Fixed price
or hourly
The real question is not which is cheaper, it is who carries the risk when the day goes wrong.
Hourly pricing looks cheaper in the offer because it excludes what can go wrong, and what can go wrong is exactly what usually does: a lift that will not take the sofa, a closed street, a permit that did not arrive. With a fixed price the firm carries that risk; hourly, you carry it, in real time and with no room to negotiate.
Who carries what
Compared| What can happen | Fixed price | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| The sofa will not fit in the lift | The firm absorbs it | You pay for it |
| There is nowhere to put the lorry | The firm absorbs it | You pay for it |
| The permit did not arrive in time | The firm absorbs it | You pay for it |
| There is more volume than declared | You pay, if you understated it | You pay |
| The crew works slowly | The firm absorbs it | You pay for it |
| Everything goes to plan | You pay what was agreed | It may come out slightly cheaper |
A written quote is obligatory before the move and must state explicitly whether municipal fees and permits are included. Once accepted it is proof that the contract exists and of what it contains.
Get a quote
When hourly does make sense
Who it suitsQuestions about pricing structure
Frequently askedWhat is a fixed quote?
A price agreed for the whole job regardless of how many hours it takes. A written quote is obligatory before the move and must state explicitly whether municipal fees and permits are included. Once accepted it is proof that the contract exists and of what it contains.
Can they raise a fixed price on the day?
Not if the job is the one that was quoted. If undeclared volume or new services appear, yes. That is why the accepted quote is your best evidence: it proves the contract exists and what it contains.
What do Spanish removal firms charge per hour?
Hourly rates vary widely per person and per vehicle, and we did not find a band that holds up as market data for this province. So we do not publish a figure: ask for it in writing, with the minimum hours included.
What if the final price does not match the quote?
A firm may exclude the transport arbitration board in writing, and it has to do so before the service begins. If it does not, and you are claiming under EUR 15,000, the board has jurisdiction: free, no lawyer, binding award. Look for that clause before you sign. Before that, claim in writing to the firm and keep the accepted quote.
What must the written quote include?
The services, the costs, and expressly whether administrative fees and permits are included. Either party may also require an inventory before transport.
When is the completion document signed?
Within 24 hours of the work finishing. It is where visible damage is recorded, and the point from which the seven working days run for damage that was not.