Nobody should have to hand over a credit card — or sit through a sales pitch — to find out what their move costs. Discount Moving & Storage offers a free moving estimate in Ottawa two ways: an instant online estimator that shows planning ranges by home size, and a proper walkthrough (video, phone, or in person) that converts the range into a firm written quote. Both are free. Neither obligates you to anything.
This page explains the difference between the two, and how to get the most accurate number possible for the least effort.
The instant estimator: a ballpark in 30 seconds
The estimator on our homepage asks the essentials — home size, move type, rough distance — and shows the planning range Ottawa households actually pay: roughly $450–$700 for a studio or one-bedroom local move, $750–$1,050 for a two-bedroom, $1,050–$1,500 for a three-bedroom, and $1,450–$2,100 for four bedrooms or more. It's the fastest sanity check in Ottawa moving — run it before you call anyone, including us, so every conversation starts from a realistic number.
What the estimator can't see is your reality: the third-floor walk-up, the piano, the basement workshop, the elevator that needs booking. Those live inside the ranges for typical homes — and outside them when they're significant, which is exactly what step two resolves.
The walkthrough: from estimate to firm quote
A walkthrough turns the ballpark into your price. Video walkthroughs are the Ottawa favourite — fifteen minutes on your phone, room by room, closets and basement included — and in-person visits suit larger or more complex homes. We note inventory, access, and services, then send a written quote: crew, truck, inclusions, and the price structure, all itemized.
Accuracy tips from our estimators: show the storage spaces (they're where estimates die), mention stairs and elevators at both addresses, and flag anything unusual — gym equipment, safes, antiques, the canoe. Honesty at this stage is what makes the firm quote stay firm. Our quotes page goes deeper on how to read what you receive.