amount and the choice of words. Before you sign anything, see whether all the fees are part of a contract, or if there can be some additional charges later on. Only when you fully understand what is going to be charged and how you should sign a contract and make it legal.

All parties must understand and accept all terms

Both you and a mover of your choice must understand and agree to all the terms. Also, both parties must accept the offer and consideration offered in return. This rule is at the core of every valid moving contract. No matter if you are planning on making a long distance move or looking for packing services, this rule stands. It is also important that everything written on a contract be specific. Vague terms that later on can be interpreted in more than a one way should be avoided by all means. There must be no room for mistakes.

The contract must have a legal purpose

Every contract must have a legal purpose. In a broader sense, this means no law will be broken by any party included in the contract. Or, in other words, you and a moving company can’t make a contract in which you agree on mutual breaking of law. In that case, the contract is not legal, even if it is signed regularly by both parties. For instance, you can’t ask from a moving company to transfer stolen goods. Make sure to respect every part of the law when signing a contract for a move.

Focus on
There mustn’t be an agreement of breaking the law, or the contract can’t be valid

These are some basic elements of a valid moving contract you should be aware of. Always. Your safety and the safety of your belongings come first. No matter what. It is just the way things are and should be. So, think about that before looking for a cheap mover. However, an affordable moving company doesn’t always mean that the quality of the service will be bad. It just can be a moving red flag, because a relocation can’t be extremely cheap, and different moving companies that offer similar services can’t have a huge difference in their prices. If that happens, you are most likely experiencing a moving scam.

A person reading elements of a valid moving contract
Always read the fine print too

Moving doesn’t have to be so expensive but extremely cheap services are not a good sign

One of the ways you would recognize a fraudulent company is its reluctance to sign a binding contract. Actually, signing a valid moving contract can save you a large amount of money. And it will all pay off in the end. How? Well, it will help you avoid moving scams. And if something goes wrong, damaged, or ends up lost or broken – you always have the law by your side. And besides a reliable moving company on your team, you can’t have anyone better there than the law. It will protect you from potential moving scams and fraudulent movers. Not to mention accidents. So – think about signing that contract once more. But, give it some time to think well.

Don’t skip reading the fine print

This step matters. You need to know what is it that you are signing before you actually do it. Read the whole contract. Evaluate every word. Are there all elements of a valid moving contract? Is it reliable? Does it cover every aspect of your move? Because it should. It should protect both parties – you and your mover. And if it all checks out, you can sign it.

A pwrson signing a document
With the right moving company, signing the contract is safe

Getting a valid moving contract is natural with the right company

By finding a reliable mover you can trust, you will have a great deal of your relocation process finished. It is that easy. It doesn’t matter if you are moving long distances to Alabama or Alaska or anywhere else- there are many moving companies on the market. And most of them really are trustworthy and will offer you a contract that contains all elements of a valid moving contract. All you have to do is to find yourself such a company. Feel free to use our database, and we are more than confident that you will find a mover that satisfies all your needs sooner than you think. So, wait no more and give it a go! There is no need for you to waste any of your precious time. The sooner you start preparing for your upcoming move, the better. So, how about now? It sounds right!