Fixed price in writing for a move: what it means and why it prevents surprises

Almost every move that ends in an argument starts the same way: one figure was discussed at booking, and a different one appeared on the invoice. It is rarely bad faith. Usually what was agreed was an indicative quote, not a fixed price in writing — and nobody explained the difference.

This guide covers what separates the two, which items have to be recorded before the van arrives, and how to compare two offers that look identical at first sight.

An indicative quote and a fixed price are not the same thing

An indicative quote is an estimate. It is calculated from what the customer describes over the phone and recalculated at the end, using the actual hours and cubic metres. That is a legitimate starting point, but the final amount is only known once the work is done, with no room left to renegotiate anything.

A fixed price in writing is a commitment. It is calculated from a specific inventory and specific conditions, delivered signed before the work begins, and it does not change as long as those conditions do not change. The practical difference is who carries the risk of the job taking longer than expected: with an indicative quote the customer does, with a fixed price the company does. That is why a fixed price usually starts slightly higher and ends up cheaper.

What must be in writing before the work starts

A fixed price that does not describe what it covers is not a fixed price. As a minimum it has to state:

The inventory or the contracted volume, in cubic metres or number of items. If it only says “three-bedroom flat move”, nothing has been fixed.
Both addresses with their floor and whether there is a lift, and whether the lift takes furniture or only people. This is the detail most often omitted and the one that most often pushes the price up.
The carrying distance: how many metres separate the entrance from the van at each end. A pedestrian street or restricted loading changes the calculation.
The date and the time slot, and what happens if the customer postpones.
Which services are included: dismantling and reassembly, packing, materials, removal of boxes, carrying up stairs or using a lift platform.
The insurance cover and its maximum amount, not just the word “insured”.
Whether VAT is included. A 21 % difference is exactly the margin that separates two offers that looked the same.

What can legitimately change a fixed price

A fixed price is not a blank cheque in reverse either: some circumstances legitimately alter it. What matters is that they are written down in advance with an amount attached, rather than appearing on moving day:

furniture turns up that was not on the inventory;
an address, a floor or the date changes;
the lift breaks down, or the council does not grant the parking reservation;
an extra service is requested on the spot (last-minute packing, an additional drop-off).

If the contract lists these cases with their price, it is still a fixed price. If it says “surcharges may apply depending on circumstances”, it is not.

How to compare two quotes without getting it wrong

Comparing two bare figures is useless. What helps is putting them in the same table:

Convert everything to the final price including VAT.
Check that both cover the same volume and the same services. A quote without dismantling and reassembly does not compete with one that includes them.
Look at the insurance: a carrier’s minimum statutory liability and a policy with a specific sum insured per claim are not the same thing.
Ask how it was calculated. A figure given over the phone in two minutes, without seeing the volume or asking about the lift, cannot hold.
Be wary of the offer far below the rest. It almost always means that something the others include will be billed separately here.

How to get a reliable estimate without losing a day

The usual objection to a fixed price is that it forces you to receive a site visit. Not any more: a video walk-through or photos of each room, the hallway and the entrance are enough to close most household moves. An on-site visit still makes sense when there is a piano, a safe, artwork, custom-built furniture or difficult access.

This is how we work: you send the inventory over WhatsApp, we return the fixed written quote in under two hours during business hours. The starting rates for each type of home are published on the pricing page, and the detail of each service — packing, storage, offices, clearances — is on removals and transport in Asturias.

Questions worth asking before you sign

Is this amount fixed, or is it recalculated at the end?
What happens if the lift is out of order that day?
Are dismantling and reassembly included?
Up to what amount does the insurance respond, and what do I have to do to claim?
Are the crew employed by the company?
Is VAT included in this figure?

If all six answers are in writing, the price really is fixed. If any of them comes only verbally, that is exactly the one that will reappear on the invoice.

Where to go next, depending on what you need: removals in Oviedo, removals in Gijón, removals in Avilés or national removals from Asturias.