Moving Terminology Explained: Common Moving Terms Every Homeowner Should Know

Ever felt lost during a conversation with your moving company because they’re using terms you’ve never heard before? You’re not alone. The moving industry has its own vocabulary, filled with specialized terminology that can leave first-time movers feeling confused and overwhelmed. Understanding common moving terms isn’t just about following conversations—it empowers you to make informed decisions, ask the right questions, compare quotes accurately, and ensure you’re getting exactly the services you need. Whether you’re planning a local move in Richmond, relocating across Vancouver, or moving anywhere in the Lower Mainland, knowing the language of professional movers helps you navigate the process with confidence. This comprehensive moving glossary explains the essential moving industry terms every homeowner should understand, from pricing structures and service types to logistics terminology and contract language that appears on your estimates and bills of lading.

Basic Moving Service Terms and Definitions

Understanding the fundamental types of moving services helps you determine which option best fits your needs and budget. These terms form the foundation of moving company terminology you’ll encounter when requesting quotes.

Local Move: A relocation within the same city or metropolitan area, typically within a 50 to 100 kilometre radius. Local moving services in Richmond generally charge by the hour rather than distance, making pricing more straightforward for moves within Vancouver, Burnaby, Surrey, Delta, and New Westminster. Local moves usually complete in a single day and don’t cross provincial boundaries.

Long-Distance Move: Any relocation that crosses provincial lines or exceeds the local radius, typically over 100 kilometres from your origin. Long-distance moving services involve different pricing structures, usually based on weight and distance rather than hourly rates. These moves require more planning, longer timelines, and different regulations than local relocations.

Intrastate Move: A move that stays within the same province but exceeds local moving radius. In British Columbia, this might mean moving from Richmond to Kelowna or Vancouver to Prince George. These moves fall between local and interprovincial in terms of complexity and pricing.

Full-Service Moving: Comprehensive moving assistance where professional movers handle every aspect of your relocation, including packing, loading, transportation, unloading, and unpacking. This represents the most hands-off moving experience, ideal for busy professionals, families, or anyone who wants to minimize stress and physical labour.

Self-Service Moving: A hybrid option where you handle packing and unpacking yourself while professionals handle loading, transportation, and unloading. This approach balances cost savings with professional expertise for the heavy lifting and logistics portions of your move.

White Glove Service: Premium moving assistance that goes beyond standard full-service moving to include extra care for high-value items, complete setup at your new home, furniture placement according to your specifications, and meticulous attention to every detail. This top-tier service is common for luxury homes, antiques, and clients who want the absolute highest level of care.

Pricing and Cost-Related Moving Terms

Understanding how moving companies structure their pricing helps you compare quotes accurately and avoid surprises on your final bill. These household moving vocabulary terms appear frequently on estimates and invoices.

Hourly Rate: The standard pricing method for local moves, calculated based on how many hours the crew works multiplied by the hourly charge. This rate typically includes the truck, crew labour, basic equipment, and fuel for local distances. Most moving companies in Vancouver have minimum hour requirements, usually two to four hours.

Flat Rate: A predetermined price for your entire move regardless of how long it takes, though the estimate assumes certain conditions. Flat rates provide cost certainty but may include clauses about additional charges if circumstances change significantly from the original estimate.

Binding Estimate: A guaranteed price that cannot increase even if the move takes longer or weighs more than anticipated, as long as you don’t add items or change the scope of work. This provides maximum cost certainty but may be slightly higher than non-binding estimates to account for potential variations.

Non-Binding Estimate: A price projection based on the estimated weight, distance, and services required, but the final cost can vary based on actual circumstances. This is common for long-distance moves where precise weight isn’t known until loading day. Final charges may be higher or lower than the estimate.

Not-to-Exceed Estimate: A hybrid that caps your maximum cost but allows for lower charges if the actual move requires less time or weight than estimated. This protects you from cost overruns while allowing potential savings.

Cubic Feet/Cubic Metres: Volume measurements used to calculate how much space your belongings occupy in the moving truck. One cubic metre equals approximately 35 cubic feet. Understanding volume helps you compare quotes and determine truck size requirements for your move.

Weight-Based Pricing: Common for long-distance moves, this charges based on the total weight of your belongings multiplied by the distance traveled. Professional movers typically weigh the truck empty, then again after loading to determine your shipment weight.

Accessorial Charges: Additional fees beyond the base moving rate for special services or circumstances. Understanding these potential extras helps you budget accurately and compare quotes fairly. Common accessorials include stair fees, long carry charges, shuttle services, and special handling for items like pianos.

Packing and Materials Terminology

Professional movers use specific terms when discussing packing services and materials. Knowing these helps you understand what’s included in packing services and what materials you might need if packing yourself.

Full Pack: Professional movers pack everything in your home, providing all materials and labour. This comprehensive service handles every room from kitchen dishes to bathroom toiletries, typically completed the day before or morning of your move.

Partial Pack: Movers pack specific rooms or items you designate, such as the kitchen, fragile items, or specialty belongings, while you handle packing other areas. This balances professional expertise for challenging items with cost savings for items you can easily pack yourself.

Custom Crating: Building wooden crates specifically designed for fragile, valuable, or oddly-shaped items like artwork, mirrors, antiques, or electronics. Custom crates provide maximum protection for items that can’t be adequately protected with standard packing materials.

Dish Pack/China Barrel: Specialized heavy-duty boxes with thick corrugated walls and dividers designed specifically for dishes, glassware, and other fragile kitchen items. These boxes provide extra protection beyond standard moving boxes.

Wardrobe Box: Tall boxes with a metal hanging bar inside, allowing you to transfer hanging clothes directly from your closet to the box without folding. This keeps clothes wrinkle-free and dramatically speeds up packing and unpacking your wardrobe.

Moving Blankets/Furniture Pads: Thick, quilted blankets used to wrap and protect furniture during the move. Professional movers wrap sofas, dressers, mattresses, and other large items in these protective pads, securing them with stretch wrap or tape.

Stretch Wrap/Shrink Wrap: Thick plastic film wrapped tightly around furniture and boxes to protect them from dirt, moisture, and damage. It also holds moving blankets in place and keeps drawers and doors closed during transport.

Bubble Wrap: Plastic sheeting with air-filled bubbles used to cushion fragile items like glassware, electronics, and decorative objects. Different bubble sizes provide varying levels of protection based on item fragility.

Moving Day Operations and Logistics Terms

These moving industry terms explained help you understand what’s happening on moving day and what various documents and processes mean.

Bill of Lading (BOL): The primary contract between you and your moving company that serves as a receipt for your belongings and outlines terms and conditions. This legally binding document lists your inventory, pick-up and delivery dates, services requested, and agreed-upon charges. Always read carefully before signing.

Inventory List: A detailed record of every item being moved, typically with condition notes. Professional movers create this during loading, assigning each item a number or label. This document protects both you and the moving company by documenting what was moved and its pre-move condition.

Shuttle Service: When the main moving truck cannot access your home due to narrow streets, low bridges, or restricted access, a smaller shuttle truck transfers your belongings between the large truck and your residence. This often occurs in downtown Vancouver high-rises or older neighbourhoods with narrow lanes.

Long Carry: When the distance from the truck to your door exceeds a certain threshold (typically 75 to 100 feet), additional fees may apply. This commonly affects apartment buildings without loading docks or homes with long driveways where trucks can’t get close to the entrance.

Flight Charge: Additional fees for moving items up or down stairs, charged per flight beyond a certain baseline (often the first flight is included). This applies to both origin and destination, so a third-floor apartment move involves charges at both locations.

Elevator Reserve/Booking: Many apartment and condo buildings require advance reservation of elevators for moving days. This ensures the elevator is held exclusively for your move, preventing conflicts with other residents and building operations. Failure to book can delay or prevent your move.

COI (Certificate of Insurance): A document proving your moving company carries appropriate liability and workers’ compensation insurance. Many buildings require this before allowing movers to work, and it protects you from liability if accidents occur during your move.

Delivery Spread: For long-distance moves, this refers to the window of time during which your belongings will be delivered. Rather than a specific date, you might receive a spread like “between May 15 and May 19,” allowing the moving company flexibility in route optimization.

Specialty Moving Services and Terms

Certain items and situations require specialized handling and come with their own terminology. Understanding these terms helps when you have unique moving needs.

Piano Moving: Specialized service for transporting pianos, which require specific equipment, trained personnel, and techniques. Piano moving services in Richmond use piano dollies, skid boards, and protective padding designed specifically for these delicate, heavy instruments.

Hoisting/Crane Service: When items cannot fit through doorways or stairwells, they’re lifted externally through windows or over balconies using hoisting equipment or cranes. This sometimes applies to large furniture, pianos, or appliances in multi-storey buildings.

Disassembly/Reassembly: Taking apart and putting back together furniture that won’t fit through doorways assembled, such as bed frames, large desks, or entertainment centres. Professional movers document the disassembly process to ensure correct reassembly at your destination.

Storage-in-Transit (SIT): Temporary warehouse storage of your belongings during a long-distance move when your new home isn’t ready for immediate delivery. This commonly occurs when closing dates don’t align or during corporate relocations with transition housing.

Valuation/Liability Coverage: The level of responsibility your moving company accepts for damaged or lost items. Basic liability is often included but provides minimal coverage (typically 60 cents per pound per item). Full-value protection costs extra but provides more comprehensive coverage.

Understanding Moving Quotes and Contracts

Knowing these terms helps you evaluate estimates and understand your contract before committing to a moving company.

In-Home Estimate: When a moving company representative visits your home to assess your belongings, discuss special requirements, and provide a detailed written quote. This produces the most accurate estimates compared to phone or online quotes, especially for larger homes.

Virtual Survey: A video call where you show a moving representative your home and belongings through your smartphone or computer camera. This has become increasingly popular and provides more accuracy than phone estimates without requiring an in-person visit.

Cube Sheet: A document that lists all your belongings and calculates the total cubic feet or metres they’ll occupy. This helps determine truck size requirements and, for long-distance moves, contributes to pricing calculations.

Peak Season Surcharge: Additional fees charged during high-demand periods, typically May through September in BC, when moving companies experience maximum demand. Understanding this helps you anticipate higher costs if moving during busy months.

Cancellation Policy: Terms outlining fees or refund conditions if you need to cancel or reschedule your move. Most companies require 48 to 72 hours notice to receive full deposit refunds, with increasing penalties for last-minute cancellations.

Common Moving Situations and Specialized Terms

Different moving scenarios come with their own specific vocabulary that helps you communicate your needs clearly.

Downsizing Move: Relocating to a smaller space, common among retirees or empty-nesters. Senior moving services often specialize in these transitions, helping clients decide what to keep, donate, or discard.

Corporate Relocation: When an employer moves an employee to a new location and covers moving costs. These moves often involve additional services like temporary housing assistance, storage solutions, and expedited timelines.

Student Move: Relocating between dorm rooms, apartments, or homes at the beginning or end of academic terms. Student moving services typically handle smaller volumes and work around academic calendars with peak demand in April, May, August, and September.

Same-Day Move: Completing your entire move within a single day, which is standard for local relocations but requires careful planning for larger homes. Some companies offer same-day service for last-minute moving needs with potential premium charges.

Office/Commercial Move: Relocating a business, which involves unique challenges like minimizing downtime, moving specialized equipment, and coordinating with building management at both locations. Office moving services typically work after hours or on weekends to reduce business disruption.

Quick Reference Moving Terminology Guide

Here’s a practical table summarizing key moving terms and what they mean for your move:

How Understanding Moving Terms Helps You Save Money

Knowledge of moving company terminology directly impacts your wallet. When you understand pricing structures, you can identify when quotes include hidden fees or unnecessary services. Recognizing terms like “long carry” or “flight charge” lets you inquire whether these apply to your move before receiving an unexpected bill.

Understanding the difference between binding and non-binding estimates helps you choose the right pricing structure for your situation. If your inventory is accurate and unlikely to change, a binding estimate provides budget certainty. If you’re still decluttering and the final volume is uncertain, a non-binding or not-to-exceed estimate might serve you better.

Knowing which services fall under “full-service” versus which incur accessorial charges allows you to make informed decisions about what to handle yourself versus what to pay professionals for. Perhaps you’re comfortable packing dishes but want professional help with furniture disassembly. Understanding the terminology lets you request exactly what you need without paying for unnecessary services.

Questions to Ask Using Your New Moving Vocabulary

Now that you understand common moving terms, here are smart questions to ask potential moving companies using this vocabulary:

Ask whether their estimate is binding, non-binding, or not-to-exceed, and what conditions might change the final price. Inquire what accessorial charges might apply to your specific situation—do you have stairs, require shuttle service, or have a long carry distance? Request clarification on what their standard hourly rate or flat rate includes versus what costs extra.

Verify what valuation coverage is included in their base rate and what additional protection options they offer. Ask about their cancellation policy and under what circumstances you might forfeit your deposit. Clarify whether their full-service packing includes materials or if boxes and supplies are separate charges.

For long-distance moves, ask about delivery spreads, storage-in-transit options if needed, and how weight-based pricing is calculated. Understanding these details before committing prevents surprises and ensures you’re comparing quotes accurately across different companies.

Professional Moving Services Across BC’s Lower Mainland

Understanding moving terminology empowers you to communicate effectively with professional movers, compare services accurately, and make informed decisions throughout your relocation. Whether you’re coordinating a local move in Burnaby, planning a long-distance relocation from Delta, or organizing a house move in New Westminster, speaking the language of professional movers ensures clear communication and prevents misunderstandings.

Richmond Moving Company believes in transparent communication and educating our clients about every aspect of their move. We serve homeowners, renters, students, and businesses throughout Richmond, Vancouver, Burnaby, Surrey, Delta, and New Westminster with comprehensive moving solutions tailored to your specific needs. Our experienced team takes time to explain our services, pricing structures, and processes in clear, straightforward language you can understand.

Ready to plan your move with a company that values clear communication and transparency? Contact Richmond Moving Company at +1 (604) 330-5130 or visit our contact page for a free, detailed quote. We’ll walk you through every term on your estimate, answer all your questions, and ensure you fully understand what to expect from our services. No confusing jargon, no hidden fees—just honest, professional moving expertise you can trust for your BC relocation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between a binding and non-binding moving estimate?

A binding estimate guarantees your final cost won’t exceed the quoted price even if the move takes longer. A non-binding estimate is a projection that can change based on actual time, weight, or services required.

Do I need to understand all moving terminology before hiring movers?

Not necessarily, but understanding basic terms helps you compare quotes accurately and ask informed questions. Reputable moving companies will explain any terminology you’re unfamiliar with.

What are accessorial charges and how can I avoid surprise fees?

Accessorial charges are additional fees for services beyond basic loading and transport, like stair fees or long carries. Avoid surprises by asking specifically which might apply to your move during the estimate.

What does full-service moving actually include?

Full-service typically includes packing, loading, transportation, unloading, and unpacking. However, specifics vary by company, so always confirm what’s included in your quote versus what costs extra.

Is valuation coverage the same as moving insurance?

Basic valuation coverage is included liability, typically offering minimal compensation. Full-value protection or third-party insurance provides more comprehensive coverage for your belongings during the move.